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Routines to Resilience

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Lesson Plan

Routines to Resilience Lesson Plan

Students will learn and practice three quick coping strategies to manage back-to-school anxiety and adapt smoothly to new routines through an interactive video, a fast-paced warm-up, and a brief reflective exercise.

Starting a new school year can trigger anxiety. This lesson helps 7th graders identify anxiety triggers and practice coping skills, building resilience and confidence when routines change.

Audience

Middle School Students (7th Grade)

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Anxiety video, energizing warm-up, guided reflection

Materials

Prep

Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Check-In

3 minutes

  • Ask students to share one recent change in their routine (e.g., new class, after-school activity)
  • Use a quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down poll: How easy was that change?
  • Pair students to discuss one challenge they felt
  • Differentiation: Provide sentence starters ("I felt... when...") for students who need extra support

Step 2

Watch the Back-to-School Anxiety Video

5 minutes

Step 3

Reflection and Share

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Quick Reflection Worksheet
  • Students list an upcoming routine change and match it with one coping skill from the video
  • Invite volunteers to share their pairing and rationale
  • Extension: Challenge advanced students to describe how they'd teach the skill to a friend
  • Differentiation: Offer one-on-one prompts for students needing extra guidance
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Slide Deck

Routines to Resilience

• A 15-minute lesson for 7th graders
• Learn three practical coping skills
• Build confidence to handle new routines smoothly

Welcome students and introduce the session. “Today we’ll learn quick coping skills to help us adjust when things change—like a new class schedule or after-school routine.” Highlight that this is a short, 15-minute lesson.

Warm-Up Check-In

  1. Share one recent change in your daily routine.
  2. Thumbs-up if it was easy, thumbs-down if it was tough.
  3. Turn to a partner and discuss one challenge you faced.

Lead the Warm-Up Check-In:

  1. Ask: “What’s one recent change in your routine?”
  2. Run a thumbs-up/thumbs-down poll: “Was it easy or challenging?”
  3. Pair students to share one challenge they felt.
    Provide sentence starters on the board for support.

Watch this video and note two coping strategies that can help you adjust to back-to-school changes.

Play the Back-to-School Anxiety Video (https://youtu.be/h2zWopNUUJE?si=OT3aVqp29B3K6fl2). Pause after each key strategy to check comprehension. Ask students to jot down two coping strategies mentioned.

Reflection Activity

• Use your Quick Reflection Worksheet
• Write down a new routine you expect
• Match each with one coping skill from the video
• Be ready to share your pairing

Distribute the Quick Reflection Worksheet: Quick Reflection Worksheet.
Guide students:

  • List an upcoming routine change
  • Match each with one coping skill
    Invite volunteers to share their pairings.

Coping Skills Summary

Remember our three go-to coping skills:

• Deep breathing
• Positive self-talk
• Quick stretch or muscle relaxation

Exit ticket: Write your name and the skill you’ll use first.

Recap the three key coping skills. Ask each student to name one skill they’ll try this week. Collect brief exit tickets: name + skill.

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Worksheet

Quick Reflection Worksheet

Use this worksheet to connect an upcoming routine change with a coping skill from the video.

  1. What is one upcoming change in your daily routine?




  1. Which coping strategy from the Back-to-School Anxiety Video will you use?




  1. Why did you choose this strategy? Explain how it can help you feel more confident.






  1. When and how will you apply this strategy in the next week? Describe a specific time or scenario.






  1. Bonus (Extension): How would you teach this coping skill to a friend who is also adjusting to new routines?








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