Learning activities in this topic provide opportunities for students to identify and discuss different types of coping strategies. When children and young people develop a language around coping, they are more likely to be able to understand and deliberately utilise a range of productive coping strategies and diminish their use of unproductive coping strategies. Students learn to extend their repertoire of coping strategies and benefit from critically reflecting on their own choices and being exposed to alternative options. Activities introduce students to the concept of self-talk and practice using positive self-talk to approach and manage challenging situations. Positive self-talk is a key strategy for coping with negative thoughts, emotions and events. It is associated with greater persistence in the face of challenge, and can be learnt or strengthened through practice.
Year Level
Activities will assist students to:
Foundation
re-engage with a vocabulary of common emotions
build social good will through group play
learn positive self-talk strategies
identify negative emotions
identify what can help them cope when they experience negative emotions
learn and practise techniques for self-calming
learn self-talk techniques to understand and manage their own emotions
1 & 2
learn strategies for working out who goes first in a game
discuss negative emotions they can feel when they lose or are excluded from a game and the strengths they need to help them cope with these emotions
explore the difference between calming and cheering coping strategies
identify times when they need to use calming or cheering coping strategies
identify situations that can cause fear
select coping strategies to help in dealing with their fears
name the things that can make them feel angry
practise strategies to help them control the way they express anger
identify that everyone has different fears, responses and coping strategies
recognise the need to respect this diversity
3 & 4
identify that everyone has different fears, responses and coping strategies
recognise the need to respect this diversity
investigate how emotional responses vary in depth and strength
describe situations that can lead to strong emotions
work cooperatively and energetically
identify the types of events and situations that can lead to feeling strong emotions
practise techniques for controlling anger and reflect on how these techniques might help them to control their emotions
focus on the impact their actions can have on others
learn a technique for making a strong apology
5 & 6
investigate the concepts of positive and negative self-talk
develop a positive self-talk vocabulary
practise using positive self-talk
understand the distinction between positive and negative coping strategies
identify a range of positive coping strategies they can use in their everyday lives
develop their social skills through participating in small group activities
share positive coping strategies they use in their everyday lives
acknowledge the contribution that friends
can make to each other through use of positive coping strategies
