Length
60 to 90 minutes
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.3
Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.5
Analyze the structure of the relationships among concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction force, energy).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.9
Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
Materials
- A worksheet created using the quiz from the associated video lesson
- Assorted stress scenarios (e.g., Tony is caring for two toddlers and an elderly parent while working two full-time jobs. He has been having trouble sleeping and frequently feels that his world is falling apart. How can Tony relax?, and so on).
Instructions
- Begin by asking students to write down three things they do to relax.
- Have students share with the class the three things they wrote. Ask the following questions:
- What is it about these practices that helps you feel relaxed?
- What is 'relaxation'?
- Play the video lesson Relaxation Techniques: Breathing Exercises, Aromatherapy, Massage, Muscle Relaxation & Visualization, pausing it at 0:35. Ask the following:
- Did any of the techniques mentioned in the video lesson appear on our lists?
- Who has tried breathing exercises?
- Play the video lesson again, pausing it at 1:19. Address students with the following:
- Why do breathing exercises help to increase feelings of relaxation?
- Let's try the equal breathing technique together.
- How do you feel after the equal breathing practice?
- Play the video lesson. Pause it this time at 2:03. Pose these questions:
- What is aromatherapy?
- How many of you have tried aromatherapy?
- Have any of you had a massage?
- Let's take a moment to give ourselves a simple neck massage.
- Play the video lesson, pausing it at 3:13. Discuss the following with your students:
- What is progressive muscle relaxation?
- Let's try it by forming a fist as hard as we can with our right hands. Hold it. Now release it. How do the muscles in your hand feel?
- Play the rest of the video lesson for the class now. Discuss the following with your students:
- Why does visualization help with relaxation?
- Let's all close our eyes for one minute to visualize a sunny beach with fluffy, white clouds and warm, blue water.
- How do you feel after the visualization practice?
- Review key points about relaxation with the class.
- Pass out the worksheet to the class now, one copy per student.
- Instruct the students to work independently to complete the worksheet.
- When all students have finished the worksheet, review each question and answer with the class, allowing students to self-correct their papers.
Activity
- Divide the students into pairs.
- Give each pair one of the stress scenarios.
- Instruct each pair to work together, using what they've learned about relaxation to create a one-week plan to alleviate the stress featured in their assigned scenario.
- When all pairs have completed their plans, have them take turns sharing them with the class.
Extensions
- For one week, have students log their practice of one or more of the relaxation techniques from their respective plans. Then have them take turns presenting their logs to the class as you highlight the benefits of their plans as well as call attention to any areas of opportunities.
- Invite a counselor to speak to the class about relaxation techniques.
