RAK 4 Stress Busters 2015
RAK 4 Stress Busters 2015
GRADE 4
Objective: Students will be able to:
• Identify personal stressors at home, with friends, in
school and the community, and in the environment.
• List physical and emotional reactions to stressful
situations.
• Identify positive and negative ways of dealing with
stress.
What Causes Stress Activity, • Create signs that say “Just a Little Stressed” and
“Very Stressed” and post the signs on opposite
pp. 5-8 (30 minutes) walls
• Stressed or Not Stressed Pictures (provided), cut
apart before class
• RAK Journals
What Makes You Anxious? Activity, • Manila envelopes, one for each student
• Materials to decorate envelopes, such as stickers,
pp. 11-13 (60 minutes) markers, etc.
• What Makes You Anxious? worksheet, one for each
student
Home Extension Activity, pp. 14-15 • Take Home Activity, one sheet per student
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 2 of 17
ACTIVITY
WHAT IS STRESS ANYWAY? VISUAL RESPONSE (25 to 30 minutes)
LESSON MATERIALS STANDARDS MET
• Clip about Stress from morethanmediation.ca: Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1, 2
http://bit.ly/1jyuhTD (Click on Educators, then on Colorado: Comprehensive Health S.3, GLE.2, EO.a,b.c;
the Lesson 1 video) Reading, Writing and Communicating S.1, GLE.1,
• RAK Journals EO.a,b
• Kindness Concept Poster for Self-Care
DESCRIPTION
1. Before watching the clip about stress, explain: “We are going to watch a clip that explains stress. Before
we do that, write the following questions in your RAK journal: What is stress? What causes stress? How
can stress impact your mind and body? What can you do to manage stress and take care of yourself?
As you watch, answer the questions on your sheet.”
2. Watch the clip. If you can’t play the clip, read the following instead, and have students answer the
questions on their sheet while you read. Consider writing key words on the board as you read: “What is
Stress? It’s something we need a little of, but not too much. Like the strings of an instrument, too much
will make us break! Stress is a feeling and reaction to something that is happening, which makes us
alert and ready to solve a problem. It can feel like butterflies in your stomach or give you a feeling of
worry, make you cranky or angry, or make it hard to concentrate. It is in our thoughts, but also in our
bodies. The hypothalamus in our brains sends a signal that we need to be alert, which tells our adrenal
glands (on top of our kidneys) to give off hormones called adrenaline and cortisol. These make your
heart beat faster, raise your blood pressure, give you more energy and release sugars into your blood.
It’s called the stress response. These are helpful if we need to get out of the way of danger. When
they are in a milder form, they can even help you perform better at sports, on a test or at a recital.
Sometimes, our bodies don’t know how to reset after the stress response and over time, it can be bad
for us. But, if we know what makes us stressed and know how to make ourselves feel better, we can
make a plan for when stress is too much. Things that help are sleep, for letting your body and brain
recharge, listening or playing music or laughing, which resets our stress receptors. You can also ask a
trusted adult for help, do relaxation exercises, or exercise your body. You will feel better because this
lets out hormones that make us feel good. If you can master your stress and learn how to relax, you can
feel more relaxed, have less headaches or pains, be able to concentrate better and be healthier overall.
Experiment and find out what works best for you!”
3. Divide students into small groups. Write the following questions on the board or project using a
document camera and have students discuss in their small groups. Then discuss as a group, and write
their responses on the board or on chart paper so they can be used in other activities.
1) What did you think of the clip (or the information I just read to you)?
2) What can cause stress for people? (Arguing, bullying, fighting, tests, too much to do, friend
problems, etc.)
3) What can stress feel like? What does it feel like to you? (Butterflies in stomach, worry, grumpy,
headache, hard to concentrate, jumpy)
4) How does stress impact the human body and mind?
5) What can you do to manage stress as part of your self-care plan, so that you keep it under control
and in balance? (Sleep, listening or playing music, laughing, asking for help, relaxation, exercise/
stay active)
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ACTIVITY
6) How can managing stress make a difference? (Concentrate better, less stomach aches, tests easier
to take, healthier, better mood)
7) Can stress ever be a positive thing?
EVALUATION
Discuss (or have students write responses in their RAK journals): “Do you ever feel stressed? How do you
feel and how do you respond? What are some of the ways your classmates have dealt (negatively or posi-
tively) with stress?”
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 4 of 17
ACTIVITY
WHAT CAUSES STRESS ACTIVITY (30 minutes)
LESSON MATERIALS STANDARDS MET
• Create signs that say “Just a Little Stressed” and Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1, 4; CCSS.
“Very Stressed;” post signs on opposite walls Math.Content.4.MD.B.4
• Stressed or Not Stressed pictures, cut apart Colorado: Comprehensive Health S.3, GLE.2, EO.a,b.c;
before class Reading, Writing and Communicating S.1, GLE.1,
• RAK Journals EO.a,d; Mathematics S.3, GLE.1, EO.a, IQ.1,2
• Kindness Concept Poster for Self-Care
DESCRIPTION
1. Before class, post the signs on the walls. Move chairs out of the way so that students can easily walk to
the signs during the activity.
2. Explain: “Not everyone gets stressed out by the same things. It is helpful to figure out what makes
you feel stressed, so you can cope with everyday stressful situations, come up with ways to take care
of yourself, and be kind to yourself. For the next activity, I will show you a series of pictures and you
are going to decide how stressed the situation makes you feel...just a little stressed, very stressed, or
somewhere in between. Once you decide, go stand either by a sign or somewhere between the signs.”
3. Show each image, one at a time. If there are a lot of variations in how students feel about a particular
image, discuss why students have that particular opinion about the situation.
4. After students complete the activity, ask the following questions:
1) Not everyone gets stressed by the same things. What situations make you feel stressed out?
2) How do you feel when you get stressed out? (Heart races, get angry, stutter, get a headache, feel
like screaming, bite nails, can’t eat, eat too much, feel like fighting, get quiet, grind teeth)
3) What are some ways you can respond when feel stressed? (Breathe, relax, visualize a safe place,
talk to someone, listen to music, exercise, pace, positive thoughts, play with a pet, etc.)
5. Optional Math Activity: Have students keep track of how many people found which situations very
stressful. Create a graph that shows which situations are most stressful for your class. Students could
interview other fourth graders to determine the top stressors in those classes. Have students present
findings to the class.
EVALUATION
Have students write responses in their RAK journals to the following prompt: “Write down three things that
cause you stress and what you can do to respond.”
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 5 of 17
FIGHTING WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 6 of 17
NO MONEY
RESOURCES
Activity adapted with permission from materials created by Colorado UpLift, Denver.
DESCRIPTION
1. Teacher says: “We have been talking about what causes stress for us. All of us feel stressed
out at different times...our bodies might react by tensing up or getting headaches, we might
react with our emotions, by feeling sad or upset, or our brains might react with anxious
thoughts. We can’t always control our immediate reactions. But we can learn to recognize some
negative and positive ways of thinking and feeling when we are stressed. First, let’s brainstorm
some negative ways we think and feel when we are stressed.”
2. Allow students to respond and write their responses on the board. Suggest the following if
students get stuck: Heart races, get angry, stutter, get a headache, feel like screaming, bite
nails, can’t eat, eat too much, feel like fighting, get quiet, grind teeth, ignore everything.
3. After they finish, say: “Now let’s brainstorm some ways to persevere and learn to handle our
negative reactions to a stressful situation in a positive way. If you feel stressed in a situation or
are reacting in a negative way, what could you do that would be helpful for you?”
4. Allow students to respond and write their responses on the board. Then add the following if
they get stuck:
1) Exercise or find a sport you like to do.
2) Find a hobby or something that you like to do.
3) Talk to a friend, family member or trusted adult.
4) Play with a pet.
5) Take a walk.
6) Find a quiet place like your room or a space in your home.
7) Laugh. Watch a funny movie.
8) Play music or listen to music.
5. Then say: “For some of us, exercise helps. For other people, talking to someone helps. Now we
are going to learn some steps to help us handle our stress. It’s called Breathe, Think, Do. These
steps can help us if we practice them each time we feel stress beginning to build.”
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 9 of 17
ACTIVITY
6. Write the words Breathe, Think, Do on the board as you read the following information:
1) Breathe: Take slow, deep breaths. This helps our bodies and minds relax so that we can
think clearly and stay calm.
2) Think: Think about the situation. Once we are calm, we can think about what is causing the
stress.
3) Do: Do it now! Ask: What can we do about the situation? Who can we talk to? How can we
solve the problem in a positive way?
7. Explain: “Now I want you to think about a stressful situation you are facing. Close your eyes.
Take slow, deep breaths. (Pause). OK, now think about the stressful situation. (Pause). NOW
think about what it is that you want to do. Do you think you can solve the stress or the problem?
Do you need to relax and be calm first? Do you need to exercise? Do you want to talk to
someone?”
EVALUATION
Discuss (or have students write responses in their RAK journals): “Do you think this way of
handling stress could be helpful for you? Why or why not?”
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 10 of 17
ACTIVITY
WHAT MAKES YOU ANXIOUS? ACTIVITY (60 minutes)
LESSON MATERIALS STANDARDS MET
• Manila envelope, one for each student Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1; CCSS.ELA-
• Materials to decorate envelopes, such as stickers, Literacy.W.4.1, 3
markers, etc. Colorado: Comprehensive Health S.3, GLE.2, EO.a,b.c;
• What Makes You Anxious? worksheet (p. 13), one Reading, Writing and Communicating S.1, GLE.1, EO.a;
for each student S.3, GLE.1, EO.a,b,c
• Kindness Concept Poster for Self-Care
DESCRIPTION
1. Teacher says: “Today we are going to talk about our worries and our fears and what we can do
to respond. We all worry about things, but the goal is not to let those worries or fears become
too much to handle. We are going to start by creating a Worry Envelope, which is a private,
safe place to “park” your fears and worries until you are ready to talk about them and work
through them with a trusted adult. If it’s hard for you to talk about fears and worries, you can
even share your envelope and the information inside, to get the conversation started.”
2. Hand out envelopes and allow 10 to 15 minutes for students to decorate.
3. After they finish, hand out the What Makes You Anxious? worksheet and explain: “Fears and
worries can drag you down – but the good news is that you can manage some fears and
worries through using focusing and problem-solving strategies. Sometimes, you know exactly
what you’re worried about. Other times, you might not know what’s bothering you. So take a
few minutes to complete the questions on the sheet about one of your fears or worries. By
identifying and talking about your worries, you may be able to think through ways to help you
feel less worried and start feeling better. Once you’ve identified your fears and worries and
written about them, you’re ready to put them into your envelope for safekeeping. This activity
may be challenging for you. If your worries seem too big for you to handle, please talk to me,
another teacher, your parent, or another trusted adult about them.”
4. Have students complete the worksheet independently.
5. Divide the students into groups of three and ask them to respectfully share some fears and
worries with each other and discuss ways to feel less worried. Be careful to group students
with those who will be sensitive listeners. Let the students know about the importance of active
listening during this exercise.
6. Then have students write a creative response describing how they are going to handle their
fear, which they turn in or also keep in their envelope. They can write a short essay, a story, a
poem, a song, or some other creative response.
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 11 of 17
ACTIVITY
EVALUATION
Discuss (or have students write responses in their RAK journals): “Did this activity help you identify
your worries and figure out what you can and can’t do about it?”
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ACTIVITY
WHAT MAKES YOU ANXIOUS?
Directions: Complete the questions below about something that
worries you or makes you anxious. Identifying and talking about
your worries often can help you think through what you can do to
help you feel less worried and start feeling better. Once you’ve
identified your fears and worries, you’re ready to put them into your
Worry Envelope for safekeeping. If you want, you can write about
another worry on the back of this sheet.
• What are some things that I can do to help myself when I feel worried about this? (Think about
some of the strategies we have discussed.)
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 13 of 17
ACTIVITY
HOME EXTENSION ACTIVITY
MATERIALS
Take Home Activity (p. 15), one sheet per student
DESCRIPTION
1. This activity could be done at any point during the unit. Write the return date on the sheet
before you distribute it. You may want to distribute the sheet with the Friday folders and have it
returned on Monday.
2. Hand out the Home Extension Activity and say: “We have been talking about what we can do
to handle stress in more healthy ways. I want you to talk about these ideas with your parent,
guardian or another adult who cares for you. Please put this in your folder and return by
_____________.”
3. After the students bring back their sheets, ask the following questions:
1) What do you think are some healthy or positive ways for you to handle stress?
2) What are some ways that people you live with can help you deal with stress?
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 14 of 17
STRESS BUSTERS:
HOME EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Name: __________________________________ Please return by: ___________
BACKGROUND
As part of the Random Acts of Kindness program, we have been talking in class about what
causes stress and how to handle that stress in healthy ways.
VOCABULARY WORDS
Perseverance: Keep trying even when something is hard.
Self-Care: Learning how to take care of yourself. Using nice
words when you think or talk about yourself.
AT HOME ACTIVITY
Review the vocabulary words listed above. Ask your
student what he or she has learned about stress and how
to handle stress in ways that show care for yourself. Then discuss the following questions and
write (or have your student write) responses below or on the back and return to school by the date
above.
• What are some healthy or positive ways for you to handle stress?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
• What are some ways for us or your friends to support you so that your stress doesn’t get
overwhelming?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, 2014 | Stress Busters, Grade 4 Page 15 of 17
STANDARDS KEY
ACADEMIC SUBJECT KEY Mathematics
3. Mathematics
• CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.B.4: Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions
of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions by using
information presented in line plots.
3. Mathematics
• Standard 3: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Grade Level Expectation (GLE): 1. Visual displays are used to represent data
Evidence Outcome (EO): Students can:
a. Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8)
Inquiry Questions (IQ):
1. What can you learn by collecting data?
2. What can the shape of data in a display tell you?