Stress-Relief Poetry

DESCRIPTION:
The Stress-Relief Poetry activity is designed for students aged 10-12 to enhance their emotional competence in stress management. In this activity, students will create and share poems that express their emotions, reflect on stress management, and provide a creative outlet for emotional well-being.

OUTCOMES:

• improved emotional competence, with a focus on stress management, emotional expression, and creativity.
• enhanced language skills, including vocabulary, metaphorical thinking, and creative writing.
• increased self-awareness of personal stressors and effective stress-relief techniques.
• greater confidence in using words and art as tools for emotional well-being.

DURATION: 40 minutes

MATERIALS:

• Paper and writing utensils or access to a digital document for online classes.
• Access to a whiteboard or a digital platform for online classes.
• Access to a camera or smartphone (for online classes).
• Access to a video conferencing platform (for online classes).

SKILLS RELATED:

• emotional expression through poetry.
• vocabulary and language skills.
• metaphorical thinking and creative expression.
• self-awareness and self-regulation

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Start by discussing the concept of stress and its impact on emotional well-being.
• Share examples of stress-relief techniques, emphasizing the use of creative expression through poetry.
• Provide each student with paper and writing utensils.
• Instruct students to create short poems that express their emotions, provide stress relief, and reflect on their personal stress management techniques.
• Encourage them to be creative, use metaphors, and explore various poetic forms.
• After the time is up, have each student share their poem with the class and discuss its emotional and stress-relief elements.

TIPS:

• Foster creativity and encourage students to express their emotions in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
• Discuss the power of metaphors and creative language in poetry to promote stress relief and emotional well-being.
• Highlight the importance of self-reflection and the development of personal stress-relief techniques.
• Encourage students to explore the emotional impact of their poems and share their experiences.

REFLECTION:

• How does your poem reflect your emotional response to stress and the techniques you use for stress management?
• How did metaphors and creative language in your poem contribute to your stress relief and emotional well-being?
• In what ways can poetry and creative expressions be effective tools for managing and alleviating stress in your daily life?