Developed: Alysia DeWitt

Level: 3-5

How To Manage Your Stress

Standards

Learning Expectations

 This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards:
9. Acquire personal safety skills
The student will:
9.1 Choose coping skills to manage stress
9.3 Develop problem solving and decision making skills to make safe and healthy choices

General Approach

 The general approach is that children will learn various coping skills and develop problem solving and decision making skills to reduce stress.

Activity Steps

 Session 1:
  • Lead students through a discussion:
    • Today we are going to talk about stress and how stress can effect us.  Does anyone know what stress is?  Stress is any change that a person does not feel that they have the resources to cope with; it can be positive or negative.  Negative stress is associated with what we call the "fight or flight response".  This is our bodies way of protecting us from bad situations.  When this happens, your heart will beat faster, your hands will become sweaty, or your stomach may ache.  Has anyone felt this way before? 
    • If we are unable to manage our bad situations, then this "fight or flight response" may wear down our bodies and make us sick.  Does everyone understand? 
    • Now that we know what stress is and how it can hurt us, let's talk about some possible stressful situations.  A stressful situation can be as simple as forgetting your lunch or having a problem with a friend.  It can also be more serious, like moving to a new place or your parents getting a divorce.  Can anyone think of a stressful situation that has happened to you?
  • After a thorough discussion, have the students complete the worksheet. 
  • When the students are finished, discuss their answers to the worksheet.

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    Session 2:

  • Review what stress is and some ways to cope with a stressful situation.
  • Lead students through a discussion:
    • Today we are going to talk about different ways to solve our problems.  Can anyone tell me what you have done when you felt bad about something?  Did your actions help you feel better?  What are some other things that you could have done?
  • Give each student the Stress Prevention Handout.
  • Finally, have each student tell the group about a problem they are having.  Then have the students give feedback as to how they can cope more effectively with the situation.  Allow the students to facilitate the group, only offering information periodically to keep group in focus.
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    Time Required

    		 This activity will require two 20-30 minute sessions.  The first session will cover the discussion on stress and its effects on the body and the completion of the worksheet.  The second session will cover decision making and problem solving skills.

    Resources Needed

    Performance Indicators

    		 Students will be able to:

    Identify stress related behaviors and feelings.
    Utilize behavior techniques to reduce stress.
    Develop decision making and problem solving skills to make healthy choices.