Lesson Plan

Stress Busters Lesson Plan

Students will identify personal stress signals, engage with a multimedia stress‐relief demonstration, practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique, share in pairs, and design a personalized self-care plan while reflecting on their mood shifts.

Adding a quick warm-up, video hook, peer sharing, and an exit reflection boosts engagement and helps students internalize stress-management strategies more deeply.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Multimedia Hook

2 minutes

Step 2

We Will

1 minute

Step 3

I Will (Direct Instruction)

4 minutes

Step 4

We Do (Guided Practice)

3 minutes

Step 5

Peer Share

2 minutes

Step 6

You Do (Independent Practice)

2 minutes

Step 7

Cool-Down Reflection (Exit Slip)

1 minute

Slide Deck

Stress Busters

Welcome students. Introduce the lesson objective: Today we’ll learn to spot stress signals, practice a calming breathing technique, and choose a self-care strategy you can use anytime.

Stress Signals

Display the Stress Signals Poster. Ask: “What is stress? How do you notice it in your body, mood, or actions?” Invite a few responses.

Breathing Technique: 4-7-8

Explain the 4-7-8 breathing method step by step. Lead the class through three cycles, modeling slow inhales and exhales.

Self-Care Strategies

Pass out Self-Care Ideas Cards and blank index cards. Encourage students to browse options or invent their own strategy.

Your Stress-Buster Plan

Ask students to write their chosen strategy on an index card. Remind them to keep it somewhere visible as a reminder.

Wrap-Up & Reminder

Invite one or two volunteers to share their chosen strategy. Remind students to use these tools whenever they feel stressed and practice regularly.

Lesson Plan

Stress Busters Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

Step 1

Warm-Up & Multimedia Hook

Step 2

We Will

Step 3

I Will (Direct Instruction)

Step 4

We Do (Guided Practice)

Step 5

Peer Share

Step 6

You Do (Independent Practice)

Step 7

Cool-Down Reflection (Exit Slip)

Slide Deck

Stress Busters

Stress Signals

Breathing Technique: 4-7-8

Self-Care Strategies

Your Stress-Buster Plan

Wrap-Up & Reminder

Worksheet

Activity

Activity

Stress Busters

Deidra Winn