Health Education - 4th Grade
Strand 2: MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH (MEH) Standard 4.MEH.1:
1 class periods of 45 minutes each
Small Groups
Communication
Students will compare responsibilities, opportunities and expectations of pioneer children to their own lives. Students will identify sources of stress and ways to alleviate stress.
Familiarity with lifestyle of early settlers.
Familiarity with lifestyle of early settlers.
Students will be able to verbalize, discuss and list:
Involve students in a class discussion of the of the lifestyle of pioneer children. Divide students into small groups. Assign cooperative learning roles to each student. (Suggestions = time keeper, scribe, gopher, supply clerk, reporter etc.)
STRESS DOLL ACTIVITY
Pass out doll pattern. Give students supplies for cutting out and decorating a doll. Have students glue yarn on the doll for hair. Have the hair standing straight out as if the doll were "stressed". Have student write "I think I'm having stress" on the front of the doll.
Many needs of diverse learners are met when this activity is done with cooperative groups. Early finishers/advanced learners could write in a journal about a time when they were stressed, or what is stressful in their lives, and set a goal to use a strategy learned today to help deal with that stress.
Instead of or in addition to the Stress Doll, stress Pillows could be made. Using fabric crayons or paints, students decorate a 12x12 piece of white fabric entitled "Squeeze me, I'm stressed". Students or volunteers can then sew this piece to another 12x12 piece of fabric, leaving an opening for stuffing. Students then stuff the pillow, stitch the opening closed and ta-da! they have just completed a real pioneer project!
Assessment will be observed through discussion participation, cooperative group participation and completion of the worksheet and stress doll.