Guided Discussion Prompts

Below are questions to help students identify and share their feelings safely. Invite volunteers to speak, remind everyone of confidentiality, and gently guide the conversation back to emotions and coping strategies rather than graphic details.

1. What did you notice when you watched the shooting on live TV?

   • What images or moments stand out most to you?

2. How did seeing that event make you feel?

   • (Examples: scared, angry, sad, confused)

3. What thoughts went through your mind during or after watching it?

4. Where in your body did you feel these emotions?

   • (For example, a tight chest, a knot in your stomach)

5. Since then, what has helped you feel even a little bit better?

6. Who have you talked to about what you saw, and how did that conversation feel?

7. What coping strategies would you like to learn or try today?

8. What are you hoping to gain from our session together?

Peer Support Role-Play Cards

These cards provide brief scenarios and emotional responses. In pairs, take turns being the speaker and the listener. As the listener, practice empathetic listening, supportive statements, and open-ended questions.

How to Use:

1. One student reads the scenario and role-plays the speaker, expressing the stated emotion.
2. The partner listens actively and uses supportive language to respond.
3. Switch roles and try a new card.

Card 1:
Scenario: You keep replaying the shooting footage in your mind and feel overwhelmed.
Emotion: Anxiety (heart racing, sweaty palms)
Listener Prompts:

• “I’m so sorry you’re feeling anxious. What’s the hardest part right now?”
• “I hear your heart is racing—that must feel really scary.”
• Ask: “What helps you calm down when you feel this way?”

Card 2:
Scenario: You feel very sad and tearful every time you remember the event.
Emotion: Sadness (tears, heaviness in chest)
Listener Prompts:

• “It’s OK to cry. I’m here for you.”
• “Thank you for trusting me with how you feel.”
• Ask: “Would you like to talk about a memory that brings you comfort?”

Card 3:
Scenario: You’re angry and frustrated that no one could stop what happened.
Emotion: Anger (clenched fists, tension)
Listener Prompts:

• “I can understand why you’d feel angry about that.”
• “It’s OK to be mad. What would feel helpful to do right now?”
• Ask: “Have you tried channeling that anger into something positive?”

Card 4:
Scenario: You feel guilty because you didn’t do anything to help.
Emotion: Guilt (self-blame, regret)
Listener Prompts:

• “It’s not your fault you couldn’t change what happened.”
• “You’re not alone in feeling this way.”
• Ask: “What kind of support do you think might ease that guilt?”

Card 5:
Scenario: You feel numb and disconnected from others around you.
Emotion: Numbness (absence of feeling, spacing out)
Listener Prompts:

• “I’m sorry you’re feeling disconnected.”
• “Is there something small that brings you a sense of normalcy?”
• Ask: “What activity usually helps you feel more present?”

Card 6:
Scenario: You keep having images pop into your mind unexpectedly.
Emotion: Flashbacks (startle response, distress)
Listener Prompts:

• “That must be really hard. I’m here to listen.”
• “You’re safe right now.”
• Ask: “What grounding strategy could help in this moment?”

Healing Circle Reflection Worksheet

Please respond to the following prompts in writing. You may share your reflections with the group if you feel comfortable.

1. One feeling I’d like to share next time:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. One coping strategy I plan to try today:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. An additional thought or question for our next session:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Healing Circle Facilitator Script

Welcome and Grounding (5 minutes)

(Teacher positions self in the center of the circle of chairs. Speak in a calm, gentle voice.)

Hello, everyone. Thank you for being here today. We’ve come together for this Healing Circle because we all saw something difficult on live TV, and it’s okay to feel a lot of different emotions about it.

Before we begin, let’s go over a few important agreements to help us feel safe:

1. Confidentiality. Whatever we share in this circle stays here. We respect each other’s privacy.
2. Respect. We speak one at a time and listen without judgment.
3. Active Listening. Show you’re listening with eye contact, nodding, and kind gestures.
4. Optional Sharing. You can choose to pass or use our signal (touch your heart) if you feel overwhelmed.

Now, let’s take a moment to center ourselves in this space. We’re going to do one minute of deep breathing together.

• Sit up tall with both feet on the floor.
• Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
• Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four… (inhale) …one, two, three, four.
• Hold for two… (hold) one, two.
• Exhale gently through your mouth for four… (exhale) one, two, three, four.

Let’s do this two more times at your own pace.
(Pause and model two more breaths.)

Great. Thank you all. Remember, if at any point you need a break or a signal, you’re welcome to step out quietly or use our heart signal.

Guided Discussion (12 minutes)

(Teacher holds up the packet of prompts.)

I’m going to share some questions to help us talk about what we saw and how we felt. I’ll pass around our Guided Discussion Prompts. As you look at the prompts, think about which question you’d like to answer first.

(Distribute the prompts.)

Who would like to start by reading Question 1 and sharing your thoughts?

Student reads: “What did you notice when you watched the shooting on live TV? What images or moments stand out most to you?”

• Thank you for reading. Who would like to share first? (Pause for volunteer.)
• [After student shares] “Thank you for sharing. I hear that you noticed ___. That must have felt ___ for you.”

Great. Now let’s try Question 2: “How did seeing that event make you feel?”

• Remember, you can share as much or as little as you like.
• After a response: “I appreciate you trusting us with that feeling. Where did you feel that in your body?”

(Continue through Questions 3–5, inviting volunteers and validating each speaker. Use prompts like: “Can you tell us more about that thought?” or “When you say you felt ___, what helps you feel a little safer?”)

Before we move on, let’s finish with Question 7: “What coping strategies would you like to learn or try today?”

• Listen for ideas. If a student says “deep breathing” or “talking to someone,” you can say: “That’s a great strategy. Would you teach us how you do it?”

Thank you all for your courage and honesty.

Peer Support Role-Play (8 minutes)

(Teacher holds up role-play cards.)

Now we’re going to practice being supportive friends. Please pair up with someone sitting next to you. Each pair will get a set of Peer Support Role-Play Cards.

Here’s what to do:

1. Choose who will start as the speaker and who will be the listener.
2. The speaker reads the scenario and expresses the emotion.
3. The listener practices active listening and uses the prompts on the card.
4. After two minutes, switch roles and try a new card.

I’ll circulate to listen in, offer feedback, and answer any questions.

Let’s begin.
(After 4 minutes)
Wonderful. Please switch roles now and pick a second card.
(After another 4 minutes)
Thank you. Let’s come back together as a group.

Cool-Down Reflection (5 minutes)

(Teacher distributes worksheets.)

To wrap up, please take a Healing Circle Reflection Worksheet. You’ll see three prompts:

1. One feeling I’d like to share next time.
2. One coping strategy I plan to try today.
3. An additional thought or question for our next session.

You have three minutes to write quietly.
(Pause for writing.)

Would anyone like to share one part of their reflection? You can raise your hand or pass.
(Allow 1–2 volunteers to share.)

Thank you for sharing. Let’s close with one more deep breath together.

• Inhale through your nose for four.
• Hold for two.
• Exhale through your mouth for four.

(Pause for breath.)

You’ve done important work today by sharing and listening. Remember, if you ever feel like you need more support, you can talk to our school counselor or a trusted adult. Thank you for being here and taking care of one another.

End of session.