Stress Management Game played like Apples To Apples-Handouts

In this fun game, played similarly to the Apples To Apples game, students will read different stressful situations and choose a strategy they would use for that situation. There are 18 situation cards and 36 strategy cards. Each player draws 5 strategy cards (they do not show the other players which cards they have). The "judge" will draw a situation card and show the other players the card after reading the situation. For example, "You don't know the answers when taking a test." Then the other players will choose a strategy card they would use for that situation and place it face down to near the judge. The judge will read the different strategy cards and choose which one they would most likely choose. Important to convey to students: There is no "wrong" strategy, just a strategy that the judge would most likely use.

Then for the next round, a different person is the judge and the game continues. the discarded strategy cards can get placed under the strategy pile. the person whose strategy was chosen, gets the situation card and also gets one point. This is a fun and engaging way to get students talking about different strategies they would use for stress management as well as different types of stressful situations they can manage if they need to. In this resource you will also be getting 2 mindful coloring handouts. This is a great way to finish the lesson after the game. I also like to begin this lesson by introducing a Brain Pop on stress. You can also choose a short video of your choice or a book about stress to prime the students' brains about what stress is, possible triggers of stress and how to cope with stress. Then the game can be played and can reinforce the topic.