Grade Level: Fourth (and up)

• Students will define positive and negative self-esteem, stress, and depression. They will describe how each of these conditions are interrelated.
• Students will list goals and develop a self-improvement action plan.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of the effects of positive self-esteem on mental health, stress management techniques, and how to combat depression.
• Students will list available resources and describe how to get help if they, or someone they know, are suffering from low self-esteem, stress, and/or depression.

This lesson defines self-esteem and, through hands-on activities, gives students reason to feel positive about themselves. The students will discover unique qualities which they possess and other people notice.

Through this lesson, students will discover the effects of caring and concern for others on self-esteem. They will learn to describe their feelings and find positive ways to resolve problems.

Students will experience a stressful situation and note the physical changes which occur in their bodies. They will identify stressful situations and ways to reduce stress.

Students will experience a mental/emotional stressor. They will identify the physical changes of their bodies during stress. They will learn about the general adaptation syndrome and develop a stress management plan.

Students will use the curriculum page, "Childhood Depression," to research web sites dealing with depression. After visiting and viewing the web site, the students will answer questions listed on the curriculum page.

1. Students will keep all work, class notes and journal entries for the unit plan in a portfolio.

 

2. Students will write a detailed report describing how each of the conditions; self-esteem, stress, and depression, are related. They may use their portfolios to complete the assignment.

 

3. At the end of the unit on self-esteem, stress and depression, the portfolios will be collected to assess participation, concept development and understanding, and progress.