Online stress and FOMO lesson plan pack

Use this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying videos to help students explore how stress may be experienced as a consequence of using social media and how this can affect their daily lives.

Using peer-to-peer activities based on the videos, students will discuss how they might manage any online stress and understand the importance of asking for help when they need it.

Download includes:

• Online stress and FOMO lesson plan PDF
• PowerPoint for use in class

Videos

• Online Stress! – watch on YouTube
• Be Yourself! Are you the same person online as in the real world? – watch on YouTube
• Young voices: Online bullying – watch on YouTube

Curriculum

Supports the PSHE curriculum

KS3

Core theme 1: Health and wellbeing

Pupils should have the opportunity to learn:

• H5 – the characteristics of mental and emotional health and strategies for managing it

Core theme 2: Relationships

Pupils should have the opportunity to learn:

• R1 — the qualities and behaviours they should expect and exhibit in a wide variety of positive relationships (including teams, class, friendships etc.)
• R8 — different types of relationships, including those within families, friendships and the factors that can affect these (including age, gender, power and interests)

KS4

Core theme 1: Health and wellbeing

Pupils should have the opportunity to learn:

• H4 — the characteristics of emotional and mental health and the causes, symptoms and treatments of some mental and emotional health disorders (including stress, anxiety and depression)
• H3 — strategies for managing mental health, including stress, anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide, and sources of help and support

Core theme 2: Relationships

Pupils should have the opportunity to learn:

• R1 — strategies to manage strong emotions and feelings
• R2 — the characteristics and benefits of positive, strong, supportive, equal relationships
• R5 — to recognise when a relationship is unhealthy or abusive (including emotional and physical abuse or violence, including rape) and strategies to manage this or get help
• R6 — managing changes in personal relationships, including the ending of relationships
• R7 — to develop an awareness of exploitation, bullying and harassment in relationships (including the unique challenges posed by online bullying and the unacceptability of physical, emotional, sexual abuse in all types of teenage relationships, including in group settings such as gangs) and the skills and strategies to respond appropriately or access support

Learning outcomes

Teach your students how to manage the stress that may result from excessive use of social media or interacting with online content.

After the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• recognise the difference between online and real friends and understand that social media sometimes does not reflect real life
• know from whom to get help and advice about online stress
• identify helpful strategies to manage online stress