Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will define test anxiety and complete a self-assessment to identify personal stress triggers and current coping strategies.
Understanding their own test anxiety levels and triggers empowers students to take targeted steps to manage stress and improve performance.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Hook
5 minutes
Step 2
Direct Teaching: Defining Test Anxiety
10 minutes
Step 3
Self-Assessment Activity
10 minutes
Step 4
Wrap-Up and Reflection
5 minutes
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will learn and practice deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to reduce physical symptoms of test anxiety and build present-moment focus.
Teaching students concrete strategies like diaphragmatic breathing and mindfulness helps them interrupt stress responses and gain calm control during tests.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Recap
5 minutes
Step 2
Deep Breathing Instruction
7 minutes
Step 3
Guided Breathing Practice
8 minutes
Step 4
Mindfulness Discussion
5 minutes
Step 5
Guided Mindfulness Activity
3 minutes
Step 6
Reflection and Wrap-Up
2 minutes
Activity
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Students will identify negative or anxiety-provoking thoughts, practice positive self-talk, and use thought reframing to transform unhelpful thinking patterns into constructive, confidence-building statements.
Cognitive strategies like positive self-talk and reframing help students replace anxiety-driven thoughts with empowering narratives, boosting confidence and reducing test-related stress.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Recap
5 minutes
Step 2
Understanding Negative Thought Patterns
8 minutes
Step 3
Positive Self-Talk Modeling
5 minutes
Step 4
Thought Reframing Activity
8 minutes
Step 5
Share and Discussion
3 minutes
Step 6
Wrap-Up and Reflection
1 minute
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Students will learn strategies for organizing study material, prioritizing tasks, and creating a personalized study schedule to manage their study time effectively and reduce pre-test overwhelm.
Developing strong study and time-management habits helps students tackle test preparation systematically, lowers anxiety by preventing last-minute cramming, and builds confidence through structured planning.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Recap
5 minutes
Step 2
Time-Management Techniques
7 minutes
Step 3
Guided Study Plan Creation
10 minutes
Step 4
Pair Share and Feedback
5 minutes
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
3 minutes
Activity
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 5 Lesson Plan
Students will learn effective test-taking strategies and in-test coping techniques to navigate different question types confidently and manage anxiety during exams.
Equipping students with concrete strategies and coping skills helps them approach exams systematically, maintain focus under pressure, and reduce stress for improved performance.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Recap
5 minutes
Step 2
Overview of Key Test-Taking Strategies
8 minutes
Step 3
Strategy Matching Activity
10 minutes
Step 4
In-Test Coping Techniques
5 minutes
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
2 minutes
Activity
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 6 Lesson Plan
Students will create a personalized maintenance plan, set SMART anxiety-management goals, and establish peer-support agreements to sustain coping strategies after this series.
Consolidating learned techniques into clear goals and peer partnerships ensures ongoing practice, accountability, and long-term reduction of test anxiety.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction and Recap
5 minutes
Step 2
Understanding Maintenance
5 minutes
Step 3
SMART Goal Setting
8 minutes
Step 4
Peer Support Contract
7 minutes
Step 5
Sharing and Feedback
3 minutes
Step 6
Reflection and Wrap-Up
2 minutes
Activity
Activity
Slide Deck
Understanding Test Anxiety
What Is Test Anxiety?
Common Symptoms
Why It Matters
Your Experiences
Next Steps
Slide Deck
Session 2: Mindful Breathing & Mindfulness
Why Breathing Helps
Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing
4-7-8 Breathing Practice
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness Anchors
Guided Mindfulness Practice
Reflection & Next Steps
Slide Deck
Session 3: Cognitive Strategies & Positive Self-Talk
What Are Cognitive Distortions?
Common Cognitive Distortions
Spotting Negative Thoughts
Positive Self-Talk & Reframing
Steps to Reframe Your Thoughts
Thought Reframing Activity
Reflection & Next Steps
