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Stress-Free College Applications

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Richard Hutchinson

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Stress-Free College Applications

Managing college application stress

This lesson focuses on helping students manage the stress associated with college applications. We will engage the students in a collaborative discussion to identify common stressors and coping strategies, followed by an active learning activity designed to practice these strategies. This lesson is crucial as it provides students with practical tools to handle application-related stress, promoting their overall well-being.

Audience

Seniors

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Collaborative Learning, Active Learning

Materials

Discussion Questions, and Stress Management Activity Worksheet

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Welcome the students and briefly discuss the importance of managing stress during the college application process.
  • Explain that today's lesson will focus on identifying common stressors and learning strategies to manage them.

Step 2

Collaborative Discussion

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and distribute the discussion questions.
  • Allow each group to discuss the questions and jot down their thoughts.
  • Facilitate a class-wide discussion, asking each group to share insights and common themes identified during their group discussions.
  • Guide the conversation to highlight effective stress management techniques.

Step 3

Active Learning Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Stress Management Activity Worksheet to each student.
  • Explain the activity: Students will work independently to complete the worksheets, which include scenarios related to college application stress and prompts for applying stress management strategies.
  • Afterward, ask volunteers to share their responses and discuss as a class how these strategies can be applied in real-life situations.

Step 4

Closure

3 minutes

  • Summarize the key points discussed in the lesson.
  • Encourage students to use the stress management techniques discussed today.
  • Open the floor for any final questions or comments before concluding the session.
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Discussion

Discussion Questions

Guided discussion to identify common college application stressors and coping strategies.

What aspects of the college application process do you find most stressful?

Potential answers might include writing essays, meeting deadlines, waiting for replies, or choosing which schools to apply to.







How do you usually manage stress in your daily life?

Encourage students to think about healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms they currently use.







Can you think of any strategies that might help you reduce stress specifically related to college applications?

Discuss strategies such as time management, mindfulness, exercise, seeking support from friends/family, and breaking tasks into smaller steps.







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Worksheet

Stress Management Activity Worksheet

Interactive worksheet to help students apply stress management strategies to common scenarios.

Scenario: You have multiple application deadlines approaching, and you feel overwhelmed. List three steps you can take to manage this stress.

Consider prioritizing tasks, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and setting up a schedule.







Scenario: You're anxious while waiting for college decisions. Identify two activities that could help you stay calm and distracted.

Think of activities like exercising, spending time with friends, or starting a new hobby.







Scenario: You receive a rejection letter. Describe how you might cope with this disappointment in a healthy way.

Consider talking to someone about your feelings, reviewing your other options, and reminding yourself of your strengths and achievements.







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