Episode 2: Keeping Stress in Check

Objectives

After listening to the podcast, students will:

• Summarize a working definition of stress and stressors
• Recognize how the body reacts to stress and describe some of the physical, mental, and emotional problems that can result from too much stress
• Identify some healthy ways to combat stress

National Health Education Standards

Click the links below to find correlations for the NHES addressed in this activity.

• Grades 6-8                                                • Grades 9-12

Time/Materials Required

• One class period to create blog and ongoing posts for one week
• Computer with access to the Internet
• Health Podcast Student Activity Worksheet

Downloads

• Download or stream the audio podcast
• Download the podcast script

Facilitating Podcast Activities:

Activity A – Listening and Learning

• Write the word "Stress" on the board and ask students to give you some examples of stressful situations. Ask them to describe how their bodies feel when they are stressed.
• Arrange for students to hear the podcast in one of two ways: Listen to the Keeping Stress in Check podcast on a class computer or by using digital media players.
• After students have listened to the podcast, have them answer the questions on the Health Podcast Activity Worksheet. Download the podcast script and use the provided time signature to review key concepts.

Answers:

1. Another name for long-term stress: Chronic Stress [1:20-1:30]
2. Problems that could develop: frustration, headaches, physical illness, violence, drug and alcohol use, depression. [1:40-2:00]
3. Three stages of stress: Alarm, Resistance, and Fatigue [3:20-4:30]
4. Choose any three: talk to friends and family, listen to advice, get help, make a to do list, find a way to eliminate the stressor, try to resolve conflict, get exercise, eat a well-balanced diet, don't try to do too much, have a positive attitude, write in a journal [6:00-8:00]

Activity B – Creating a Blog to Combat Stress

• Direct students to Activity B where they will use the online resource Blogger.com to create and make posts to a blog about stress. Note: the activity can also be completed using other free blogging web sites, such as Personallearningspace.com or Youthvoices.net
• Encourage students to come up with a creative name for their blogs and personalize the content (name, color, templates, etc.).
• Encourage students to discuss positive strategies to combat stress and to discuss helpful resources with friends and family.
• Have the students email you the addresses to their blogs so you can critique their daily posts posts and/or offer additional comments when it is completed at the end of one week.