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Healing Through Story

Lesson Plan

Crafting Our Resilience Narratives

Students will explore the concept of resilience through personal narratives, identify elements of resilience in stories, and begin to craft their own narratives of recovery from challenging experiences.

Understanding and sharing personal stories of resilience helps students build empathy, recognize their own inner strength, and develop coping mechanisms for future challenges. This fosters a supportive and healing classroom environment.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Interactive storytelling, discussion, and guided personal reflection.

Materials

Stories of Strength Slide Deck, Narrative Reflection Journal, and Resilience Story Starters Worksheet

Prep

Lesson Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Resilience?

10 minutes

  • Begin by presenting the Stories of Strength Slide Deck (Slide 1-3).
    - Engage students with a brief discussion on what resilience means to them. Ask: 'What does it mean to bounce back from something tough?'
    - Introduce the concept of 'Healing Through Story' and how sharing our experiences can make us stronger.

Step 2

Exploring Resilience Narratives

20 minutes

  • Continue with the Stories of Strength Slide Deck (Slide 4-6) to present examples of resilience in short, age-appropriate stories (these can be simplified historical accounts, fables, or anonymous student examples).
    - Facilitate a class discussion: 'What common themes or actions do you notice in these stories?' 'How did these individuals show resilience?'

Step 3

Crafting Our Own Stories

20 minutes

Step 4

Share and Reflect

10 minutes

  • Invite students to share one idea or a short sentence from their reflection with a partner or the class (voluntary sharing).
    - Conclude with a brief discussion: 'How does it feel to think about your own resilience?' 'Why is it important to recognize our own strength?'
    - Assign finishing the initial brainstorming in the Narrative Reflection Journal as homework.
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Slide Deck

Welcome: Healing Through Story!

Today, we'll explore how stories help us heal and grow stronger.

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic. Ask them to think about what 'strength' means to them.

What is Resilience?

It's about bouncing back when things get tough. 💪

What does 'resilience' mean to you?

Prompt students to share their initial thoughts on resilience. Encourage a few volunteers to share their ideas with the class.

Your Story, Your Strength

Every challenge overcome builds strength.

Sharing our stories can help ourselves and others.

Explain that sharing stories helps us connect and find common ground in our struggles and triumphs.

Story of the Little Seed

A tiny seed fell on rocky ground.

It pushed through cracks, seeking sunlight.

It grew into a strong flower, despite the tough start.

Introduce the first example of resilience. Keep it brief and focus on the core message of overcoming a challenge.

The Brave Little Fox

A young fox got lost in a big forest.

He was scared but remembered his mother's advice: 'Keep going, find your way!'

He followed the river and found his home.

Introduce a second example. This could be a historical figure, a fable character, or a generalized anecdote.

What did we learn?

What made the seed and the fox resilient?

What can we learn from their journeys?

Facilitate a discussion about the common themes in the stories and what students learned about resilience from them.

Your Resilience Narrative

It's time to think about your experiences.

What challenges have you faced?

How did you push through?

Transition to personal reflection. Explain that students will now think about their own stories of strength.

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Journal

My Healing Through Story Journal

This journal is a safe space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings about challenging experiences and your journey of recovery. There are no right or wrong answers, just your truth.

Entry 1: My Personal Definition of Resilience

What does resilience mean to you in your own words? When have you seen it in action (in yourself or others)?












Entry 2: A Moment of Challenge

Think about a time you faced something difficult. What happened? How did it make you feel?













Entry 3: Finding My Inner Strength

During that challenging time, what inner strengths or resources did you use to cope or move forward? Who or what helped you?













Entry 4: The Impact of My Story

How might sharing a part of your story help yourself or someone else? What message do you want to convey about overcoming challenges?













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Worksheet

Resilience Story Starters

Use these prompts to help you brainstorm ideas for your own resilience narrative. You don't have to answer all of them, just the ones that spark ideas!

Section 1: Identifying Your Challenge

  1. Think of a time when you faced a difficult situation or setback. What was it?






  2. Who was involved? Where did this happen?



  3. What were your initial feelings or reactions to this challenge?





Section 2: Overcoming and Growing

  1. What steps did you take, big or small, to deal with this challenge?






  2. Did anyone help you? If so, who and how?



  3. What did you learn about yourself or the world through this experience?





Section 3: Reflecting on Your Story

  1. If you were to give your story a title, what would it be?



  2. What message of hope or strength could someone take from your experience?





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Healing Through Story • Lenny Learning