Stress Busters Toolkit

Stephanie Mitchell

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Building Resilience to Stress

Students will be able to identify personal stressors, learn and practice various coping mechanisms, and develop a personalized 'Stress Management Kit' to build resilience against stress and anxiety.

Learning to manage stress is crucial for 8th graders as they navigate academic pressures, social changes, and personal growth. This lesson provides practical tools to foster mental well-being and effective coping.

Audience

8th Grade Class

Time

55 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, practical exercises, and personal reflection.

Materials

Your Personal Stress Management Kit Slide Deck, Coping Strategies Share-Out Discussion Guide, My Go-To Calm Down Techniques Worksheet, Pens/Pencils, and Paper or individual whiteboards for brainstorming

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Review the Building Resilience to Stress Lesson Plan and all accompanying materials: Your Personal Stress Management Kit Slide Deck, Coping Strategies Share-Out Discussion Guide, and My Go-To Calm Down Techniques Worksheet.
- Ensure projector/screen is set up for the slide deck.
- Print copies of the My Go-To Calm Down Techniques Worksheet for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What is Stress?

10 minutes

Begin with a quick brainstorm: "When you hear the word 'stress,' what comes to mind? What does it feel like in your body?" (5 minutes)
- Facilitate a brief class share-out. (5 minutes)
- Transition to Your Personal Stress Management Kit Slide Deck - Slide 1-2

Step 2

Understanding Stress and Its Impact

15 minutes

Use Your Personal Stress Management Kit Slide Deck (Slides 3-6) to define stress, differentiate between good stress and bad stress, and discuss its common physical and emotional effects.
- Engage students with questions like: "Can anyone share a time when they felt 'good' stress? How about 'bad' stress?" (10 minutes)
- Introduce the concept of coping mechanisms. (5 minutes)

Step 3

Exploring Coping Strategies

15 minutes

Present various coping strategies using Your Personal Stress Management Kit Slide Deck (Slides 7-10). Examples: deep breathing, mindfulness, exercise, talking to someone, creative outlets.
- Facilitate a small group discussion using the Coping Strategies Share-Out Discussion Guide. Encourage students to share strategies they currently use or are interested in trying. (10 minutes)
- Bring the class back together for a brief whole-group share. (5 minutes)

Step 4

My Personal Stress Management Kit

10 minutes

Distribute the My Go-To Calm Down Techniques Worksheet.
- Instruct students to use the worksheet to brainstorm and write down 3-5 coping strategies they want to try or use more often. These will form their 'Stress Management Kit.' (5 minutes)
- Reiterate the importance of finding what works for them. (5 minutes)

Step 5

Cool-Down: One New Strategy

5 minutes

Ask students to silently reflect and write down one new coping strategy they learned or want to try from today's lesson.
- Collect the worksheets as an exit ticket.

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Slide Deck

Stress Busters Toolkit: Building Resilience!

How do you handle pressure? Let's build your personal toolkit!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of stress. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear the word 'stress.'

Today's Mission

Understand stress
Learn coping strategies
Create your 'Stress Management Kit'

Explain that today's lesson will focus on understanding stress and developing personal strategies to manage it.

What is Stress?

Our body's natural response to demands or challenges.
It can be good (e.g., motivation) or bad (e.g., feeling overwhelmed).

Define stress in simple terms. Emphasize that not all stress is bad (e.g., excitement before a game).

Where Does Stress Come From?

School work and grades
Friends and social life
Family challenges
Big changes (moving, new school)
Future worries

Discuss common sources of stress for 8th graders, encouraging a few student examples.

How Does Stress Show Up?

Physical:
Headaches, stomach aches
Tense muscles
Trouble sleeping
Low energy
Emotional:
Feeling worried or anxious
Irritability or anger
Sadness
Difficulty concentrating

Explain the physical and emotional symptoms of stress. Ask students if they've felt any of these.

Taking Control of Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but we can learn to manage it.
Building resilience means bouncing back from tough times.

Introduce the idea that we can learn to manage stress effectively.

Coping Strategy #1: Breathe!

Deep breathing exercises calm your nervous system.
Try 'Square Breathing': Inhale 4, Hold 4, Exhale 4, Hold 4.

Begin to introduce various coping strategies. Start with breathing techniques.

Coping Strategy #2: Move Your Body!

Exercise releases feel-good chemicals.
Even a short walk can help!

Discuss physical activity and mindfulness as coping tools.

Coping Strategy #3: Connect & Create!

Talk to a trusted adult or friend.
Express yourself through art, music, or writing.
Get enough sleep and eat healthy foods!

Talk about the importance of social connection and healthy habits.

More Ways to Cope

Listen to music
Spend time in nature
Journaling
Mindfulness or meditation
Do something you enjoy (hobbies!)

Encourage students to brainstorm other healthy coping methods.

Build Your Stress Management Kit!

Think about what works for YOU.
Fill out your 'My Go-To Calm Down Techniques' worksheet.
Choose strategies you can use when you feel stressed.

Explain the worksheet activity and how they will build their personal toolkit.

You've Got This!

Everyone feels stress, but you now have tools to manage it.
Practice your techniques and add to your kit over time.

Conclude by reiterating the main message and encouraging them to use their new tools.

Discussion

Coping Strategies Share-Out: Finding Your Calm

## Objective
To facilitate a discussion among students about effective coping strategies for stress and anxiety, encouraging them to share personal experiences and learn from their peers.

## Group Discussion Guidelines
1. Listen Actively: Pay attention when others are speaking.
2. Respect Differences: Everyone experiences stress and copes differently. There's no single

Worksheet

My Go-To Calm Down Techniques: Your Personal Stress Management Kit

Name: _____________ Date: _

Everyone experiences stress and anxiety, but knowing how to calm yourself down can make a big difference! This worksheet will help you build your own 'Stress Management Kit' with techniques that work for YOU.

## Part 1: My Stress Triggers
What are some things that typically make you feel stressed or anxious? (List at least 3)

1. _________________

2. _

3. _____

## Part 2: My Calm Down Techniques
Think about the strategies we discussed today, or any others you know. Which ones do you want to try, or use more often, when you feel stressed? Describe how you would use each technique.

### Technique 1:
What is it? _
How will I use it?

### Technique 2:
What is it? _
How will I use it?

### Technique 3:
What is it?
How will I use it?

### Technique 4 (Optional):
What is it?
How will I use it?

### Technique 5 (Optional):
What is it?
How will I use it?

## Part 3: My Stress Management Mantra
Write a short sentence or phrase that you can tell yourself when you start to feel stressed. This can be a reminder to breathe, a positive affirmation, or a quick instruction to yourself.