Lesson Plan

Stress Negative Impacts Lesson Plan

Students will identify key ways chronic stress harms physical and mental health and practice recognizing warning signs to adopt healthier coping strategies.

High school students face rising academic and social pressures. This lesson empowers 9th graders to understand stress’s negative health impacts, recognize personal warning signs, and explore proactive coping skills to support long-term well-being.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Lesson Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Stress

5 minutes

Step 2

Explore Negative Impacts

10 minutes

Step 3

Case Study Analysis

8 minutes

Step 4

Reflection and Coping Strategies

7 minutes

Slide Deck

Stress: Your Body’s Reaction

Welcome students to today’s lesson on stress. Explain that we’ll learn what stress is, how it shows up in our bodies and minds, and why it matters for health. Connect to upcoming activities.

What Is Stress?

Define stress in simple terms. Emphasize that it’s a natural response to demands, activating the “fight or flight” system. Ask students to nod or give thumbs-up if they’ve heard of stress before.

Acute vs. Chronic Stress

Explain acute stress as short-term and often useful (e.g., taking a test), vs. chronic stress as long-lasting and harmful (e.g., ongoing family conflict). Use real-life examples.

Physical Effects of Chronic Stress

Review each physical effect. Invite students to raise hands if they’ve ever experienced headaches, stomachaches, or trouble sleeping when stressed.

Mental Effects of Chronic Stress

Discuss mental and emotional effects. Ask students if they’ve felt irritable or overwhelmed under stress, reinforcing that these feelings are common warning signs.

Your Stress Experience

Prompt students to reflect personally. Give 1–2 minutes for writing, then ask 2–3 volunteers to share. Note key examples on the board.

Key Takeaways

Summarize main points: stress definition, acute vs. chronic, key physical and mental impacts. Prepare students for the next infographic analysis activity.