Created by: Janine Perez

Grade: 3rd - 12th grade

Stress Management Lesson Plan

Introduction:
The purpose of this lesson is to teach students effectively cope and manage stress.
Input:
The teacher will ask the students to gather in a circle to do the Starfish breathing exercises,
establish ground rules (such as raising their thumbs in return when the teacher asks them to pay
attention). The teacher briefly introduces and lectures on the topic of stress and stress
management followed by facilitating the following activities: Don’t think just draw, Zumba for
kids, and Yoga for kids.
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson students will be able to
1. List a number of stress management techniques they can use both inside and outside of
school.
2. Choose or create a stress management technique that’s right for them.
3. Apply the stress management techniques learned to their everyday lives.
ASCA Mindset and Competencies:
M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental,
social/emotional, and physical well-being
M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed
M 6. Positive attitude toward work and learning
B-LS 2. Demonstrate creativity
B-LS 3. Use time-management, organizational and study skills
B-SMS 6. Demonstrate ability to overcome barriers to learning
B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem
B-SMS 8. Demonstrate the ability to balance school, home and community activities
B-SS 9. Demonstrate social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and
environment
Activities:
o Starfish Breathing Exercise (5 min)
o Don’t think just draw (15 min)
o Zumba video (2 to 10 min)
o Yoga for kids (15 to 25 min)
Materials:
- Zumba for Kids video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymigWt5TOV8
- Yoga for kids video
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X655B4ISakg (25 min)
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75m2xWoFBaA (3 min)
- Stress Management PowerPoint Presentation
- Laptop
- Projector
- Don’t Think Just Draw Worksheet OR White paper
- Relaxing Music (optional)
Procedure:
1. Students will gather in a circle, legs crossed as the teacher gives the students instructions.
2. The teacher asks the students to close their eyes, placing their hand in front of them and
their other hand’s index finger tracing the outline of their hand whenever they inhale and
exhale.
3. The teachers to tell them to keep their eyes closed and gives them instructions, explaining
to them the classroom management technique (to get their attention or to get them to
calm down/be quiet).
4. Students are asked to open their eyes and share how they felt when they did the activity.
5. The students are asked to go back to their seats.
6. The teacher then lectures about stress.
7. After the lesson, the teacher instructs the students what they will do for each activity:
Don’t think just draw:
1. The teacher distributes the white paper to each student, assuring that each student has a
pencil to draw.
2. The teacher explains the activity and the students are instructed to freely draw an image
that comes to mind without thinking. The teacher plays a calming tune as the students
work on their drawings for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. The students are asked to drop their pencils and lift their drawings up in the air. Asking a
few students to volunteer to share what they drew.
Zumba:
1. The kids are asked to gather around the center of the classroom, arm length apart so that
they do not hit each other.
2. The teacher plays the video once for the students to observe before following along.
3. The teacher then plays the video again this time having the students follow along. The
teacher may join them as the lead dancer or ask a volunteer to be the lead dancer.
4. The teacher walks around making sure that each student is participating and encourages
or praise each student.
5. The teacher then debriefs with the students, asking them how they felt after the activity
and whether they liked the activity.
Yoga:
1. The teacher asks the students to gather in the center, once again having an equal distance
apart from the side and from front and behind (doing this activity outside is more
preferable).
2. The students follow along with the yoga instructor from the video following each pose.
3. Depending on the allotted time available, the teacher can cut the session short and have
all the students gather in a circle to cross their legs and once again do the starfish
breathing exercises.

Assessment:
Students are asked what they learned from the lesson, what they liked, and what stress
management technique they will use when they are stressed.

Closure
The teacher explains to the students that the purpose of this lesson and activity is to help students
know that they own their lives and when they are faced with challenges that stress them out they
can use the stress management tips provided to help them de-stress and care for their mental
health.