DIY Stress Balls for Stress Management

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Standards

Self-management: managing one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations

Self-Awareness: understanding one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across context

Objectives

• Students will understand the concept of stress and how it affects them personally.
• Students will learn how to use a stress ball as a coping tool.
• Students will identify situations when using a stress ball may help them manage stress.

Assessment

• Creating the stress ball
• Discussion participation
• Reflection

Materials

• 1-3 balloons per student
• Rice, sand, and/or water beads
• 1 Funnel or a sheet of paper rolled into a funnel per student
• 1 plastic spoon for each student
• Markers or stickers (optional, for decoration)

Activating Prior Knowledge

Introduce the concept of stress (the feeling of being overwhelmed or stressed when facing challenges or pressure) and explain that stress can affect how we think, feel, and act. 

Facilitate a discussion by asking students to think about moments when they experienced stress. Ask students, “What do you do when you feel stressed?” Encourage them to share strategies they currently use or would like to try. Remind them of sensory tools they may already be familiar with such as fidget spinners and Calm Strips. Explain that today they will be making their own sensory tool, a stress ball.

Lesson Steps

1. Demonstrate the process of creating the stress ball:
   • Stretch a balloon and place the funnel inside the opening.
   • Use a spoon to fill the balloon with rice, sand, or water beads. If all three materials are available, explain that each one provides a different sensory experience. 
   • Once filled, tie the balloon securely, and encourage students to decorate their stress balls using markers or stickers.
2. Provide each student with materials and guide them through the process step by step, offering support as needed. If all three materials are available, allow them to create three stress balls to see which one(s) they like the most.

Reflection

Facilitate a discussion by asking students questions such as “How do you know when you’re starting to feel stress” and  “When do you think this stress ball could help you manage stress?”.

Digging Deeper

For additional resources about stress, view the Understanding Stress Lesson Plan and and Coping Strategies Poster.

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Access the downloadable version of DIY Stress Balls for Stress Management Lesson Plan here.

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