B1 Lesson: Managing Stress and Mental Well-being

Objective:

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

  • Use modal verbs for giving advice and expressing obligation (e.g., should, ought to, must, have to, don’t have to).
  • Talk about stress, emotions, relaxation, and work-life balance.
  • Understand and discuss short texts or videos related to mental health strategies.
  • Give advice to others about managing stress in daily life.

Understanding Stress and Giving Advice

Session 1: Vocabulary + Grammar + Speaking (45 mins)

Warm-Up (5 mins)

  • Ask:
      • “What things make you feel stressed?”
      • “What helps you relax?”
        Write student answers on the board and group them into categories (e.g., work, school, health, family, etc.).

Vocabulary Focus (10 mins)

  • Introduce vocabulary related to stress and emotional health:
      • stressed out, overwhelmed, calm, relaxed, anxious, frustrated, burned out, balanced lifestyle
      • Collocations: take a break, go for a walk, clear your head, get enough sleep, manage time, feel under pressure
  • Do a matching activity: words to definitions or images.

Grammar Focus: Modals of Advice & Obligation (15 mins)

  • Board examples and guide students through:
      • You should take a break.
      • You must drink more water.
      • You don’t have to work all night.
      • You ought to ask for help.
  • Quick practice: Complete sentences or correct mistakes.

Speaking Practice (15 mins)

  • Role-play in pairs: One student is stressed. The other gives advice using should, shouldn’t, must, have to, don’t have to, ought to.
    Situations:
      • Too much homework
      • No time to relax
      • Can’t sleep
      • Feeling anxious before an exam

Session 2: Listening + Reading + Writing (45 mins)

Listening Task (15 mins)

  • Watch or listen to a short video (or podcast excerpt) on “Tips to Reduce Stress.”
    Students listen and answer:
      • What are 3 pieces of advice given?
      • What is the speaker’s attitude?
      • Which tips do you agree with?

Reading Task (15 mins)

  • Short article: “Why Taking Breaks Improves Mental Health”
  • Students underline modals (should, must, etc.) and complete comprehension questions:
      • What are 2 reasons breaks are important?
      • What can happen if you don’t rest?
      • What advice is given?

Writing Task (15 mins)

  • Write an email to a friend who is stressed about exams.
      • Use at least 3 modals of advice.
        E.g., “Hi Julia, I heard you’re feeling stressed. You should try…”

Week 2: Healthy Minds and Balanced Lifestyles

Session 1: Group Speaking + Game (45 mins)

Discussion Task (20 mins)

  • In small groups, students discuss these questions:
      • What helps you relax when you feel stressed?
      • Do you think social media makes stress worse?
      • How can people find more balance in life?

Use a speaking board game with prompts like:

      • “Give advice to someone who can’t sleep.”
      • “What should people do when they feel burned out?”
      • “What is something you don’t have to do every day?”

Vocabulary Review Game (15 mins)

  • Play “Stress Word Bingo” or “Taboo” using vocabulary from both weeks.

Mini Writing/Reflection Task (10 mins)

  • Students write 3 short tips for stress management.
    E.g., “You should eat healthy food.” / “You must take a break sometimes.”

Session 2: Speaking + Final Writing (45 mins)

Advice Challenge (15 mins)

  • Students walk around giving and receiving advice to different “problems” written on slips.
    Examples:
      • “I have no time to relax.”
      • “I’m always online before bed.”
      • “I worry about everything.”
  • Each student must give one piece of advice using a modal verb.

Final Writing Task (20 mins)

  • Students write a short blog post or advice column:
    “How to Stay Mentally Healthy During Busy Times”
    Include:
      • Introduction
      • 3–5 pieces of advice (use modal verbs)
      • Personal reflection (What works for you?)

Wrap-Up and Reflection (10 mins)

  • Ask:
      • “What advice are you going to follow?”
      • “What tip would you give someone who is always stressed?”

Vocabulary: Stress and Well-being

Match the words to their meanings

1. burned out_____

2. clear your head_____

3. overwhelmed_____

4. anxious_____

5. balanced lifestyle_____

a. not calm; worried

b. extremely tired or stressed

c. calm down and think clearly

d. too much to manage or do

e. good mix of work and rest

Fill in the blanks with the correct word:

relaxed / stressed out / take a break / manage time / get enough sleep

  1. When I’m feeling __________, I go for a walk.
  2. You should __________ if you feel tired.
  3. It’s important to __________ during exams.
  4. I try to __________ well so I’m not late.
  5. I feel more __________ after yoga.

Grammar: Modals of Advice and Obligation

Choose the correct modal: should / shouldn’t / must / have to / don’t have to

  1. You __________ talk to someone if you feel stressed.
  2. People __________ sleep more than 4 hours!
  3. You __________ go to every party. It’s OK to say no.
  4. Students __________ finish the assignment by Monday.
  5. We __________ take care of our mental health.

Reading Task

Read the short text below and answer the questions.

 

How to Stay Calm During Busy Times

 

Many people feel stressed when they have too much to do. You should try to plan your day and make a to-do list. You don’t have to do everything in one day. You must take breaks and eat healthy food. You shouldn’t use your phone right before bed. You ought to do some exercise or go outside. These small changes can help you stay calm.

 

True or False?

  1. ___ You should make a list to help plan your day.
  2. ___ You must finish everything on your list each day.
  3. ___ It’s OK to take a break.
  4. ___ Using your phone before bed is helpful.
  5. ___ Exercise can reduce stress.

Answer the questions

  1. What are two pieces of advice from the article?
    → _____________________________________________
  2. What should you avoid before going to bed?
    → _____________________________________________

Speaking Activity

Discuss with a partner:

      • What makes you feel stressed?
      • What helps you relax?
      • What should students do when they feel overwhelmed?
  • Role-play:
    Student A: You are stressed because of school.
    Student B: Give advice using should, shouldn’t, must, have to, don’t have to, ought to.

Writing

Write an email to a friend who is feeling stressed. Give 3–4 pieces of advice using modal verbs.

Hi [Friend’s Name],
I heard you’re feeling stressed. I think you should…

Take care!
[Your Name]

Reading Assignment – “The Day Mia Snapped”

Pre-Reading Discussion

  • Discuss with a partner or write your answers:
      • What do you usually do when you feel overwhelmed?
      • Do you think young people feel more or less stressed today than in the past?
      • What advice would you give to a friend who is feeling burned out?

Read the Story

The Day Mia Snapped

 

Mia was usually calm and organized, but last Monday was different. She had too much homework, three online meetings, and barely any sleep. By noon, she felt overwhelmed and anxious. She couldn’t focus, and she even forgot to eat lunch.

 

Her friend Alex noticed something was wrong. “You should talk to someone,” he said. “You can’t do everything at once.”

 

Mia finally admitted that she was burned out. Her teacher suggested a few changes. “You must get enough sleep,” she said. “You shouldn’t spend all night studying. You have to take breaks and relax your mind.”

 

That evening, Mia turned off her phone early, made a to-do list for the next day, and went for a short walk to clear her head. She didn’t solve everything in one day, but it was a start. “Maybe I don’t have to be perfect,” she thought.

 

Comprehension Check

Choose the correct answer

  1. What was Mia’s main problem? a) She failed a test
    b) She had too much to do and no time to rest
    c) She didn’t like her teacher
  2. What advice did her teacher give her? a) Study harder
    b) Get more exercise
    c) Sleep more and take breaks
  3. What did Mia do to feel better? a) She watched TV all night
    b) She ignored the problem
    c) She made a plan, turned off her phone, and went for a walk

True or False

  1. ___ Mia usually has trouble staying organized.
  2. ___ Alex told Mia to relax and ask for help.
  3. ___ The teacher told her to work harder and sleep less.
  4. ___ Mia immediately solved all her problems.
  5. ___ The story shows that small steps can help reduce stress.

Vocabulary in Context

Find a word or phrase in the story that means:

  1. Very tired from stress = ___________________
  2. Not calm; worried = ___________________
  3. To stop and rest for a moment = ___________________
  4. To become aware and accept a problem = ___________________

Post-Reading Speaking / Writing

  • Speaking Prompt (Pair work):
    Imagine you are Alex. What other advice can you give Mia? Use modal verbs (should, must, have to, ought to, etc.)

 

  • Writing Prompt:
    Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) giving advice to a student who feels stressed like Mia. Use at least four different modal verbs.

Homework:

  • Listening: Watch a short TED-Ed or YouTube video about mental health or mindfulness. Write down 3 new tips.
  • Writing: Keep a stress diary for 3 days. Each day, write:
      • What stressed you
      • How you felt
      • What you did to relax

Assessment:

  • Speaking: Participation in advice-giving tasks and group discussions.
  • Listening: Comprehension tasks based on video/audio.
  • Writing: Use of modal verbs and clarity of advice in the email and blog post.

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