Lesson Plan

Pressure Points Plan

Students will identify personal stress triggers and practice two quick, evidence-based calming techniques to enhance self-regulation and foster a calmer classroom climate.

Understanding stress signals and having go-to calming strategies builds emotional resilience, reduces anxiety, and promotes a positive learning environment for all 6th graders.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Classroom

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Pressure Cooker Poll

5 minutes

Step 2

Activity: Stress Trigger Map

15 minutes

Step 3

Demonstration: Calming Techniques

10 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down: Calm Reflection

10 minutes

Step 5

Closure & Assessment

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Anxiety Uncapped

Greet students: “Welcome everyone to ‘Anxiety Uncapped!’ Today we’re going to learn simple ways to calm down when we feel stressed.”

Objectives

Read the objectives aloud and briefly explain what each point means.

Pressure Cooker Poll

Launch the polling tool or have students hold up colored cards. Display live results.

Common Stress Triggers

Explain each trigger briefly. Encourage students to think of their own examples.

Calming Technique 1: Balloon Breathing

Model the breathing with your own balloon. Guide students through three rounds.

Calming Technique 2: Finger Tracing

Demonstrate tracing on your hand. Encourage students to focus on the sensation.

Guided Practice

Lead the class through breathing and tracing. Observe and gently correct posture or pacing.

Reflection

Hand out the Calm Reflection sheet. Give students time to write and then invite a few to share.

Keep Calm & Carry On!

Close with positive encouragement. Remind students these tools are for them to use daily.

Lesson Plan

Pressure Points Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Classroom

Step 1

Warm-Up: Pressure Cooker Poll

Step 2

Activity: Stress Trigger Map

Step 3

Demonstration: Calming Techniques

Step 4

Cool-Down: Calm Reflection

Step 5

Closure & Assessment

Slide Deck

Anxiety Uncapped

Objectives

Pressure Cooker Poll

Common Stress Triggers

Calming Technique 1: Balloon Breathing

Calming Technique 2: Finger Tracing

Guided Practice

Reflection

Keep Calm & Carry On!

Warm Up

Activity

Cool Down

Feeling Like a Pressure Cooker?

Savanna Pavc