Lesson Plan
Finding Light After Loss
Students will learn about the grieving process, identify emotions tied to loss, and practice healthy coping strategies in a supportive group setting.
Grief can feel isolating for adolescents. This lesson builds emotional literacy, peer support, and equips students with practical tools to navigate loss and strengthen resilience.
Audience
7th Grade Middle School Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Discussion, emotion mapping, strategy brainstorming, personal reflection.
Materials
- Feelings Wheel Poster, - Coping Strategy Cards, - Private Reflection Journal, - Writing Utensils, and - Group Norms Poster
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and display the Feelings Wheel Poster in the meeting space.
- Prepare a set of Coping Strategy Cards (one per student).
- Ensure each student has a Private Reflection Journal and a writing utensil.
- Display the Group Norms Poster to set expectations for confidentiality and respect.
Step 1
Welcome and Check-In
5 minutes
- Greet each student warmly as they enter.
- Invite volunteers to share one word or phrase describing how they feel today.
- Review the Group Norms Poster to reinforce confidentiality and respect.
Step 2
Understanding Grief
8 minutes
- Define grief as a natural response to loss—loss of loved ones, friendships, or life changes.
- Present the Feelings Wheel Poster and explain that grief often involves a mix of emotions.
- Ask students to call out emotions they’ve experienced during loss and mark them on the feelings wheel.
Step 3
Exploring Coping Strategies
8 minutes
- Distribute the Coping Strategy Cards face down.
- Students pick two cards that resonate with them.
- In pairs, students share why they chose those strategies and discuss how they might apply them when feeling grief.
Step 4
Personal Reflection
5 minutes
- Invite students to write in their Private Reflection Journal about one coping strategy they’ll try this week.
- Encourage them to note any support they may seek (e.g., talking to a trusted adult).
Step 5
Group Check-Out
4 minutes
- Go around the circle; each student shares one word describing how they feel after the session.
- Remind students of support resources (school counselor, trusted adults).
- Thank everyone for their openness and participation.
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Slide Deck
Finding Light After Loss
A 30-minute group session to explore healthy ways to cope with grief.
Objectives:
• Learn about the grieving process
• Identify emotions tied to loss
• Practice coping strategies with peer support
Welcome everyone! Introduce the session: "Finding Light After Loss." Briefly share the objective: understanding grief and discovering coping strategies together. Invite students to settle in and prepare to share.
Today’s Agenda
- Welcome and Check-In (5 min)
- Understanding Grief (8 min)
- Exploring Coping Strategies (8 min)
- Personal Reflection (5 min)
- Group Check-Out (4 min)
Review the flow of today’s session so students know what to expect. Emphasize that all activities are confidential and respect is key.
Welcome and Check-In
• Share one word or phrase describing how you feel today.
• Remember our group norms: confidentiality, respect, and support.
Greet each student warmly. Invite volunteers to share a word or phrase describing how they feel. Point to the Group Norms Poster and quickly review confidentiality and respect.
Understanding Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss — whether it’s a person, friendship, or big change.
• Emotions can include sadness, anger, confusion, and more.
• Use the Feelings Wheel Poster to explore what you’ve experienced.
Define grief clearly: a natural response to loss of people or life changes. Display the Feelings Wheel Poster. Ask students to call out emotions they’ve felt when grieving and mark them on the wheel.
Exploring Coping Strategies
- Pick 2 cards from the Coping Strategy Cards.
- In pairs, share:
• Why you chose each strategy
• How you might use it when you feel grief
Hand out the Coping Strategy Cards face down. Give students time to choose two cards. Then guide pairs to discuss why those strategies resonate and how they could use them.
Personal Reflection
Write in your Private Reflection Journal:
• One coping strategy you’ll try this week
• Who or what support you might seek (e.g., a trusted adult)
Ask students to take out their Private Reflection Journal. Encourage honest writing — this journal is just for them. Prompt them to pick one strategy they’ll try and note any support they need.
Group Check-Out
• Share one word describing how you feel after today’s session.
• Remember: you can reach out to the school counselor or a trusted adult anytime.
Thank you for sharing!
Invite each student to share one word about how they feel now. Highlight available support: school counselor, trusted adults. Thank everyone for their honesty and participation.
Worksheet
Coping Strategy Cards
Cut out each card along the dashed lines below. Place face down and choose two that resonate with you during our activity.
Calming Breaths
Take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth until you feel more relaxed.
Journaling Thoughts
Write down what’s on your mind and how you feel to help organize your thoughts.
Drawing Emotions
Use colors, shapes, or symbols to draw how you’re feeling right now.
Music Break
Listen to a favorite song or playlist to lift your mood.
Move Your Body
Go for a walk, stretch, dance, or do jumping jacks to release tension.
Talk to a Friend
Call or chat with someone you trust about how you feel.
Mindful Observation
Notice five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, one you can taste.
Reach Out to an Adult
Talk with a trusted adult (parent, teacher, counselor) about what’s on your mind.
Positive Self-Talk
Repeat supportive phrases to yourself like “I am strong” or “I can get through this.”
Spend Time in Nature
Step outside and notice the sky, plants, and fresh air around you.
Use a Stress Ball
Squeeze a stress ball or fidget toy to help release pent-up energy.
Read a Favorite Book
Immerse yourself in a comforting story to take a mental break.
Activity
Emotion Mapping Activity
Description: Students use the Feelings Wheel Poster to visually mark emotions they’ve experienced during grief. This helps them recognize and name feelings, building emotional awareness and group empathy.
Materials:
- Feelings Wheel Poster
- Colored stickers or sticky dots
- Writing utensils (markers or pens)
Steps:
-
Display and Explain the Wheel (2 min)
- Hang the Feelings Wheel Poster where everyone can see.
- Briefly explain that the wheel groups emotions into categories (e.g., joy, sadness, anger).
-
Identify Emotions (3 min)
- Ask students to think of emotions they’ve felt when experiencing loss (e.g., sadness, confusion, relief).
- Offer a few examples to prompt ideas and normalize all feelings.
-
Map Your Emotions (3 min)
- Give each student two or three colored stickers or sticky dots.
- Invite them to place a dot on the wheel next to each emotion they’ve experienced in their grief journey.
- Students may place multiple dots if they’ve felt the same emotion more than once.
-
Brief Reflection (2 min)
- Ask for a few volunteers to share why they placed their dot(s) on certain emotions.
- Emphasize that recognizing and naming these feelings is a key step in coping.
Journal
Private Reflection Journal
Use this space to think deeply about the coping strategy you’ll try and the support you may seek this week.
1. Which coping strategy will you try this week? Why did you choose it?
2. How do you think this strategy will help you cope with feelings of loss or sadness?
3. Who can you reach out to for support? What might you say to them?
4. What challenges might come up when you try this strategy? How can you overcome them?
5. By the end of the week, what is one sign you’ll look for to know this strategy is helping you?
Reading
Group Norms for Our Grief Support Group
To help everyone feel safe, respected, and heard, we agree to:
1. Honor Confidentiality
• What is shared in this group stays in this group.
• Respect each other’s privacy—no sharing stories or names outside of our circle.
2. Speak from “I” Statements
• Use phrases like “I feel…” or “I think…” to share your own experience.
• This helps keep the conversation personal and respectful.
3. Practice Active Listening
• Listen fully—no interrupting or side conversations.
• Show you’re listening by nodding, making eye contact, or saying “I hear you.”
4. Embrace Non-Judgment
• Everyone’s grief looks different and is valid.
• Avoid saying “You should…”—instead, say “What helped me was…”
5. Allow Voluntary Participation
• You may choose what to share and when to share it.
• It’s perfectly okay to “pass” if you’re not ready.
6. Offer Kindness and Support
• Use caring words, encouragement, and empathy.
• Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
7. Prioritize Safety
• If anything feels too overwhelming, let the facilitator know.
• You can take a break at any time.
By participating, we each commit to upholding these norms to keep our space warm, safe, and respectful for everyone.
Signature: ____________________________