Fourth Grade Curriculum Resources

Standard of Learning

4.2 The student will develop the skills necessary for coping with difficult relationships. Key concepts/skills include:

development of refusal skills;
identification and reporting of bullying and aggressive behaviors;
development of coping skills;
recognition of harmful or abusive relationships;
exhibiting self-control.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will demonstrate coping skills needed to manage stressful situations.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

identify stressful situations; (stress is a major part of life and negative stress includes change, test anxiety, troubles with friends, missing the bus, death of a pet, etc.)
recognize and explain the body’s response to stress:
stress response is called the “fight or flight” response because the body prepares to fight or flee the stressor;
the hormone adrenaline is released into the blood which increases the level of sugar in the blood to give the body extra energy;
more blood is directed to the muscles and brain;
the heart beats faster;
the muscles tighten up so you are ready for action; and
one becomes more alert.
explain why coping skills are necessary.
describe how to develop coping strategies:
stay healthy – eat nutritional foods and get plenty of sleep;
breathe deeply and think of peaceful situations/places;
think positively;
laugh at the stressful situation;
become/stay physically active; and
talk about the situation with someone you trust.

Sample Lessons

"Coping with Loss"
Grade(s) K-4
To help students think about their feelings of loss one year later. To develop coping skills a year after Sept. 11th, 2001. (Modify from one year to the amount of time that has currently passed)
http://www.csee.net/LessonPlans.asp?id=13
Free

Emotional Intelligence Summarizing the Mental Health Skills Needed to Live Happy, Healthy and Productive Lives
Grade(s) 4-6
In many ways the topic of emotional intelligence is seldom mentioned by adults or amongst young people themselves. In these lessons, students will learn to use the skills of decision-making, communication, risk assessment, assertiveness and many more along the way.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/peereducation.pdf
Free

LifeSkills Training
Grades: K-5
Model substance abuse prevention and competency enhancement program focusing on the major social and psychological factors causing substance use and abuse. Teaches drug resistance skills, personal management skills, and general social skills. Focuses on self-esteem, decision-making, influence of media, stress, communication, and assertiveness issues.
Contact: http://www.lifeskillstraining.com
Cost

Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS)
Grades K-6
Model program to promote emotional & social competencies and reduce aggression and acting out. Includes emotional literacy, self-control, social competence, positive peer relations, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. Sponsor: Pennsylvania State University and Channing Bete Company
Contact: http://www.preventionscience.com
Cost

Social Emotional Learning Lesson
Grade(s) K-6
In this lesson students will share their ideas of what they believe teasing is. From the story and their discussion, they will learn about dealing with being left out, fear and embarrassment.
http://www.dist102.k12.il.us/internal/SELWebPg/COP4Chrysanthemum.htm
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

Blueprints for Violence Prevention, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence - http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/
Bullying Resources compiled by the California Department of Education - http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/bullyres.asp
Caring for Self and Others - HealthTeacher.com – http://www.healthteacher.com
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence - http://www.colorado.edu/cspv
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc
Children's Safety Network - National Injury and Violence Prevention Resource - http://www.childrensafetynetwork.org
Guidance Counselors
Kansas Bullying Prevention Program, Statewide Bullying Campaign - http://www.kbpp.org/
Life Skills Programs
National Bullying Prevention Campaign Webcast - http://www.mchcom.com/archivedWebcastDetail.asp?aeid=250
National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org
National Youth Gang Center - http://www.iir.com/nygc/maininfo.htm
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC) - http://www.safeyouth.org
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention -http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program - nationally recognized model program to reduce opportunities and rewards for bullying - http://www.clemson.edu/olweus/
Partnership Against Violence Network - http://www.pavnet.org
Prevention Pathways Online Courses, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention - http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_intro_pg1.htm
PREVENT, Preventing Violence Through Education Network and Technical Assistance, University of North Carolina - http://www.prevent.unc.edu/
Social & Emotional Health – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/health.htm(health & fitness 3-5)
Stop Bullying Now! Campaign, Human Resources And Services Administration - http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) - http://www.saddonline.com
U.S. Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program - http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS/
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Criminal Justice Reference Service - http://www.ncjrs.org
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org
Youth Violence Fact Sheet, Center for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/yvfacts.htm
Virginia Best Practices in School-Based Violence Prevention, Virginia Department of Health - http://www.preventviolenceva.org
Virginia Center for School Safety - http://www.virginiaschoolsafety.com
Virginia Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program - http://www.safeanddrugfreeva.org
Virginia Youth Violence Project, University of Virginia - http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/
What New Zealand Police are doing about bullying - http://www.police.govt.nz/service/yes/nobully/whats_bullying.html

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

list five ways their life has changed in the last year and explain whether these changes resulted in positive or negative stress.
identify perceived sources of stress that fourth graders have.
write a one-page paper on how they or someone they know dealt with a stressful situation.
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