What is stress?
What does the word stress mean?
Stress is what we feel when something puts pressure on us or challenges us. It’s our body and mind reacting to a situation that feels demanding, overwhelming, or important.
Name one body signal of stress
Fast heartbeat
Tight or tense muscles
Headaches
Stomach aches or nausea
Sweaty palms
Shaky hands
Trouble sleeping
Feeling tired
Name one healthy way to calm yourself down.
Take slow, deep breaths
Go for a short walk or stretch your body
Talk to a trusted adult or friend
Listen to calming music
Take a quiet break
Do something creative like drawing or colouring
Practice positive self-talk (e.g., “I can handle this”)
What is positive self-talk?
Positive self-talk is the way you talk to yourself using kind, helpful, and encouraging thoughts.
Name one trusted adult you could talk to.
A parent or caregiver
A teacher
A school counsellor
A principal or vice-principal
A coach
A grandparent
Is stress always a bad thing? Explain.
Stress can be helpful in small amounts, but when there is too much of it, it can become unhealthy.
How might your breathing change when you’re stressed?
When you’re stressed, your breathing may become faster, shorter, or more shallow.
This happens because your body is preparing to respond to a challenge, which can make it feel harder to take slow, deep breaths.
Why might deep breathing help during stress?
Deep breathing helps during stress because it tells your body to slow down.
When you take slow, deep breaths:
your heart rate can slow
your muscles can relax
your brain gets more oxygen
Turn this thought into a positive one: “I can’t do this”
I don’t have to be perfect to try.
I can ask for help if I need it.
I can try my best and keep going.
This is hard, but I can learn.
Why is asking for help a strength?
Asking for help means you are strong enough to reach out when you need support.
Name one common stressor for Grade 6 students. Explain?
They may worry about:
doing well on tests
understanding new or harder material
keeping up with deadlines
This can cause stress because students may feel pressure to succeed or fear making mistakes.
Why might your stomach hurt when you’re nervous?
Your stomach might hurt when you’re nervous because stress affects your digestive system.
When you feel nervous, your body focuses its energy on dealing with the stress instead of digestion. This can cause:
stomach aches
a “butterflies” feeling
nausea
It’s a normal body response to stress, and it happens to many people.
Give an example of a movement-based coping strategy.
Here are multiple examples of movement-based coping strategies:
Going for a walk
Stretching your arms, legs, or neck
Doing yoga or simple poses
Dancing to music
Playing a sport or active game
Doing jumping jacks or wall push-ups
Riding a bike
All of these use movement to help release stress and calm the body.
How can positive thinking change how we feel?
Positive thinking can change how we feel because our thoughts affect our emotions and our bodies.
When should you ask for help instead of handling stress alone?
You should ask for help instead of handling stress alone when the stress feels too big or doesn’t go away.
True or False: Everyone experiences stress the same way.
False.
Everyone experiences stress differently.
Name two physical signs that tell you you need to calm down.
Here are multiple physical signs that can tell you your body needs to calm down:
Fast or shallow breathing
Tight shoulders or clenched jaw
Racing heartbeat
Stomach aches or “butterflies”
Sweaty palms
Headaches
Shaky hands or legs
Feeling restless or unable to sit still
Why is it important to have more than one coping strategy?
Having more than one coping strategy helps you be prepared for different kinds of stress.
Give an example of something you could say to yourself during a test.
I can stay calm and do my best.
I’ll take this one question at a time.
It’s okay if I don’t know everything.
I’ve practiced and I’m prepared.
I can try even if it feels hard.
I can use strategies if I get stuck.
How can helping a friend reduce stress for both people?
Helping a friend reminds both people that they are not alone, which helps reduce stress.
True or False: Stress is the body and mind’s response to challenges or pressure.
True.
When you feel stressed, this body system can cause your heart to beat faster and your breathing to speed up.
The nervous system
This healthy coping strategy uses slow, deep breaths to help calm your body and mind when you feel stressed
Deep breathing
This coping strategy means using kind and encouraging thoughts to help yourself feel calmer and more confident.
Positive self-talk
This is something you show when you talk to a trusted adult or friend about stress instead of dealing with it alone.
Strength