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Lesson 2 of 5
  • Year 10

Stress

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

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View unit
Lesson 2 of 5
New
New
  • Year 10

Stress

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

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

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.


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

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.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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

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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

a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcomes

Correct Answer:depression,a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest

a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest

Correct Answer:support,actions taken to help someone in a difficult situation

actions taken to help someone in a difficult situation

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the correct definitions.

Correct Answer:stress,your body and mind's response to challenging situations

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

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

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