Stress & Body Signals
Name three things your body might feel when you are stressed.
Possible answers:
Heart beating fast
Tight muscles
Stomach ache / butterflies in stomach
Headache
Feeling shaky or jittery
Feeling hot or sweaty
Trouble sitting still
Wanting to cry
Feeling tired or drained
Clenched fists or jaw
If someone is smiling and laughing, how might they feel?
Possible answers:
Happy
Excited
Silly
Having fun
Joyful
Name one thing you can do to calm your body when you feel upset.
Possible answers:
Take deep breaths
Count to 10
Take a break
Drink water
Squeeze a stress ball
Hug a stuffed animal
Sit quietly
Talk to a trusted adult
Listen to music
Draw or color
I go up but never come down. What am I?
Your age
What planet do we live on?
EARTH
True or False: Stress can make your heart beat faster.
TRUE:
When your brain thinks something is stressful or scary, it sends signals to your body to get ready to react.
If a friend says “stop,” what is the best thing to do?
Possible answers:
Stop what you’re doing
Respect their boundary
Give them space
Listen to them
Apologize if needed
What is one coping skill that uses your body to release stress?
**Movement...think physical activity
Possible answers:
Stretching
Jumping jacks
Running
Walking
Punching a pillow
Yoga poses
Dancing
Shaking out your arms and legs
Wall push-ups
Deep breathing
What has hands but cannot clap?
A clock
How many legs does a spider have?
8
What is one sign your body might give that you need a break?
Possible answers:
Feeling overwhelmed
Trouble focusing
Getting really frustrated
Wanting to yell or cry
Feeling fidgety or restless
Head starting to hurt
Feeling super tired
Stomach hurting
Feeling like everything is “too much”
Wanting to leave or hide
Name three ways to show someone you are listening.
Possible answers:
Look at them
Nod your head
Stay quiet while they talk
Ask questions
Repeat what they said
Face them
Say “okay” or “I understand”
If your brain feels like it has “too many tabs open,” what is one thing you can do to reset?
Possible answers:
Take a short break
Close your eyes for a minute
Take slow breaths
Go for a short walk
Drink water
Stretch
Do a quiet activity
Write down what you’re thinking about
Listen to calming music
Ask for help
The more you take away from me, the bigger I get. What am I?
A hole
What is the fastest land animal?
Cheetah
What does it mean when people say “listen to your body”?
Possible answers:
Pay attention to how your body feels
Notice signals your body gives you
Recognize when you need a break
Notice when you're hungry, tired, or stressed
Use body clues to help make good choices
Understand when you need to calm down
Ultimately...Your body sends clues about what it needs.
Your friend looks upset but says “I’m fine.” What is a kind thing you could do?
Possible answers:
Ask if they want to talk
Check on them later
Say “I’m here if you need me”
Offer help
Sit with them
Give them space if they want it
Why can taking slow deep breaths help your body calm down?
Possible answers:
It slows your heart rate
It tells your brain you are safe
It relaxes your body
It gives your brain time to think
It helps your muscles loosen
It helps you focus
Simply put... Breathing slowly helps your body relax.
You see me once in June, twice in November, and not at all in May. What am I?
The letter "E"
What part of your body pumps blood?
Heart
Name five things that can help your body calm down after stress.
Possible answers:
Deep breathing
Taking a break
Drinking water
Talking to someone you trust
Stretching or moving your body
Listening to music
Squeezing a stress ball
Going outside
Drawing or coloring
Taking a few quiet minutes
Why is it important to notice how your actions affect other people?
Possible answers:
So you don’t hurt someone’s feelings
To be respectful
To keep friendships healthy
To understand others
So people feel safe around you
So you can make good choices
Simply put...Our actions can affect how others feel.
Name two coping skills you could use if you start feeling overwhelmed in school.
Possible answers:
Take deep breaths
Ask the teacher for a break
Go to a calm corner
Stretch or move your body
Drink water
Use a fidget tool
Talk to a counselor or teacher
Count slowly
Draw or doodle
Close your eyes and breathe
A boy throws a ball as hard as he can. It comes back to him even though nothing and nobody touched it. Why?
He threw it straight up/ into the air
What animal is known for carrying its house on its back? (think small)
Snail