Lesson Plan
Your Coping Toolbox
Students will identify and practice at least three healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress and difficult emotions.
Learning healthy coping mechanisms helps students navigate life's challenges, reduce stress, and improve their overall mental and emotional well-being.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Discussion, activities, reflection
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck, Coping Mechanisms Worksheet, Coping Scenario Cards, and Cool Down Reflection
Prep
Teacher Preparation
20 minutes
- Review the Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck and lesson plan.
- Print copies of the Coping Mechanisms Worksheet (one per student).
- Print and cut out Coping Scenario Cards (one set per small group).
- Prepare whiteboard or projector for slides.
- Review the Script for Your Coping Toolbox to familiarize yourself with discussion points and instructions.
- Review the Cool Down Reflection for closing activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What's Your Stress Trigger?
5 minutes
- Begin with a quick Warm Up activity. Ask students to silently reflect or quickly jot down one thing that makes them feel stressed or overwhelmed, without sharing it aloud.
- Transition by explaining that everyone experiences stress, and today we'll learn how to deal with it.
Step 2
Introduction: What Are Coping Mechanisms?
10 minutes
- Use the Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck to introduce the concept of coping mechanisms.
- Lead a brief discussion on what coping means and why it's important to have healthy ways to cope.
- Brainstorm some common (healthy and unhealthy) ways people cope, guiding them towards recognizing the difference.
Step 3
Exploring Healthy Coping Mechanisms
10 minutes
- Present various healthy coping mechanisms using the Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck (e.g., exercise, talking to someone, creative outlets, mindfulness, deep breathing, problem-solving).
- For each, briefly explain what it is and how it helps.
- Have students begin to consider mechanisms they might try on their Coping Mechanisms Worksheet.
Step 4
Activity: Coping Scenario Cards
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Distribute a set of Coping Scenario Cards to each group.
- Instruct groups to read each scenario and discuss which healthy coping mechanism(s) would be most helpful in that situation.
- Encourage them to justify their choices and think about how they would apply the mechanism.
Step 5
Share and Discuss
5 minutes
- Invite students to share one or two healthy coping mechanisms they identified on their Coping Mechanisms Worksheet and discuss insights from their Coping Scenario Cards with the class.
- Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, highlighting diverse strategies and reinforcing that different things work for different people.
Step 6
Cool Down: Reflection
5 minutes
- Conclude the lesson with the Cool Down Reflection. Ask students to reflect on one new coping mechanism they learned today and how they might use it in the future.
- Collect cool-down tickets or have students share out briefly as an exit ticket.
Slide Deck
Your Coping Toolbox
Building Resilience, One Tool at a Time!
Welcome students and introduce the lesson's topic. Explain that everyone experiences stress and different emotions, and this lesson will give them tools to handle it.
What Are Coping Mechanisms?
• Ways we deal with stress, problems, or difficult emotions
• Our 'tools' for managing tough situations
Ask students what they think 'coping' means. Guide them to understand it's about how we deal with problems, stress, or difficult feelings. Emphasize that there are many ways to cope, and we'll focus on healthy ones.
Why Do We Need Them?
• Life has ups and downs!
• Helps us manage stress and big feelings
• Keeps us healthy and happy
• Empowers us to overcome challenges
Discuss why it's important to have healthy ways to cope. Highlight that it helps us feel better, make better decisions, and maintain our well-being. Contrast this with unhealthy coping, which might offer temporary relief but cause more problems later.
Healthy Coping Tool #1: Move Your Body!
• Exercise (running, walking, dancing)
• Sports
• Yoga or stretching
• Helps release tension and boost mood!
Introduce the first category: Physical Activities. Give examples and briefly explain how they help (e.g., exercise releases endorphins, helps burn off nervous energy).
Healthy Coping Tool #2: Get Creative!
• Drawing, painting, sculpting
• Playing or listening to music
• Writing (journaling, poetry)
• Helps express feelings and distract yourself positively
Introduce creative outlets. Explain that expressing ourselves through art, music, or writing can be a powerful way to process emotions without having to talk about them directly.
Healthy Coping Tool #3: Connect and Share
• Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or teacher
• Spend time with loved ones
• Helps you feel understood and supported
Talk about connecting with others. Emphasize that seeking support from trusted friends, family, or adults is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Healthy Coping Tool #4: Mind & Body Calm
• Deep breathing exercises
• Mindfulness or meditation
• Spending time in nature
• Helps calm your nervous system and clear your head
Introduce mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Explain that these are about focusing on the present moment and calming the body and mind. Demonstrate a simple deep breathing exercise.
Healthy Coping Tool #5: Solve the Problem
• Break down big problems into smaller steps
• Ask for help if you need it
• Focus on solutions, not just the problem
• Helps you feel more in control
Briefly mention problem-solving. This is for situations where stress comes from a clear problem that can be addressed.
Activity: Coping Scenario Cards
• Work in small groups.
• Read each scenario.
• Discuss and choose healthy coping tools.
• Be ready to share your group's ideas!
Explain the scenario card activity. Divide students into groups and distribute the cards. Instruct them to discuss each scenario and choose appropriate coping mechanisms.
Your Turn: Build Your Toolbox!
• Now, complete your Coping Mechanisms Worksheet.
• Which tools will you add to your personal toolbox?
Now that students have discussed scenarios, guide them to complete their individual worksheets based on the coping mechanisms discussed and presented.
Remember Your Toolbox!
• Everyone needs coping tools.
• Different tools work for different situations.
• Practice makes perfect!
• You've got this!
Conclude by reiterating that building a coping toolbox is an ongoing process and encourages them to practice these skills.
Warm Up
Warm Up: Stress Triggers
Instructions: Silently take a moment to think about what makes you feel stressed or overwhelmed. You don't need to share this with anyone, but just acknowledge it for yourself.
If you'd like, you can quickly jot down one word or a short phrase that describes a common stress trigger for you.
Worksheet
Coping Mechanisms Worksheet: Build Your Toolbox
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________
Part 1: What Makes You Feel Stressed or Upset?
Think about some common situations or feelings that make you feel stressed, overwhelmed, sad, or angry. List three of them below. (Remember, you don't have to share these aloud!)
Part 2: Exploring Your Coping Toolbox
Below is a list of healthy coping mechanisms. Read through them and circle any that you have used before or that you think you might want to try. Feel free to add your own ideas too!
- Move Your Body! (e.g., running, walking, dancing, playing sports, yoga)
- Get Creative! (e.g., drawing, painting, playing music, singing, writing, journaling)
- Connect & Share (e.g., talking to a trusted friend, family member, teacher; spending time with pets)
- Mind & Body Calm (e.g., deep breathing, mindfulness, listening to calm music, spending time in nature)
- Solve the Problem (e.g., breaking a task into smaller steps, asking for help, making a plan)
- Distraction (e.g., watching a funny video, reading a book, playing a game)
My Own Ideas:
Part 3: My Personal Coping Plan
From the mechanisms you circled (or your own ideas!), choose three that you think would be most helpful for you when you encounter the stressors you listed in Part 1. For each one, explain why you chose it and how you might use it.
Coping Mechanism 1: _________________________________________
Why I chose it and how I might use it:
Coping Mechanism 2: _________________________________________
Why I chose it and how I might use it:
Coping Mechanism 3: _________________________________________
Why I chose it and how I might use it:
Activity
Activity: Coping Scenario Cards
Instructions: In your small groups, read each scenario below. Discuss which healthy coping mechanism(s) you would choose to help manage the situation and why. Be ready to share your group's ideas with the class!
Scenario Card 1:
You have a big test tomorrow that you feel unprepared for. Your stomach is churning, and you can't focus on studying.
What coping mechanism(s) would you use and how?
Scenario Card 2:
A friend said something hurtful to you at lunch, and now you feel really sad and a bit angry. You just want to hide in your room.
What coping mechanism(s) would you use and how?
Scenario Card 3:
You're trying to learn a new skill, like playing a musical instrument or a difficult trick in a sport, and you keep failing. You feel frustrated and want to give up.
What coping mechanism(s) would you use and how?
Scenario Card 4:
You have a lot of homework due, and it feels like there isn't enough time to finish it all. You're starting to feel overwhelmed and anxious.
What coping mechanism(s) would you use and how?
Scenario Card 5:
You had a disagreement with your parents/guardians, and now there's tension at home. You feel uncomfortable and upset.
What coping mechanism(s) would you use and how?
Cool Down
Cool Down: Reflection - My New Coping Tool
Name: _____________________________
Instructions: Briefly answer the following question. You can share this with a partner, your table, or turn it in as an exit ticket.
What is one NEW healthy coping mechanism you learned or thought about today that you might try to use in the future? How do you think it could help you?
Script
Script for Your Coping Toolbox
Introduction (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! To start our class today, I want you to take a moment for yourselves. We all experience times when we feel stressed, overwhelmed, a little down, or even angry. I want you to silently think about one thing that has recently made you feel that way. You don't have to share it out loud with anyone, but just acknowledge it for yourself. If you like, you can jot down one word or a short phrase on your Warm Up: Stress Triggers paper."
(Pause for 1-2 minutes to allow students to reflect and write.)
Teacher: "Alright. We all have those moments, don't we? It's a completely normal part of life. The good news is, there are healthy ways we can respond to these feelings and situations. Today, we're going to build what I like to call 'Your Coping Toolbox.'"
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 1 - Title Slide)
What Are Coping Mechanisms? (10 minutes)
Teacher: "So, what do you think the word 'coping' means? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds: What comes to mind when you hear 'coping'?"
(Allow 30 seconds for partner talk. Call on a few students to share out.)
Teacher: "Great ideas! When we talk about coping mechanisms, we're talking about the ways we deal with stress, problems, or difficult emotions. They are our personal 'tools' for managing tough situations."
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 2 - What Are Coping Mechanisms?)
Teacher: "Think about it: when something goes wrong with a bike, you use tools to fix it, right? A wrench, a screwdriver. Our emotions and stress are similar – when things feel 'broken' or out of whack, we need tools to help us get back on track. Why do you think it's important to have these tools?"
(Facilitate a short discussion, guiding students to understand the benefits of managing stress and emotions. Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 3 - Why Do We Need Them?)
Teacher: "Exactly! Life has ups and downs. Having healthy coping mechanisms helps us manage stress, reduce big feelings, keeps us healthy and happy, and empowers us to overcome challenges rather than being overwhelmed by them."
Exploring Healthy Coping Mechanisms (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now, let's explore some different tools we can put in our coping toolbox. Remember, what works for one person might not work for another, and that's totally okay! The goal is to find what works best for you. As we go through these, I want you to think about which ones you might want to try. You'll be adding these to your personal Coping Mechanisms Worksheet a little later."
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 4 - Move Your Body!)
Teacher: "Our first tool is moving your body! This could be anything from running, walking, dancing, playing sports, or doing yoga. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that actually make you feel better and can help reduce tension. Has anyone ever felt better after a good run or playing a game?"
(Call for a few quick shares.)
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 5 - Get Creative!)
Teacher: "Next, we have getting creative! This means drawing, painting, playing or listening to music, singing, or writing, like journaling or poetry. Sometimes, it's hard to put feelings into words, but expressing them through art can be a huge relief and a positive distraction."
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 6 - Connect and Share)
Teacher: "Another powerful tool is connecting and sharing. This involves talking to a trusted friend, family member, or teacher. Even just spending time with loved ones or a pet can make a difference. When you share what's on your mind, you often feel less alone and might even get some helpful advice."
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 7 - Mind & Body Calm)
Teacher: "Then there are mind and body calm techniques. These include deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, meditation, or spending time in nature. These strategies help calm your nervous system, slow down your thoughts, and bring you back to the present moment. Let's try a quick deep breath together. Everyone, breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 counts... hold for 4 counts... and exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 counts. Feel better already?"
(Lead one more deep breathing exercise if time allows.)
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 8 - Solve the Problem)
Teacher: "Finally, sometimes our stress comes from a specific problem, and in those cases, solving the problem is a great coping mechanism. This means breaking down big problems into smaller, manageable steps, or asking for help if you need it. Focusing on solutions can make you feel more in control."
Activity: Coping Scenario Cards (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now that we've talked about these tools, let's put them into action! I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will receive a set of Coping Scenario Cards."
(Divide students into groups of 3-4 and distribute the Coping Scenario Cards. Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 9 - Activity: Coping Scenario Cards)
Teacher: "In your groups, read each scenario card. Your task is to discuss and decide which healthy coping mechanism(s) you would choose to help manage the situation described on the card. Think about why that mechanism would be helpful and how you would use it. We'll take about 7 minutes for this, then we'll share out. Go ahead and start your discussions!"
(Monitor groups, offering guidance and prompting discussion as needed for 7 minutes.)
Your Turn: Build Your Toolbox! (Individual Worksheet - part of activity/share time)
Teacher: "Excellent discussions! Now, let's bring it back to your individual toolboxes. Take out your Coping Mechanisms Worksheet. In Part 2, read through the list and circle any healthy coping mechanisms that you have used before, or that you think you might want to try. Feel free to add your own ideas too! Then, in Part 3, choose three that you think would be most helpful for you and explain why you chose them and how you might use them."
(Give students about 3-5 minutes to work on their worksheets, or instruct them to complete Part 3 for homework if time is tight. Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 10 - Your Turn: Build Your Toolbox!)
Share and Discuss (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, let's take a few minutes to share. Who would like to share a coping mechanism they picked for their worksheet, or perhaps a coping strategy your group discussed for one of the Coping Scenario Cards? Explain why you chose it."
(Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, encouraging diversity in responses from both the worksheet and the scenario cards. Reinforce that different strategies work for different people and situations.)
Cool Down: Reflection (5 minutes)
(Display Your Coping Toolbox Slide Deck - Slide 11 - Remember Your Toolbox!)
Teacher: "Fantastic job today, everyone! To wrap things up, I want you to complete this short Cool Down Reflection on your way out. Think about one new healthy coping mechanism you learned or thought about today that you might try to use in the future, and how you think it could help you."
(Distribute Cool Down Reflection papers.)
Teacher: "Remember, building your coping toolbox is an ongoing process. The more you practice these tools, the better you'll get at managing whatever life throws your way. You've got this!"
*(Collect cool-down papers as an exit ticket.)"