Welcome everyone! Today we’re kicking off our Coping Power-Up session. Introduce yourself and share the session goal: to explore and practice coping strategies to manage stress and anxiety. Encourage students to engage and keep an open mind.

Read the slide aloud. Emphasize that by the end of this session, students should be able to identify three strategies and apply them to real-life scenarios.

Explain why coping strategies matter: they’re skills you can call on anytime stress pops up. Ask: “What stresses you out at school?” Invite 1–2 quick answers.

Introduce the three focus strategies. Point to the [Coping Strategies Reference Poster](#coping-strategies-reference-poster) on the wall as a visual.

Model the 4-4-4 breathing cycle: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4. Invite students to follow along quietly.

Share examples of positive self-talk and ask students to call out other affirmations. Encourage realistic and personalized statements.

Guide students through a quick grounding exercise: ask them to silently name 5 things they see, then 4 things they can touch, etc. Emphasize how this helps bring focus back to the present.

Give clear directions: form groups, distribute cards and worksheets, set a timer, and circulate to support. Highlight differentiation options.

Invite each group to share one scenario and their chosen strategies. Then conduct a quick exit check: each student names one strategy they’ll use this week.