Lesson Plan

Calm Quest Lesson Plan

Students will understand stress, identify personal stressors, learn strategies for themselves, and practice supporting a friend’s stress management.

Building peer-support skills alongside self-regulation strategies strengthens classroom community, fosters empathy, and equips 5th graders to help themselves and each other cope with everyday stress.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Step 2

Defining Stress

6 minutes

Step 3

Identifying Stressors

6 minutes

Step 4

Learning Strategies

4 minutes

Step 5

Supporting a Friend

5 minutes

Step 6

Reflection & Closure

4 minutes

Slide Deck

Calm Quest: Master Stress

Welcome students and set a positive tone. Introduce the lesson title and today’s goal: to learn what stress is and discover ways to manage it.

When Have You Felt Stressed?

Prompt students to think of a time they felt worried or pressured. Encourage volunteers to share briefly.

What Is Stress?

Define stress clearly. Write definition on chart paper as well.

Stress Examples

Offer examples and relate to students’ experiences.

Map Your Stress Journey

Distribute the Stress Journey Worksheet. Guide students to map a recent stress event: trigger, emotion, reaction.

Identifying Our Stressors

Explain the sticky-note activity. Monitor as students post notes under categories.

Stress-Buster Strategies

Introduce the three strategies and explain why each helps.

Calm Breathing Demo

Model deep breathing using the Calm Breathing Guide Poster. Lead students through a practice.

Create Your Stress-Buster Toolbox

Hand out the Stress-Buster Toolbox Template. Guide students to pick three strategies to add and illustrate.

Supporting a Friend

Explain that friends can help each other manage stress. Model supportive phrases, then facilitate partner practice.

Reflection & 3-2-1 Routine

Wrap up with pair-share and the 3-2-1 calming routine.

Lesson Plan

Calm Quest Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Introduction

Step 2

Defining Stress

Step 3

Identifying Stressors

Step 4

Learning Strategies

Step 5

Supporting a Friend

Step 6

Reflection & Closure

Slide Deck

Calm Quest: Master Stress

When Have You Felt Stressed?

What Is Stress?

Stress Examples

Map Your Stress Journey

Identifying Our Stressors

Stress-Buster Strategies

Calm Breathing Demo

Create Your Stress-Buster Toolbox

Supporting a Friend

Reflection & 3-2-1 Routine

Worksheet

Worksheet

Activity

Reading

Calm Quest: Master Stress

Trayvon Thompson