Alabama Social Studies SS24.P.18

SS24.P.18 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• SS24.P.18a

  Identify sources of stress across the human lifespan and explain the physiological and psychological consequences of stress for health and wellness.*

• SS24.P.18b

  Explain physiological, cognitive, and behavioral strategies to deal with stress, and contrast positive and negative ways of coping with stress.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students identify stressors at different ages, from changing schools to job loss or caregiving. They explain how stress affects the body, thoughts, mood, and behavior. They compare breathing, changing unhelpful thoughts, and seeking support with avoidance or substance use.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a made-up person, a student links a stressor to a body response, such as a faster heart rate, and a mental effect, such as trouble concentrating. They suggest a breathing exercise, a more accurate thought, and a step to get help. They explain why these choices work better than avoiding the problem.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think stress affects only adults or only changes mood. They may think avoiding a problem removes the stressor. Some assume slow breathing can fix the cause of stress by itself.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: A teen faces exams, and an older adult cares for a spouse. For each, name one body effect and one thought or mood effect. For either person, suggest a breathing step, a thought change, and an action that helps more than avoiding the problem.

1. 01

   Give groups cards with school moves, job loss, and caregiving; have them place each on a lifespan timeline and attach body and mood effects.

2. 02

   Ask: How could a teen rethink “I will fail” before a test, and what action could help more than skipping class?

3. 03

   Run a coping sort: students label paced breathing, asking for help, skipping sleep, and drinking alcohol as helpful or harmful, then explain one choice.

4. 04

   Use a sample work schedule and bus timetable to plan sleep, a short walk, and a check-in with a friend after a late shift.

• SS24.P.19a

  Explain how mental health professionals determine the appropriate treatment from the variety of psychological treatments available for various mental health iss...

• SS24.P.1c

  Describe how modern psychologists utilize multiple perspectives to understand behavior and mental processes, citing examples.*