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Stress Less: Managing Your Well-being

Lesson Plan

Stress Less: Managing Your Well-being

To teach stress management

Students will learn various stress management techniques from their school counselor, including breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, and discussions on coping strategies. This lesson is important as it equips students with essential tools to manage stress, promoting their emotional well-being and academic performance.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

To teach stress management

Materials

Whiteboard and markers, Breathing Exercise Handout, Mindfulness Activity Guide, Coping Strategies Discussion Questions, and Stress Management Worksheet

Step 1

Introduction to Stress

10 mins

  1. Welcome students and introduce the topic of stress.
  2. Explain what stress is and how it can affect our bodies and minds.
  3. Use the whiteboard to write down examples of stressful situations the students might encounter.

Step 2

Breathing Exercises

10 mins

  1. Hand out the Breathing Exercise Handout to students.
  2. Demonstrate a simple breathing exercise (e.g., deep breathing).
  3. Guide students through the exercise, encouraging them to practice along.

Step 3

Mindfulness Activity

15 mins

  1. Explain what mindfulness is and its benefits for stress management.
  2. Follow the Mindfulness Activity Guide to lead a mindfulness exercise with the students.
  3. Allow students to reflect on their feelings after the activity.

Step 4

Discussion on Coping Strategies

15 mins

  1. Initiate a discussion using the Coping Strategies Discussion Questions.
  2. Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences.
  3. Write down key points and strategies on the whiteboard.

Step 5

Stress Management Worksheet

5 mins

  1. Distribute the Stress Management Worksheet.
  2. Allow students time to complete the worksheet individually or in pairs.
  3. Review the answers together and discuss any additional questions.

Step 6

Closure and Reflection

5 mins

  1. Summarize the key points of the lesson.
  2. Encourage students to share one new thing they learned about managing stress.
  3. Thank the students for their participation and remind them to practice these techniques.
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Reading

Breathing Exercise Handout

A handout with instructions for a simple breathing exercise to help manage stress.

Breathing Exercise

Follow these steps for a simple breathing exercise:

  1. Sit comfortably with your back straight.
  2. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
  3. Breathe in slowly through your nose to the count of 4.
  4. Hold your breath for a count of 4.
  5. Exhale slowly through your mouth to the count of 4.
  6. Repeat this process 5 times.

Remember to practice this exercise whenever you feel stressed.

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Reading

Mindfulness Activity Guide

A guide for leading a mindfulness activity focusing on being present in the moment.

Mindfulness Activity

Objective:

To help students become more aware of their present moment using their senses.

Instructions:

  1. Have students sit comfortably and close their eyes.
  2. Read the following script slowly:
    • "Take a deep breath and notice the feeling of the air filling your lungs."
    • "Now focus on the sounds around you. What can you hear?"
    • "Pay attention to the sensation of your clothing on your skin. How does it feel?"
    • "Notice any smells in the air. What can you detect?"
    • "Take another deep breath and slowly open your eyes."
  3. Allow students to share their experiences and feelings.
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Discussion

Coping Strategies Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide a discussion on different coping strategies for managing stress.

What are some activities you enjoy that help you feel relaxed?

Encourage students to think about activities they do alone or with friends or family that make them feel happy and calm.







How do you know when you are feeling stressed?

Help students identify physical and emotional signs of stress, such as a fast heartbeat or feeling overwhelmed.







Can you think of a time when you felt stressed and how you handled it?

Allow students to share their stories and discuss what worked or didn't work for managing their stress.







What new strategies can you try when you feel stressed?

Encourage students to think about the techniques they learned today and how they can use them in their daily lives.







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Worksheet

Stress Management Worksheet

A worksheet to reinforce the concepts of stress management techniques taught in the lesson.

List two signs that you are feeling stressed.

Think about how your body and mind feel when you are stressed.







What are two activities you can do to help manage your stress?

Consider activities you enjoy or new techniques you learned today.







Describe how breathing exercises can help reduce stress.

Think about what happens to your body when you practice deep breathing.







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