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Growing Through Grief

Lesson Plan

Growing Through Grief Lesson Plan

Help a 2nd grader recognize feelings of grief, learn simple coping strategies, and build a personal comfort toolkit with chosen items to support their emotional well-being.

Young children often struggle to understand and express grief. This lesson helps students acknowledge their emotions, teaches healthy coping tools, and empowers them to self-soothe when feeling sad.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Use discussion, visual aids, and hands-on activity to explore grief and coping.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Chat

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and invite them to share how they’re feeling today
  • Lay out the Emotion Faces Cards and ask the student to pick a face that matches their current emotion
  • Acknowledge their choice and validate their feelings

Step 2

Exploring Grief

8 minutes

  • Explain grief in simple terms: losing something or someone we love can make us feel many different emotions
  • Show the Coping Strategies Poster and briefly describe each strategy (deep breathing, drawing, talking, etc.)
  • Ask the student if they’ve tried any of these strategies and discuss what helped them

Step 3

Create Comfort Toolkit

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Comfort Toolkit Template and explain that it’s a box or set of items that bring comfort when feeling sad
  • Invite the student to choose 3–4 activities or objects they find soothing (e.g., drawing, a favorite toy, deep breaths)
  • Have the student draw or write each item on their template using crayons

Step 4

Reflect On Feelings

5 minutes

  • Review the completed toolkit with the student and ask how each item might help when they feel sad or upset
  • Encourage them to share a time they might use one of the tools
  • Reinforce that it’s okay to feel grief and that their toolkit is there to help

Step 5

Closing Ritual

2 minutes

  • Lead the student in a brief deep-breathing exercise: inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts
  • Praise the student for their effort, bravery, and creativity
  • Remind them they can return to their toolkit anytime
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Slide Deck

Growing Through Grief

• Today’s Goal: Learn about grief and how to cope
• Make a personal Comfort Toolkit
• Practice a calming exercise

Welcome the student warmly. Briefly introduce today’s topic and explain that by the end of our time together, they’ll have a special toolkit to help them when they feel sad.

Script: “Hi there! Today we’re going to talk about big feelings, like sadness, and learn ways to feel better. We’ll also make something special just for you—a Comfort Toolkit!”

How Are You Feeling?

  1. Look at the Emotion Faces Cards
  2. Pick the face that shows your feeling
  3. Tell me why you chose it

Guide the student to choose an emotion face that matches how they feel right now. Validate whatever they pick.

Script: “Here are some faces showing different feelings. Which one looks like how you feel today?”

What Is Grief?

• Grief = big feelings after a loss
• It’s okay to feel many emotions

Coping Strategies (see Coping Strategies Poster):
– Deep breathing
– Drawing or coloring
– Talking to someone
– Listening to music

Explain grief in simple, relatable terms. Show each coping strategy on the poster and give a quick demo if possible.

Script: “Grief is what we feel when we lose someone or something we love. It can feel like sadness, anger, or confusion. Here are some ways we can help ourselves.”

Create Your Comfort Toolkit

  1. Take a Comfort Toolkit Template
  2. Choose 3–4 soothing items or activities:
    • Favorite toy or stuffed animal
    • Drawing or painting
    • Taking deep breaths
    • Listening to a favorite song
  3. Draw or write each item

Introduce the Comfort Toolkit Template and model filling in one item. Encourage creativity and remind the student there’s no right or wrong.

Script: “This is your Comfort Toolkit. Let’s think of 3–4 things that make you feel calm or happy.”

Reflect on Your Toolkit

• Share each item in your toolkit
• Describe when you might use it
• Talk about how it could help you feel less sad

Ask the student to explain each item and how it helps. Reinforce that they can use these tools anytime.

Script: “Tell me about your first tool. When would you use it? How does it help you feel better?”

Closing Ritual

• Inhale for 4 counts
• Exhale for 4 counts

You did amazing today!
Remember: Your Comfort Toolkit is here for you.

Lead the student through the breathing exercise slowly, counting together. Praise their work and bravery.

Script: “Let’s finish with a quick breathing exercise. Inhale… 1, 2, 3, 4. Exhale… 1, 2, 3, 4. Great job!”

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Worksheet

Emotion Faces Cards

Cut out each card along the dotted lines. Use these cards to show how you’re feeling today.

😀 Happy

😢 Sad

😡 Angry

😱 Scared

😲 Surprised

😕 Confused

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Reading

Coping Strategies Poster

When you’re feeling big emotions like sadness or worry, try one of these simple strategies to help yourself feel better:

🌬️ Deep Breaths
Take 3 slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Imagine blowing a bubble!

🎨 Draw or Color
Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to draw how you feel. Art can help you let out big feelings.

🗣️ Talk to Someone
Share your thoughts with a friend, family member, or teacher. Talking helps lighten your heart.

🎵 Listen to Music
Put on a favorite song—sing or dance along if you like! Music can change how you feel.

🤲 Squeeze Something Soft
Use a stress ball, play-dough, or a soft toy. Squeezing can help you let out tension.

🚶‍♂️ Take a Walk
Walk around inside or outdoors. Moving your body and taking in fresh air can help clear your mind.

🤗 Hug a Stuffed Animal
Give your favorite plush friend a big hug. Feeling something soft can bring comfort.

Keep this poster where you can see it. When you need to calm your worries or sadness, pick one of these strategies and give it a try!

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Worksheet

Comfort Toolkit Template

When you’re feeling sad or upset, your Comfort Toolkit can help you feel better! Think of 4 things—like an activity, object, or person—that make you feel calm, happy, or safe. Draw a picture or write the name of each one in the boxes below.

1. My First Comfort Item

_______________________________





2. My Second Comfort Item

_______________________________





3. My Third Comfort Item

_______________________________





4. My Fourth Comfort Item

_______________________________





Remember: You can keep this sheet where you see it and use it whenever you need a little comfort!

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Growing Through Grief • Lenny Learning