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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe common stressors, the effects of stress, how to manage it and when to get help.

      Key learning points

      1. Common causes of stress include fear of failure, lack of preparation and high expectations.
      2. Symptoms of stress can be physical, emotional and behavioural.
      3. Strategies to manage stress include effective time management, relaxation techniques and seeking support.
      4. Creating a personal action plan can help in effectively managing stress, including exam stress.

      Keywords

      • Stress - your body and mind's response to challenging situations

      • Anxiety - a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcomes, often accompanied by physical sensations

      • Relaxation techniques - methods used to reduce stress and anxiety by creating a feeling of calm, such as deep breathing and meditation

      • Time management - the process of organising and planning how to divide your time between specific activities

      Common misconception

      Talking about anxieties shows weakness.

      Discussing feelings and anxieties with others is a strength. Opening up leads to support and learning strategies for managing stress and anxiety.

      Teacher tip

      Referring to real exam periods and using school timetables to help time management could be helpful here. Signpost members of staff in school that can help and direct pupils to resources available - for example, the use of the study support centre or library for a quiet place to work.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What might be a sign that a person is struggling with their mental health?

      enjoying new hobbies
      Correct answer: sudden changes in sleep habits
      Correct answer: feeling hopeless or continuously anxious
      spending quality time with friends
      sleeping well and feeling rested

      Q2.
      It is important for young people to talk about their to get the support they need.

      Correct Answer: mental health

      Q3.
      Which of the following does not support good mental health?

      getting enough sleep
      eating nutritious food
      Correct answer: isolating from others
      asking for help when needed
      exercising and staying healthy

      Q4.
      How can social media negatively impact a person's mental health?

      It can boost self-confidence.
      It can create strong friendships.
      Correct answer: It can lead to low self-esteem.
      It can help to eliminate stress.

      Q5.
      Put these five actions into the best order for managing stress in a healthy way:

      1 - recognise that you're feeling stressed
      2 - take deep breaths or do a calming activity
      3 - identify what's causing the stress
      4 - talk to someone you trust
      5 - make a plan together to deal with it

      Q6.
      Match the words to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:anxiety,a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcomes
      Correct Answer:depression,a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest
      Correct Answer:support,actions taken to help someone in a difficult situation

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the words to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:stress,your body and mind's response to challenging situations
      Correct Answer:relaxation techniques,methods used to reduce stress and anxiety by creating a calm feeling
      Correct Answer:time management,the process of organising and planning how to divide your time

      Q2.
      Stress can trigger the release of which hormones?

      Correct answer: cortisol
      oestrogen
      Correct answer: adrenaline
      endorphins

      Q3.
      Which of these is not an emotional symptom of stress?

      Correct answer: stomach ache
      irritability
      mood changes
      feeling tearful
      feeling overwhelmed

      Q4.
      Which of these is not a useful relaxation technique?

      listening to calming music
      being outside in nature
      using a mindfulness app
      stretching and light exercise
      Correct answer: staying up late to cram for an exam

      Q5.
      Which of these are useful to include on an action plan?

      Correct answer: planned time for self-care and hobbies
      Correct answer: breaks and days off study
      Correct answer: ways to get support
      a long list of things to do without time allocation
      Correct answer: daily relaxation techniques

      Q6.
      It is important to get when feeling stressed because it helps you feel less alone, gives you new ways to cope and can prevent the stress from becoming overwhelming.

      Correct Answer: support, help

      To help you plan your 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Stress, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...