LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Understand the impact of stress on teens, be able to identify stress, and learn how to use helpful coping skills

HEALTH ED STANDARD

Students will demonstrate the ability to practice healthenhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks. (NHES 7)

KEY VOCAB

physiological, nervous system, relentless, cortisol, endorphins, vicious

Lesson Plan: Tame the Stress Monster

Our survey found that 77% of teens are super stressed. What’s worse? A recent study found that teens stress out more than adults! Here, we break down the teen stress crisis and shed light on how your students can cope when stress gets scary. 

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Why are teens so stressed out these days, and how can I find ways to cope? 

 CLOSE READING QUESTIONS

  1. Why is having some stress normal, and how can it be used to your advantage? We all get stressed because of a response known as fight-or-flight, which dates back to our caveman days. A normal amount of stress can give you a burst of energy, helping you get tasks done. 
  2. What is the stress hormone, and how can you lower it? Cortisol is the stress hormone, and spending time with friends can lead to lower cortisol levels. 
  3. What are a few signs that your stress has gone from normal to not right? Possible answer: Feeling moodier than usual, having headaches or stomachaches that aren’t related to a health issue, or experiencing changes in behavior can all be signs of extremely high stress.

Like What You See?

Then you'll love Choices, our health, social-emotional learning, and life-skills magazine for grades 7–12 

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 CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. The article mentions that stress can work to your advantage, giving you strength or making you sharper. Can you think of a time this happened to you? Possible answer: I was stressed about completing my essay on the same night as my swim meet. This little bit of stress motivated me to get the essay done faster.
  2. Which of the four stress styles mentioned in the article do you most relate to? Why is that? Answers will vary. 
  3. Reaching out to people you trust is a healthy way to deal with stress. Who could those people be in your life? Write down at least three. Possible answer: My mom, my soccer coach, my uncle, and my older cousin are all people I trust to talk about my stress with. 

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

EXTENSION ACTIVITY

NHES 7

Writing or keeping a journal— especially of the things we are grateful for—has been shown to reduce stress. Using the WRITING STRESS AWAY worksheet as a guide, students will practice keeping a gratitude journal as a coping skill and will learn a new way to mindfully lower their stress levels. 

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

NHES 2, NHES 4

Talking with a trusted adult about the pressures they face at school is a great way for teens to learn how to manage their stress and also an opportunity to get advice. Using the REACHING OUT worksheet, students will write a script that they can use when asking for help should their stress become too much to handle alone. 

Text-to-Speech