| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Personal development |
| What topic | managing stress |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 4 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | dlongden@bigpond.com |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Managing Stress
Year 4
Personal Development
20 students
This lesson corresponds to the Australian National Curriculum for Health and Physical Education, focusing on personal and social capability as well as understanding wellbeing.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Stress | 5 min | Discuss what stress is; ask students for examples of stressors. Write down responses. |
| 2 | Identifying Personal Stressors | 5 min | Guide students to reflect on their stressors. Hand out worksheets for students to write their own examples. |
| 3 | Group Activity: Coping Mechanisms | 10 min | Divide students into groups of 4-5. Each group brainstorms ways to manage stress and fills out their worksheets. |
| 4 | Physical Activity Break | 5 min | Lead a short guided activity (e.g. stretching, light exercises) to relieve stress and energize students. |
| 5 | Sharing Group Findings | 5 min | Groups briefly share (without formal presentations) their coping strategies with the class; teacher circulates for notes. |
| 6 | Conclusion and Reflection | 5 min | Summarize key points of the lesson; remind students of the importance of stress management in daily life. |
Students are to create a personal stress management plan using the strategies discussed in class. The plan should be one page and include at least three different techniques they can use when feeling stressed. This will be submitted in the next class without presentations.
"Good morning, class! Today, we are going to talk about a very important topic: stress. Can anyone tell me what they think stress is?"
[Pause for responses. Write down student answers on the whiteboard.]
"Great thoughts! Stress is something we all experience in our lives. It can come from school, friends, family, or even trying to finish homework. Can anyone give me some examples of things that make them feel stressed? Let's write these examples down so we can see what stresses us out the most."
[Write down the examples provided by students. Encourage a few more shared thoughts.]
"Excellent job sharing your ideas! Now, let's dive a bit deeper. I want each of you to take a moment and think about what specifically stresses you out.
[Hand out worksheets.]
"On your worksheet, I want you to write down at least three things that cause you stress in your life. This could be anything from a subject at school to problems with friends. Take a minute to think about it and write it down."
[Give students a moment to complete this task.]
"Now that we've identified some of our stressors, let's work together to find ways to handle stress! I'm going to split you into groups of four or five. Each group will brainstorm strategies for managing stress.
[Divide students into groups and hand out more worksheets.]
"In your groups, I want you to discuss ways to cope with stress that could help you or your friends. Each group should write down at least three different techniques. You have ten minutes for this activity—ready, set, go!"
[Circulate among the groups to provide guidance and support.]
"Alright everyone, let’s take a little break from sitting and move around! I want you all to stand up and follow my lead as we do a short physical activity.
[Lead students through light exercises, like stretching, jumping jacks, or simple yoga poses.]
"Great job moving your bodies! These activities can be a fantastic way to help us relieve stress and feel more energetic."
"Now let’s come back together and share what your groups have come up with. I’d love to hear some of your coping strategies!"
[Encourage each group to briefly share their ideas. No need for formal presentations—just a quick summary from each group.]
"Wow, those are some excellent ideas! Thank you all for sharing. Remember, it’s important to have a variety of techniques to rely on when we're feeling stressed."
"As we wrap up our lesson today, let’s summarize what we’ve learned. We talked about what stress is, identified our personal stressors, brainstormed ways to cope with stress, and even took a physical break to boost our spirits.
"Before we finish, why do you think it’s important to manage stress in our daily lives?"
[Wait for a few student responses.]
"Exactly! Managing stress is crucial for our health and wellbeing. I encourage you to use some of the techniques we discussed today.
"For homework, I’d like each of you to create your own personal stress management plan. On one page, write down at least three different techniques you can use when feeling stressed. Please bring it to our next class.
"Thank you for participating today, everyone! Remember, it's okay to feel stressed sometimes, but we can always find ways to handle it."
"Have a wonderful day!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A classroom with students raising hands} | - Introduction to stress |
| - Stress is experienced by everyone | ||
| - Sources of stress: school, friends, family, homework | ||
| - Invite students to share what stresses them out | ||
| - Write responses on the whiteboard | ||
| 2 | {Image: Students writing on worksheets} | - Identifying personal stressors |
| - Reflect on individual stressors | ||
| - Write down at least three personal stressors | ||
| - Encourage reflection on various aspects of life | ||
| 3 | {Image: Groups of students discussing} | - Group activity on coping mechanisms |
| - Form groups of four or five | ||
| - Brainstorm strategies for managing stress | ||
| - Each group writes down at least three techniques | ||
| - Share ideas after the activity | ||
| 4 | {Image: Students doing physical activities} | - Physical activity break |
| - Importance of movement to relieve stress | ||
| - Lead students through light exercises | ||
| - Encourage energy-boosting activities | ||
| 5 | {Image: Students seated and listening} | - Sharing group findings |
| - Encourage groups to share their coping strategies | ||
| - Importance of having a variety of techniques | ||
| - Conclusion and reflection on the day's learning | ||
| - Homework: Create a personal stress management plan |
What are some physical feelings you experience when you are stressed?
Can you think of a time when you successfully managed your stress? What did you do?
How do you think stress impacts your friendships or relationships with others?
If you had to teach someone else one technique for coping with stress, what would it be and why?
Why do you think it's important for students your age to learn about managing stress?
Here’s a list of simple physical exercises suitable for students to perform. The exercises can help relieve stress and promote energy levels.
Jumping Jacks
Stand tall, arms at your sides,
Jump up high, spread wide like tides.
In and out, with a big cheer,
Jumping jacks—let's move, my dear!
Stretch Up High
Reach for the sky, stretch your arms wide,
Take a deep breath, let your worries slide.
Bend to the ground, let your body sway,
Feel all the stress just drift away.
Arm Circles
Lift your arms, big circles go,
Forward and backward, nice and slow.
Feel the tension begin to release,
Arm circles help us feel a little peace.
Torso Twists
Stand up tall, feet shoulder-width apart,
Twist to the left, then right—feel the start!
Side to side, with a gentle flow,
Release the stress, let it go, let it go.
Calf Raises
Rise on your toes, hold it tight,
Down you come, what a lovely sight!
Up and down, with a steady pace,
Calf raises bring a smile to your face.
Deep Breaths
Inhale deep, let the air fill up,
Hold it for a moment, then let it drop.
Exhale slowly, feel the calm return,
Breathing is key; it’s what we learn.
Side Lunges
Step to the side, bend low with grace,
Feel the stretch, each muscle in place.
Swap to the other side, sway with the beat,
Moving our bodies feels really neat!
Walking in Place
March it out, lift those knees high,
With each step you take, feel time fly by.
A little walk to make hearts race,
Just a few seconds, pick up the pace!
Gentle Yoga Poses
Stand like a tree, roots go down deep,
Stretch your arms wide, embrace the leap.
Downward dog or cat-cow, let’s play,
Yoga’s a way to release and sway.
Happy Dance
Turn on some music, let it play loud,
Dance like nobody’s watching, feel proud!
Wiggle and shake, let your body groove,
A happy dance is the ultimate move!
Feel free to mix and match these exercises for a fun, engaging physical activity session in the classroom!