Introduction
Stress is a common challenge for students, especially those in Special Education programs. When faced with difficult situations or problems, students may feel overwhelmed and struggle to make good decisions. The ability to recognize stress, manage emotions, and choose effective strategies is crucial for students’ overall well-being and success. In this blog post, we will explore an easy-to-implement activity for educators and discuss questions that can help students develop their decision-making skills in high-pressure situations.
No-Prep Activity
This activity, called “The Pressure Cooker,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Begin by asking students to close their eyes and imagine a situation where they feel stressed or under pressure. Next, have them think about how their body feels during this situation, such as an increased heart rate or sweaty palms. Then, guide students to take deep breaths and visualize a calming scene, like a peaceful beach or a quiet forest. After a few minutes, ask students to open their eyes and reflect on how they feel now compared to when they first imagined the stressful situation.
Discussion Questions
- What are some common situations that cause you to feel stressed or under pressure?
- How does your body react when you’re in a high-pressure situation?
- What strategies did you use to calm down during the activity, and how can you apply them in real-life situations?
- How do you think your decision-making process changes when you’re stressed compared to when you’re relaxed?
- Can you think of a time when you made a good decision under pressure? What helped you in that situation?
Related Skills
Developing the ability to make good decisions under pressure is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that can help students in Special Education programs succeed include:
- Emotion recognition and management
- Problem-solving
- Effective communication
- Empathy and understanding others’ perspectives
- Resilience and coping with setbacks
Next Steps
If you found this blog post helpful and would like to explore more resources to support your students in developing their decision-making skills under pressure, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our skill-based materials and others at Everyday Speech’s Sample Materials. These resources are designed to help students in Special Education programs build essential Social-Emotional Learning skills and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
