Overview
This activity teaches middle school students how stress affects the body’s immune system and why healthy habits like sleep, good nutrition, physical activity, and stress-management techniques help keep the immune system strong. Students will explore the body’s stress response, learn the difference between positive and chronic stress, and practice strategies that support overall wellness.
NB Curricular Connections
English Language Arts 6-8
- Strand: Interactions: Big idea: Expression Skill Descriptor: Describe and contribute thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and compare to those of their peers.
Personal Wellness 6-8
- Strand: Wellness Big Idea: Healthy Lifestyle Skill Descriptor: Examine their personal health habits and their impact on the seven domains of wellness, self and community.
- Strand: Career Connected Learning 6-8 Big idea: Thinking about potential career pathways Skill Descriptor: Critically investigate and describe the labour market and preferred career pathways.
Activity: What Stress Does to the Immune System
Students will explore different types of stress and learn how healthy habits help turn off “stress mode” and protect the immune system.
What You’ll Need
*All materials provided as a PDF (except for sticky notes)*
- Sticky notes
- Matching cards:
- Positive Stress
- Short-Term Stress
- Long-Term (Chronic) Stress
- Sample scenarios for each
- A short PDF explaining the stress response, and immune health (PDF attached)
Step 1: Learn First!
Before doing the activities, the teacher will explain:
- What is stress?
- what are common stressors for youth?
- What are the types of stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn)?
- What are 3 types of stress?
- What happens in the body during chronic stress?
- How do healthy habits help?
- What are some careers that deal with stress and the immune system?
Step 2: Warm-Up – What Stresses Us Out?
- Students anonymously write one thing that causes them stress on a sticky note.
- Teacher places notes on the board and leads a short discussion about common stressors that came up for students.
Step 3: Matching Activity – Types of Stress
Students work in pairs to match each scenario card with:
- Positive Stress
- Short-Term Stress
- Long-Term/Chronic Stress
- Examples are included on the cards attached (PDF).
Give pair of students each a pile of scenario cards and a pile of stress types (positive, short-term, long-term)
Have students place stress type cards in the middle of their table. Students will each take 10 scenario cards. One student will go first and flip up one of the types of stress cards in the middle. Each student will place which of their scenario cards they think are positive, short-term or long-term. Students will then look at each others cards and discuss why they think it is this particular type of stress. If students want to know if they picked the correct cards they can refer to the PDF which labels each scenario as positive, short-term or long-term stress.
Step 4: Explore the Roles of Health Professionals
Introduce careers connected to stress, wellness, and immune health:
Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner
- First contact for concerns about chronic stress affecting physical health.
School Counsellor or Youth Mental Health Worker
- Supports anxiety, stress management, and coping strategies.
Registered Dietitian
- Helps students build healthy eating habits that support energy and immune function.
Recreation or Fitness Professionals
- Teach physical activity skills that reduce stress hormones.
Public Health Nurse
- Provides education on sleep hygiene, wellness habits, and stress reduction.
Mindfulness Activity
Extension Ideas (Optional)
Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect upon today’s activity.
UDL Reflection Activity
Students can reflect on their learning in a variety of different designs (Word document attached)
Global Competencies
References
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress
https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/t/teen-stressors
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11874-stress
Immune System Concept with Couple Figth Against Viruses 16399187 Vector Art at Vecteezy
