Stress Less, Live More Script

Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Welcome. Today, we're going to talk about something really important that everyone experiences: stress. Has anyone heard that word before? What do you think it means?"

Teacher: "That's right! Stress is a feeling we get when things get a bit tough or challenging. But it's also something we can learn to manage. Our goal today is to learn what stress is, how it affects us, and most importantly, some awesome ways to deal with it so we can 'Stress Less and Live More'!"

Teacher: "Let's start with a quick check-in. Look at Slide 2: Stress Check-In: How Are You Feeling Today?. I want everyone to take a moment, close your eyes if you feel comfortable, and think about how you're feeling right now. Can you find one word to describe that feeling? You don't have to share it out loud unless you want to. Just notice it."

Teacher: "(After a moment of quiet reflection) If anyone wants to share their word, feel free. (Listen to a few student responses, affirm feelings). It's great to notice how we're feeling, even when it's not super happy. All feelings are okay, and sometimes, those feelings might be connected to stress."

Understanding Stress (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, let's dive deeper into what stress actually is. Look at Slide 3: What is Stress?. Stress is your body's natural way of reacting to things that challenge you. It's like your body's alarm system saying, 'Hey, something important is happening, pay attention!'"

Teacher: "Can you think of some things that might make you feel challenged or make your body's alarm go off? Maybe a big test at school? Or when you have a lot of homework? What else?"

Teacher: "Those are great examples! Arguments with friends, trying out for a team, even big changes at home like moving or a new sibling, can all be stressors. They're just things that make us feel like we need to put in extra effort or adjust."

Teacher: "Now, how does stress feel? Look at Slide 4: Signs of Stress: In Your Body. When you're stressed, your body might react in certain ways. Has anyone ever had a headache when they were worried? Or maybe a tummy ache before a big presentation?"

Teacher: "Sometimes our hearts beat faster, or we feel tired even if we slept a lot. Our muscles might feel tight. These are all common ways our bodies tell us we're feeling stressed."

Teacher: "It's not just our bodies; our feelings can also show us when we're stressed. Look at Slide 5: Signs of Stress: In Your Feelings. You might feel super worried, or grumpy and easily annoyed. Sometimes we feel sad or just totally overwhelmed, like there's too much to do. It can even make it hard to concentrate in class. Has anyone ever felt any of these feelings when they were dealing with something tough?"

Building a Stress Toolbox (15 minutes)

Teacher: "The good news is that even though stress is a normal part of life, we have ways to deal with it! Look at Slide 6: Your Stress Toolbox: What Helps You?. When you feel stressed, you can do things to help yourself feel better. We call these 'coping strategies,' and today, we're going to build our own personal 'Stress Toolbox'!"

Teacher: "Let's brainstorm some ideas for our toolboxes. What are some things you do that make you feel calm, happy, or just better when you're feeling worried or stressed? Look at Slide 7: Ideas for Your Toolbox for some ideas."

Teacher: "Fantastic ideas! Now, I'm going to give each of you a My Stress Toolbox Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll see a picture of a toolbox. Your job is to fill it with your own coping strategies. You can draw pictures or write words. Try to think of at least three things that help you feel better when you're stressed. Remember, everyone's toolbox is unique because we all like different things!"

(Distribute worksheets and allow students time to work. Circulate and provide assistance or prompts as needed.)

Sharing & Reflection (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, who would like to share one item from their amazing Stress Toolbox? What's one thing you can do to help yourself when you're feeling stressed?"

Teacher: "Those are wonderful strategies! Remember, the more you practice using these tools, the better you'll become at managing stress. It's like building a muscle – the more you work it, the stronger it gets!"

Cool-Down (Optional, 5 minutes)

Teacher: "To wrap up, we're going to do a quick Coping Strategy Cool-Down. On your cool-down sheet, I want you to quickly write down either one new thing you learned today about stress OR one coping strategy from your toolbox that you are going to try this week."

Teacher: "You have the power to manage your stress and feel better! Keep practicing those coping strategies, and remember to be kind to yourselves and each other. Great job today, everyone!"

Stress Check-In: How Are You Feeling Today?

Instructions: Take a moment to think about how you are feeling right now. In the space below, write or draw one word that describes your feeling.

Positive Peer Power: No Clown Shoes Required!

Teacher: "Hi [Student's Name]! Thanks for coming today. We're going to talk about something really interesting: how we get attention from others. What comes to your mind when you hear the word 'attention'?"

Teacher: "That's a great thought! Attention is when people notice us, right? And it feels good to be noticed. But sometimes, there are different ways we try to get noticed. Let's look at this slide."

(Advance to Slide 2: What Kind of Attention Do You Get?)

Teacher: "So, as you can see, there's positive attention and negative attention. Positive attention makes you and others feel good, like when someone compliments your drawing. Negative attention, though, can make you or others feel uncomfortable or annoyed, like when someone is yelling to be heard. Can you think of some examples of positive attention you've seen or experienced? How about negative attention?"

Teacher: "Those are really good examples! Now, let's talk about something many kids, and even grown-ups, sometimes do to get attention – being the 'class clown.'"

(Advance to Slide 3: The 'Class Clown' Conundrum)

Teacher: "Being funny is awesome, and making people laugh is a great quality! But sometimes, trying too hard to be the class clown can have some downsides. What do you think some of those downsides might be? Looking at the slide, can you tell me what you notice?"

Teacher: "Exactly. You might get in trouble, or maybe people laugh at the silly things you do, not with you for being a good friend. It can sometimes make us feel lonely even when we're trying to make everyone else laugh. Our goal today is to find ways to get attention that are truly positive and make you feel proud."

(Advance to Slide 4: Why Go for Positive?)

Teacher: "So, why do you think going for positive attention is a better choice in the long run? What good things can come from it?"

Teacher: "You got it! Positive attention helps you build real friendships, feel genuinely happy, and show off your best self. It creates a better vibe for everyone around you. So, how can you start getting more positive attention from your friends and classmates?"

(Advance to Slide 5: Your Positive Power Moves!)

Teacher: "This is where we get to be creative! Let's brainstorm some 'positive power moves' you can try. Think about your strengths. What are you good at? What makes your friends happy? How can you be a good friend? I have this Positive Attention Brainstorm Activity here to help us."

(Guide student through the Positive Attention Brainstorm Activity. Write down ideas on a whiteboard/paper.)

Teacher: "Wow, these are fantastic ideas, [Student's Name]! You've got some really thoughtful ways to connect with your peers. Now, out of these ideas, which one do you feel most comfortable trying out this week? Just pick one that feels like a good fit for you."

Teacher: "Excellent choice! How might you use this strategy in a real-life situation at school? For example, if you chose 'offer to help a classmate,' what would that look like?"

Teacher: "That's a perfect plan! To help you remember, I've got this Positive Attention Cue Card for you to take with you. It has a reminder of your chosen strategy."

(Hand the student the Positive Attention Cue Card.)

(Advance to Slide 6: Your Turn! Be a Positive Star!)

Teacher: "Remember, trying new things takes courage, but it's worth it to build real connections and feel great about yourself. Try your chosen positive power move this week, and next time we meet, we can talk about how it went and how it felt. Any questions for me right now?"

Teacher: "Great! I'm really proud of you for thinking about this important topic. Keep being awesome, and I look forward to hearing about your positive power move!"

Positive Attention Brainstorm Activity

Sometimes we want people to notice us, but we don't always know the best way to get that attention. Being funny is great, but there are lots of other ways to shine!

Let's brainstorm some positive ways you can get attention from your peers and teachers. Think about actions that make everyone feel good – you, your friends, and your teachers.

Brainstorming Questions:

1. What are you good at? (e.g., drawing, solving puzzles, being organized, playing a sport, listening)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. How can you help others? (e.g., holding a door, sharing supplies, offering to explain something, being a good partner in a group activity)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. What compliments can you give? (e.g.,