Welcome students. Introduce today’s objective: identifying and practicing healthy coping strategies. Explain that these tools help us manage stress in school and life.
Visuals: Use a calming background image (e.g., ocean waves or clouds). Place a small meditation-pose icon next to the title to set the mood.
Ask: “What is stress? When do you feel it?” Call on volunteers, record key words on the board. Emphasize that stress is a normal response.
Visuals: Add an icon of a student with a thought bubble showing jagged lines or a stress emoji.
What Are Coping Strategies?
Define ‘coping strategies.’ Contrast healthy (deep breathing, talking it out) with unhealthy (too much screen time, avoidance).
Visuals: Show two side-by-side icons or illustrations – one green check mark for healthy, one red X for unhealthy.
Stress Scenario Discussion
Divide students into small groups. Distribute the [Stress Scenario Cards](#stress-scenario-cards). Provide sentence frames to groups that need support.
Visuals: Include an illustration of students talking in a circle or an image of a scenario card.
Brainstorm Coping Strategies
Hand out the [Coping Strategies Worksheet](#coping-strategies-worksheet). Encourage brainstorming; suggest examples if needed. Early finishers move to the Calm Plan.
Visuals: Add an icon of a lightbulb or pencil to emphasize idea generation.
Introduce the [Deep Breathing Guide](#deep-breathing-guide) on screen. Model each step, then lead the class through one full cycle.
Visuals: Show a simple animated graphic or icon of expanding/contracting lungs.
Invite 2–3 students to share one new strategy they’ll try. Collect or let students keep their worksheets. Reinforce that they can use these tools anytime.
Visuals: Add an icon of a smiling student or a check mark to signify closure.
