What to do when you’re stressed

Abi | Jun 21, 2024Mar 27, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• talk about stress issues and possible solutions for them;
• watch a short video on how to stop worrying about a problem;
• practise advice structures.

With this lesson, students discuss relaxing activities, identify common stress-related problems and watch a video on tips about how to take your mind off your problems. They also explore and apply advice structures (e.g. you should…, you could…, don’t…, etc.) and assess how useful some pieces of advice are.

WARM-UP AND VIDEO

This lesson starts with a warm-up where students look at pictures of people doing different activities (e.g. doing yoga, having a talk, reading, etc.) and discuss their relaxing effects and share experiences. After that, they look at problems people have when they are stressed (e.g. You can’t fall asleep) and say if they have ever had them. Then, they watch a short video on tips about how to take your mind off your problems and tick the problem that is mentioned. Afterwards, students look at different categories (e.g. things that can help you clear your mind and fall asleep) and think of one example for each. Next, they watch the video again and note down one thing for each category. Following that, students discuss questions about the suggestions in the video.

GIVING ADVICE

In this part of the lesson, students read the beginning of a sentence (If you find it hard to fall asleep,…) and choose the most and the least useful advice for it (e.g. you should create a bedtime routine). Then, they practise advice structures by writing advice for someone who has a headache and using the structures from the previous task (e.g. should do, could do, try doing, etc.). Next, students read and correct the mistakes in sentences about tips for a healthier lifestyle. After that, they look at the statements again and say which one is the best piece of advice for someone who is stressed out and wants to feel better. Finally, they imagine they have a friend who is telling them about their problems. With a partner, students take turns giving their friend as much advice as possible, using the lesson’s target structures.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students give advice and practise advice structures. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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