Healing Together Script

1. Introduction & Emotional Check-In (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Good morning, everyone. Today, we’re going to focus on how we can be there for each other when someone we care about feels loss.”

Teacher: “Let’s take a moment to remember our community norms posted here on the Discussion Guidelines Poster. We use kind words, listen without judgment, and respect each other’s feelings.”

Teacher: “I’d like each of you to share one word that describes how you’re feeling right now. Who would like to go first?”

(Allow 3–4 volunteers to share their words.)

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing honestly. It’s okay to feel all sorts of things today.”

2. Guided Discussion on Grief and Support (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Now, let’s talk about grief. Grief is the deep sadness we feel when we lose someone important to us. Sometimes it comes with confusion or even anger—and all of those feelings are normal.”

Teacher: “I’m going to introduce some ideas from our Peer Support Strategies Cards. These cards show small ways we can help a friend who’s grieving.”

(Show or read a card aloud.)

Teacher: “Here’s one example: ‘Offer to spend time quietly together.’ What other things might someone need from a friend who’s grieving the loss of a classmate? How can we show up for them?”

(Record student ideas on chart paper.)

Teacher (after responses): “Great ideas—listening, offering a hug, sending a note, or simply being there. All of these small actions can mean a lot.”

3. Collaborative Activity – Empathy Flower (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Now we’ll work on our Empathy Flower. I’m handing out the Empathy Flower Worksheet to each of you.”

Teacher: “On each petal, write one supportive action or comforting message you could offer to someone who’s grieving. Take a moment to think quietly, then begin writing.”

Teacher: “Nice work. Now, turn to a partner and share one of the actions you wrote. Listen closely and ask each other questions.”

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing with each other.”

4. Reflection & Closing (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s come back as a group. Who would like to share one insight or a promise you made on your flower?”

(Invite 2–3 students.)

Teacher: “Thank you for your openness and kindness today. Remember, small acts of empathy make a big difference in someone’s healing.”

Teacher: “I encourage you to check in on each other after class and use these ideas whenever a friend needs support.”

Teacher: “You did amazing work today; let’s continue taking care of one another.”

Grief Support Discussion

Purpose: Create a safe space for students to share memories of our classmate, explore grief together, and build a list of compassionate strategies.

Time: 10 minutes (within the 30-minute lesson)

Materials:

• Discussion Guidelines Poster
• Chart paper and markers (labeled “Memories” and “Supportive Actions”)
• Peer Support Strategies Cards

1. Review Discussion Guidelines (2 minutes)

• Invite students to read or recall norms from the Discussion Guidelines Poster.
• Emphasize: speak from the heart, listen without judgment, respect confidentiality, and allow space for all voices.

2. Prompt 1: Understanding Grief & Sharing Memories (3 minutes)

Teacher question: “What is grief? How might it feel when we lose someone we care about?”
Follow-up: “Would anyone like to share a memory or story about our classmate who passed away? What do you remember most—their laugh, a favorite hobby, or something they said that made you smile?”

Follow-up ideas:

• “How do those memories make you feel?”
• “Why is it helpful to remember happy moments when we feel sad?”

(Record responses in a “Memories” column on chart paper.)

3. Prompt 2: Identifying Needs of a Grieving Friend (3 minutes)

Teacher question: “Thinking of those memories, what might someone need from friends when they’re grieving? What small actions or words help them hold onto good memories?”

Follow-up ideas:

• Introduce a few examples from the Peer Support Strategies Cards.
• “Which of these ideas would you want if you were feeling sad and missing a friend?”
• “Are there things we should avoid saying or doing?”

(Record responses under “Supportive Actions.”)

4. Prompt 3: Brainstorming Personal Actions (2 minutes)

Teacher question: “What is one specific action you feel comfortable offering to a friend who’s missing our classmate? It could be sharing a memory, sending a note, or simply sitting together.”

Follow-up ideas:

• “How might you check in without making someone feel awkward?”
• “What could you say to invite them to share a memory with you?”

5. Summarize & Transition

• Quickly capture key ideas on chart paper under three headings: Memories, Grief Feelings, and Supportive Actions.
• Praise contributions: “Thank you for your honesty and empathy. These memories and ideas will guide our next activity.”
• Transition to distributing the Empathy Flower Worksheet for the collaborative activity.

Empathy Flower Activity

Purpose: Enable students to personalize and commit to supportive actions by visually mapping comforting messages onto a flower diagram.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials:

• Empathy Flower Worksheet
• Pens or pencils

Steps

1. Distribute one Empathy Flower Worksheet to each student.
2. Ask students to write a brief caring statement in the center of the flower (e.g., “I care because…” or “To a friend in grief, I offer…”).
3. On each of the five petals, students write a specific supportive action or comforting message. Encourage concrete ideas like “listen without interrupting,” “offer to draw or write together,” or “send a kind note.”

1. After writing, students pair up and share one or two of their petal ideas. Partners ask a follow-up question (e.g., “Why did you choose that action?”) to deepen understanding.

1. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one insight or favorite petal idea with the whole class. Capture key phrases on chart paper for future reference.

Extensions & Differentiation

• For students needing extra scaffolding, provide sentence starters or a word bank on the worksheet (e.g., “I can help by…,” “I will support by…”).
• For multilingual learners, allow responses in their home language or include visuals next to each petal.
• For students with fine motor challenges, permit typed entries or drawing simple symbols instead of writing.

Teacher Reflection

• Note which support strategies students find most meaningful and any gaps in their ideas.
• Use these observations to plan follow-up check-ins or additional SEL supports in future lessons.

Empathy Flower Worksheet

Use this worksheet to think of caring actions and messages you can offer to a friend who is grieving. Write your ideas in the spaces provided.

1. Caring Statement (Center of the Flower)

In the circle below, complete a caring statement such as:
“I care because…” or “To a friend in grief, I offer…”

2. Supportive Actions (Petals)

On each petal, write one specific action or comforting message you could share with someone who’s grieving.

1. Petal 1:

1. Petal 2:

1. Petal 3:

1. Petal 4:

1. Petal 5:

3. Reflection and Pair Share

• Partner up and share one of your petal ideas.
• Ask your partner: “Why did you choose this action?”

4. Optional Word Bank & Sentence Starters

I can help by…
I will support you by…
I’m here to…
You can count on me for…

Empathy Flower Worksheet

Peer Support Strategies Cards

Use these cards during the guided discussion to introduce concrete ways students can support a classmate who is grieving. Print and cut out each strategy for easy sharing.

1. Offer to spend time quietly together—sit, draw, or simply be near them.
2. Listen without interrupting—give them space to talk or share feelings.
3. Write a kind note or card expressing you’re thinking of them.
4. Share a favorite memory of the classmate you lost—celebrate happy moments.
5. Invite them to draw or create something (a picture, poem, or memory book).
6. Check in regularly—send a quick message or ask how they’re doing each day.
7. Offer to help with schoolwork, chores, or errands to lighten their load.
8. Give a comforting hug or pat on the back (only if they’re comfortable with physical touch).
9. Suggest a calming activity—take a short walk, practice deep breathing together.
10. Respect their space—let them lead conversations about grief and follow their pace.