Title of lesson: How Do You Handle Stress?

Grade(s): 10th
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Group Size: Large group
Learning Objective: Students will explore ways to reduce stress, deal with academic
pressure and set personal goals. Students will identify common academic stressors and
explore ways to reduce stress.
ASCA/NYSSCA National Standards and Competencies:
Personal/Social
Standard A
Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and the interpersonal skills to help
them understand and respect self and others.
PS:A1.5 identify and express feelings
PS:A1.6 distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior
Standard B
Students will make decisions, set goals, and take necessary action to achieve
goals.
PS:B1.4 develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems
Standard C
Student will understand safety and survival skills.
PS:C1.10 learn techniques for managing stress and conflict
Common Core Standard:
Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Science
Standard 3: Resource Management
Students will understand and be able to manage their personal and community
resources.
NOSCA Component
4. College and career exploration and selection: provide early and ongoing
exposure to experiences and information necessary to make informed decisions
when selecting a college or career that connects to academic preparation and
future aspirations
Materials:
Handout 1 S-DBS Inventory
Handout 2 What are Self Defeating Behaviors
Pen

Introduction (10 minutes):

This lesson will be taught in a calm environment, to promote the message that is trying to
be sent. The school counselor will introduce the topic of stress to the class. After the
introduction, she will then distribute multiple handouts to the class, where they will have
a chance to reflect on their personal experiences and see how stress affects them. The
counselor will encourage students to discuss the signs of stress they have recognized in
themselves.
Procedure (20-25 minutes):
1. Distribute Handout 1. Students will identify the signs of stress that they have
experienced.
2. Ask students to share any of the signs that they recognize in themselves.
3. Distribute Handout 2. Students will address long-term strategies for reducing
stress.
4. Distribute Handout 3. Students will complete the question on the handout.
5. Practice the short-term strategies with the students.
Closure/Evaluation (10 minutes):
After the school counselor practices short-term strategies with the students, there
will be time, the school counselor will have everyone write down their biggest
stressor on a piece of paper to be handed in for assessment. These exit slips can
lead to a conversation for a later lesson and can allow the counselor to know what
the students are struggling with in terms of stressors.

References
College foundation of west virginia (n.d.). Relax! Learn stress management.
Retrieved from https://secure.cfwv.com/Home/Article.aspx?
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West virginia department of education. (August 15, 2015). Lesson plans. Retrieved
from http://wvde.state.wv.us/counselors/links/advisors/lesson-plans.html