CECmisc.42


TITLE:         BAG IT

AUTHOR:        DINA MERCHANT, KLAWOCK, AK

GRADE/SUBJECT  THIRD GRADE/STRESS MANAGEMENT

OVERVIEW:
     ALL HUMAN BEINGS EXPERIENCE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STRESS
     AND STRESS CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE
     ENERGY. THIS IS JUST ONE LESSON OUT OF MANY THAT HELPS
     STUDENTS IDENTIFY AND DEAL WITH STRESS.

PURPOSE:
     THIS LESSON IS DESIGNED TO MAKE EACH CHILD AWARE THAT
     STRESS HAS A MAJOR AFFECT ON HIS/HER FEELINGS.

OBJECTIVE:
     -IDENTIFY FEELINGS THAT CAN CAUSE STRESS.
     -EXPLORE THE FACT THAT CARRYING THESE
      FEELINGS AND HOLDING ONTO STRESS USES
      A LOT OF ENERGY.
     -UNDERSTAND THAT STRESS CAN AFFECT EVERYTHING
      ONE DOES.

MATERIALS:
     SIX UNOPENED CANS OF DIFFERENT SIZES MARKING PEN
     COLORED PAPER
     CARRYING SACK OR SQUARE MILK CARRIER

ACTIVITIES:
     COVER CANS WITH PAPER AND LABEL EACH CAN WITH ONE OF
     THESE WORDS:
     MAD, SAD, SCARED, TENSE, FRUSTRATED, IGNORED AND ANY
     OTHER FEELINGS THAT IS BRAINSTORMED IN YOUR CLASS.

     PICK A NAME OUT OF A JAR (2 OR 3 STUDENTS A DAY CAN
     HAVE A TURN).  THIS CAN BE DONE DAILY UNTIL EVERYONE
     HAS HAD A TURN.

     THE STUDENT COMES UP AND PICKS OUT THE CAN OR CANS OF
     FEELINGS THAT HE/SHE HAS FELT THAT DAY OR BEFORE. THE
     STUDENT THEN PLACES THOSE CANS INTO THE SACK.

     THE STUDENT AND CLASSMATES ARE WATCHING HOW LARGE THE
     SACK BECOMES.

     THE STUDENT THEN CAN WALK AROUND THE ROOM EXPERIENCING
     THE WEIGHT IT ADDS AND HOW IT GROWS HEAVIER WITH EACH
     PASSING MOMENT.

     THE STUDENT THEN BEGINS TO UNLOAD THE SACK AND
     HE /SHE PLACES EACH IDENTIFIED CAN ON THE TABLE AND
     EXPLAINS WHY THEY WERE FEELING THAT WAY.

TYING IT TOGETHER:
     HAVE A BRIEF DICUSSION ABOUT WHEN FEELING STRESSED
     ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, YOU MAY BE CARRYING
     SOME OF THESE KINDS OF FEELINGS INSIDE YOU AND THAT
     SOME REAL RELIEF IS FELT AFTER EXPRESSING YOURSELF.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
     TEACHING TO BE STRESS MANAGERS
     MAKING A STRESS PLAN
     RELAXING
     UNDERSTANDING BODY RESPONSES
     FIGHT OR FLIGHT