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Healing Hearts

Lesson Plan

Healing Hearts Lesson Plan

Students will understand what grief is, identify their own feelings, and learn simple coping strategies to support themselves and peers after loss or change.

First graders benefit from naming emotions and practicing coping tools early, building resilience and peer support during difficult transitions.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion, hands-on activities, and guided practice.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Invite students into a circle and introduce the safe space rule: we listen and respect each other’s feelings
  • Explain that today we’ll learn about feelings when someone we love isn’t around or things change
  • Use a calm, reassuring tone to set a caring atmosphere

Step 2

What is Grief?

7 minutes

  • Show each Grief Emotion Card and name the feeling (sad, angry, confused, lonely)
  • Ask: “When have you felt this way if someone you care about was gone or something changed?”
  • Define grief simply: the mix of feelings we have when we miss someone or something important

Step 3

Identifying Feelings Activity

8 minutes

  • Distribute Feelings Faces Worksheet
  • Prompt students to circle or color faces that match times they felt sad, mad, or confused after a big change
  • Invite volunteers to share one feeling and describe a time they felt it
  • Affirm: “All feelings are okay; talking helps us feel better”

Step 4

Learning Coping Strategies

7 minutes

  • Introduce the Coping Strategies Chart
  • Read through simple tools: drawing a picture, talking to a friend, taking deep breaths
  • Lead the group in a quick breathing exercise: inhale for 3, exhale for 3
  • Ask each student to pick one strategy they’ll try when they feel sad or worried

Step 5

Closure & Reflection

3 minutes

  • Go around the circle: each student shares one new thing they learned or a way to help a friend who’s sad
  • Praise their sharing and remind them these tools can help anytime
  • End with a group affirmation: “We have caring hearts and we support each other”
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Slide Deck

Healing Hearts: Dealing with Grief

Welcome to our special time together. We will learn about big feelings and ways to help our hearts feel better.

Welcome students with a warm smile. Introduce yourself and explain that today we’ll learn about feelings when someone or something we love is gone. Encourage students to join in circle and speak kindly.

Our Safe Space

  1. We listen without interrupting.
  2. We use kind words.
  3. We keep everyone’s feelings safe.

Review the safe space rules: listening, speaking kindly, and keeping everyone’s feelings safe. Model one example of gentle listening.

Warm-Up: Check-In

How are you feeling today? Let’s share one word about our feelings.

Briefly ask students how they are feeling today. Validate each response and emphasize there are no wrong feelings.

What Is Grief?

Grief is the mix of feelings we have when we miss someone or something we love.

Define grief in a simple, child-friendly way.

Emotion Cards Introduction

We have four feelings: sad, angry, confused, and lonely. Let’s learn what each one looks like!

Show the emotion cards one at a time. Invite students to name each feeling and share a time they felt it.

Feeling: Sad

Sad means our heart feels heavy and we may want to cry when we miss someone or something.

Display a picture of the sad face card. Ask: When have you felt sad? Praise sharing.

Feeling: Angry

Angry means our body feels hot and tight when we feel hurt or things aren’t fair.

Show the angry face card. Ask students how their bodies feel when they’re angry (clenched fists, hot cheeks).

Feeling: Confused & Lonely

Confused means our head feels mixed up. Lonely means our heart feels alone when we miss being with someone.

Show confused and lonely cards together. Ask for examples. Students might say they feel confused if they don’t understand why something happened.

Activity: Identifying Feelings

Find the faces that show when you felt sad, angry, or confused. Circle or color them.

Introduce the worksheet. Guide students to circle or color faces that match times they felt these emotions. Walk around to offer support.

Coping Strategies

• Draw a picture
• Talk to a friend or grown-up
• Take deep breaths
• Give yourself a hug

Show the chart of coping tools. Read each tool and model one by drawing a quick picture.

Practice: Breathing Exercise

Let’s breathe together:
Inhale…2…3, hold…1, exhale…2…3. Feel your heart get calm.

Lead the group in one round of breathing: inhale for 3, hold 1, exhale for 3. Count out loud.

Closure & Affirmation

Share one new thing you learned today. Then we say together: “We have caring hearts and we support each other!”

Invite each student to share one thing they learned or one way to help a friend. End with a loud, enthusiastic group affirmation.

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Activity

Grief Emotion Cards

These printable cards help students learn to identify and name four feelings they might have when they experience grief. Cut each card apart and show them one at a time during the lesson.

Cards (4 total):

1. Sad

Illustration: A face with downturned mouth and a single tear

Label: SAD


2. Angry

Illustration: A face with furrowed eyebrows, clenched teeth, and steam puffs by the head

Label: ANGRY


3. Confused

Illustration: A face with one raised eyebrow, a tilted head, and a question mark above

Label: CONFUSED


4. Lonely

Illustration: A face with sad eyes looking down and a small cloud overhead

Label: LONELY





Materials Needed:

  • Printer and paper or cardstock
  • Scissors
  • (Optional) Laminator for durability

Instructions for Use:

  1. Print and cut out each card.
  2. During What Is Grief?, hold up one card and ask “What feeling is this?”
  3. After naming it, ask students to share a time they’ve felt that way.
  4. Proceed through all four cards to build vocabulary and emotional awareness.
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Worksheet

Feelings Faces Worksheet

Use this worksheet to think about times you’ve felt different feelings. Circle or color the faces and then write about a moment when you felt each way.

1. Sad

😔 😐 😊 😠 😢

(​Circle the sad face)

Describe a time you felt sad:





2. Angry

😔 😐 😊 😠 😢

(​Circle the angry face)

Describe a time you felt angry:





3. Confused

😵 😐 😊 😠 😢

(​Circle the confused face)

Describe a time you felt confused:





4. Lonely

😔 😐 😊 😠 😢

(​Circle the lonely face)

Describe a time you felt lonely:





5. Coping Strategy

When big feelings come, we can use tools to help our hearts feel better. Look at the Coping Strategies Chart and pick one tool you will try next time you feel sad or worried:

• Drawing a picture
• Talking to a friend or grown-up
• Taking deep breaths
• Giving yourself a hug

My choice: ____________________________


Why I chose this tool:





Great job! Remember, all feelings are okay, and talking or using your tools can help you feel better.

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Activity

Coping Strategies Chart

When big feelings come, we can use gentle tools to help our hearts feel better. Try one of these strategies when you feel sad, angry, confused, or lonely.

🖍️ Draw a Picture
Use crayons or markers to draw what you’re feeling. Drawing can help your heart feel lighter and show others how you feel.

💬 Talk to a Friend or Grown-Up
Share your thoughts with someone you trust. Talking helps us feel less alone and more understood.

😮‍💨 Take Deep Breaths
Inhale slowly for 3, hold for 1, exhale for 3. Repeat 3 times. Breathing helps calm your body and mind.

🤗 Give Yourself a Hug
Wrap your arms around yourself or ask a friend for a gentle hug. Hugs help our bodies feel safe and cared for.

Choose one tool below to try next time you feel a big emotion:
My choice: ____________________________



Why I chose this tool:





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Rubric

Reflection Rubric

Use this rubric to assess each student’s understanding, reflection, and participation during the Healing Hearts lesson. Circle or record the score (1–4) for each criterion.

Scoring Levels

4 = Exceeds expectations (Consistently and accurately demonstrates skill)
3 = Meets expectations (Generally demonstrates skill with minor errors)
2 = Approaching expectations (Shows some understanding but needs support)
1 = Beginning (Limited demonstration; needs significant support)

Criteria4 – Exceeds3 – Meets2 – Approaching1 – BeginningScore
Identification of EmotionsCircles all correct faces and gives clear, accurate descriptions for each emotion.Circles most correct faces (3 of 4) and describes them accurately.Circles 1–2 correct faces; description shows partial understanding.Does not circle correctly or description is unclear.
Personal ReflectionShares a detailed, personal example for each emotion.Shares a clear example for at least 3 emotions.Shares an example for 1–2 emotions with limited detail.Little to no personal example shared.
Coping Strategy ExplanationChooses a strategy and explains why it will help with thoughtful reasoning.Chooses a strategy and gives a basic reason for the choice.Chooses a strategy but explanation is vague or off-topic.No clear choice or explanation given.
Group Participation & SharingActively volunteers at least two insights; listens and responds kindly to peers.Volunteers one insight and shows respectful listening.Participates when prompted but offers minimal input.Does not participate or share during discussion.

Total Score: ____ / 16

Next Steps/Notes:





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