Lesson Plan
Coping Skills Lesson Plan
Guide a 7th grader to identify personalized coping skills, choose top strategies, practice one, and reflect on effectiveness.
Equips students with self-awareness and healthy tools to manage stress and emotions, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided brainstorming, selection, practice, and reflection.
Materials
- Personal Coping Skills Worksheet, - Timer or Stopwatch, - Quiet Private Space, and - Reflection Journal
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print or open enough copies of the Personal Coping Skills Worksheet for the session
- Ensure a quiet, comfortable space free of distractions
- Set a timer or have a stopwatch ready
- Have the student’s Reflection Journal on hand
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Welcome the student and explain the goal: to discover and practice coping skills
- Define "coping skills" and share 2–3 examples (deep breathing, drawing, talking it out)
- Emphasize confidentiality and that there are no right or wrong answers
Step 2
Brainstorming Coping Skills
8 minutes
- Provide the student with the Personal Coping Skills Worksheet
- Ask them to list as many coping strategies as they can think of in 5 minutes
- Prompt with categories: physical (e.g., exercise), creative (e.g., journaling), social (e.g., calling a friend)
- Review the list together and clarify any unfamiliar strategies
Step 3
Selecting and Practicing Skills
10 minutes
- Have the student choose their top three strategies and circle them on the worksheet
- For each selected skill, ask why it feels appealing or helpful
- Pick one skill to practice now (e.g., deep breathing):
- Guide the student through 3 minutes of the chosen exercise
- Observe and note reactions or challenges
Step 4
Reflection and Wrap-Up
7 minutes
- Ask the student to complete the reflection section of the worksheet:
- Which skill felt most useful?
- When might you use it?
- What could make it easier to remember?
- Encourage them to write a brief journal entry in their Reflection Journal
- Set a simple goal: try this skill once before the next session
- Praise their effort and reinforce that finding the right strategy can take time
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Worksheet
Personal Coping Skills Worksheet
1. Brainstorm Coping Strategies
List as many coping strategies as you can think of in 5 minutes. Think about physical, creative, social, or calming activities.
2. Choose Your Top Three
Review your brainstorm and circle your top three strategies. Then write them below:
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
3. Why These?
For each of the three strategies you chose, explain why it feels helpful or appealing.
1. ___________________________________________
Why? __________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________
Why? __________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________
Why? __________________________________________
4. Practice One Skill
Pick one of your top three and practice it for 3 minutes. Then fill in the details below:
Skill Practiced: ____________________________
How I practiced it:
____________________________________________
How did it make me feel?
____________________________________________
5. Reflection
Answer the questions to help you remember and use this skill in the future.
- Which skill felt most useful and why?
- When might I use this skill next?
- What could help me remember to use this skill?
Use this worksheet along with your Reflection Journal to track your progress.
Slide Deck
Coping Skills Compass
A 30-minute individual session to help you identify, practice, and reflect on coping strategies that work for you.
Welcome the student and set a positive tone. Explain that today’s goal is to explore strategies to handle stress and big feelings. Remind them this is a safe, confidential space.
Today’s Objectives
• Define what coping skills are
• Brainstorm personal strategies
• Select your top three skills
• Practice one skill in session
• Reflect and set a goal
Read the objectives aloud. Emphasize that these are the steps we’ll follow together.
What Are Coping Skills?
Coping skills are healthy ways to handle stress, anxiety, or overwhelming feelings. Examples:
• Physical: going for a walk, stretching
• Creative: drawing, writing in a journal
• Social: talking with a friend or family member
• Calming: deep breathing, guided imagery
Explain that coping skills are tools to help manage stress and emotions. Give relatable examples.
Brainstorm Strategies
- Open your Personal Coping Skills Worksheet.
- Spend 5 minutes listing as many coping ideas as you can think of.
- Think about physical, creative, social, or calming activities.
- We’ll review your list when time is up.
Hand over the worksheet. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Encourage the student to list any ideas, no matter how small.
Select & Practice
- Circle your top three strategies on the worksheet.
- For each, tell me why it feels helpful or appealing.
- Choose one skill to practice now.
- We’ll spend 3 minutes doing that activity together.
Guide the student to circle their favorites and discuss why. Then transition into choosing one to try.
Reflect on the Experience
On your worksheet, answer:
• Which skill felt most useful and why?
• When might you use it next?
• What could help you remember to use it?
Write your thoughts in your Reflection Journal too.
After the practice, ask reflective questions and encourage honest feedback about how it felt.
Next Steps
• Set a goal: try your chosen skill at least once before our next session.
• Journal about your experience.
• Remember: discovering the right strategy takes practice – you’re doing great!
Encourage a small, achievable action before the next meeting. End on a positive note.