Lesson Plan
Heart Helpers Lesson Plan
Students will recognize feelings of grief, share experiences of missing someone, and create a “Heart Helpers” craft featuring things that comfort them when they feel sad.
Helping kindergarteners label grief and identify coping tools builds emotional literacy, empathy, and early self-regulation skills in a safe, supportive space.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Story, discussion, craft
Materials
- Feeling Flower Storybook , - Emotion Face Cards , - Heart-shaped construction paper cutouts , - Crayons and markers , - Glue sticks and stickers , - Tissue paper shapes , and - Heart Helpers Reflection Sheet
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Feeling Flower Storybook and familiarize yourself with key moments of grief and coping.
- Print and cut out the Emotion Face Cards and heart construction paper shapes.
- Make copies of the Heart Helpers Reflection Sheet.
- Assemble crayons, markers, glue, stickers, and tissue paper shapes in a central station.
Step 1
Emotion Check-In
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle.
- Hold up each Emotion Face Card and ask: “What feeling is this?”
- Invite students to share a quick story of when they felt that way.
- Introduce “grief” as a big feeling when we miss someone or something special.
Step 2
Read Aloud Feeling Flower Storybook
10 minutes
- Show the cover of the Feeling Flower Storybook.
- Read the story, pausing at key illustrations.
- Ask: “How do you think the character feels here?”
- Highlight moments when the character misses a friend and what they do to feel better.
Step 3
Guided Discussion
5 minutes
- Ask: “Have you ever missed someone and felt sad?”
- Encourage 2–3 students to share briefly.
- On chart paper, list words: “sad,” “miss,” “cry,” “hug.”
- Introduce the term “heart helpers” for things that comfort us when we’re grieving.
Step 4
Heart Helpers Craft
8 minutes
- Give each student a heart cutout, crayons, markers, stickers, glue, and tissue paper shapes.
- Prompt: “Draw or write your own heart helpers—things that help you feel better when you’re sad or missing someone.”
- Circulate and ask questions like: “Who is your heart helper? What makes you feel safe?”
- Support emergent writers by labeling pictures if needed.
Step 5
Reflection and Share
2 minutes
- Hand out the Heart Helpers Reflection Sheet.
- Ask students to draw one heart helper from their craft on the sheet.
- Pair students to share their drawings with a partner.
- Reinforce positive sharing: “Thank you for telling me about your heart helper.”
use Lenny to create lessons.
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Slide Deck
Heart Helpers
• Tier 2 Small Group Lesson
• Kindergarten • 30 minutes
We will learn about grief and things that help our hearts feel better.
Welcome the students warmly. Introduce yourself and the topic: “Today we are going to be Heart Helpers and learn about big feelings when we miss someone.” Show excitement and reassure them this is a safe space.
Emotion Check-In
- Gather in a circle.
- Show each Emotion Face Card.
- Ask: “What feeling is this?”
- Invite a quick story of when they felt that way.
- Introduce “grief” as a big feeling when we miss someone.
Explain the purpose of the check-in: to name feelings and introduce the word grief. Hold up each Emotion Face Card slowly. Encourage every child to say the feeling.
Read Aloud: Feeling Flower Storybook
• Show cover of the Feeling Flower Storybook
• Read the story, pausing at pictures
• Ask: “How do you think the character feels here?”
• Highlight moments of missing a friend and coping
Hold up the Feeling Flower Storybook cover. Read slowly, pointing to illustrations. Pause at key moments when the character misses a friend. Ask comprehension questions.
Guided Discussion
• Ask: “Have you ever miss someone and felt sad?”
• Invite 2–3 students to share briefly
• List words on chart: sad, miss, cry, hug
• Introduce “Heart Helpers” as things that comfort us
Use chart paper to list words. Write legibly and show each word. Encourage 2–3 students to share times they’ve missed someone. Define “heart helpers.”
Heart Helpers Craft
• Give each student a heart cutout, crayons, markers, stickers, tissue shapes
• Prompt: “Draw or write your heart helpers.”
• Circulate: ask “Who or what is your helper?”
• Support drawing and labeling
Distribute heart cutouts and craft supplies. Prompt each child: “Draw or write your heart helpers—people, places, or things that help you feel better.” Circulate and ask gentle questions.
Reflection & Share
• Distribute Heart Helpers Reflection Sheet
• Students draw one heart helper from their craft
• Pair up to share their drawing
• Teach: “Thank you for telling me about your heart helper.”
Hand out the reflection sheet. Model how to draw one heart helper. Pair children thoughtfully so they feel comfortable. Reinforce listening and positive feedback.
Closing
• Review: What is a heart helper?
• Praise: “You did a great job sharing.”
• Encourage using heart helpers outside of class
Congratulate the group on their work. Remind them to use their heart helpers when they feel sad at school or home. Close with a positive affirmation.
Reading
Feeling Flower Storybook
Page 1
Flora the little flower lived in a bright, colorful garden. She loved to sway in the warm sunshine and feel the gentle breeze on her petals. Flora’s best friend was Sunny, a tall sunflower who always made her laugh.
Page 2
One morning, Flora woke up and looked around—Sunny was gone! Flora’s petals drooped. She felt a strange, heavy feeling in her heart. She didn’t know what to call it yet.
Page 3
Flora sat quietly and hugged herself with her leaves. She remembered how Sunny always waved hello. “I miss you,” Flora whispered. A tiny tear sparkled on her petal.
Page 4
Flora remembered what her teacher once said: when we feel sad, we can take a deep breath. She inhaled slowly—one… two… three—and exhaled. Her petals lifted a bit.
Page 5
Next, Flora drew in the dirt with a stick. She drew Sunny’s big smile, the garden they played in, and two flowers holding hands. Drawing made her heart feel a little lighter.
Page 6
Just then, Buzz the Bee flew over. He hummed a gentle song and said, “I’m here for you, Flora.” Flora felt warm inside. Talking with a friend helped her feel less lonely.
Page 7
That afternoon, Flora thought of more “heart helpers”—a cozy leaf cushion, a soft drop of morning dew, and the memory of Sunny’s laughter. These things made her heart glow.
Page 8 (The Lesson)
Flora learned that it’s okay to feel sad when we miss someone. She can:
- Take deep breaths
- Draw happy memories
- Talk with friends
- Remember special moments in her heart
Whenever Flora feels lonely, she uses her “heart helpers” and knows her friend Sunny is always close in her thoughts.
Activity
Emotion Face Cards
Use these cards during the Emotion Check-In to help students recognize and name basic feelings.
Materials:
- Print one set of cards on cardstock and cut them out.
- (Optional) Laminate for durability.
Cards Included:
- Happy: Big curved smile, arched eyebrows.
- Sad: Downward-curved mouth, single teardrop by an eye.
- Angry: Straight, downturned mouth, angled eyebrows.
- Surprised: Round open mouth, wide eyes.
Instructions:
- Hold up one card at a time in the circle.
- Ask: “What feeling do you see?”
- Invite a quick personal example of that feeling.
- After naming each, introduce “grief” as a big feeling when we miss someone.
Worksheet
Heart Helpers Reflection Sheet
Name: ______________________ Date: ________________
1. Draw Your Heart Helper
Think about something or someone that helps your heart feel better when you’re sad. Draw it inside the heart below.
2. My Heart Helper Is
Write the name of your heart helper (a person, place, or thing).
3. How It Makes Me Feel
Choose one or more feelings below. Circle the word(s) that tell how you feel when you think of your heart helper.
Happy Calm Safe Loved Other: ______________
4. My Plan
When I feel sad or miss someone, I will remember my heart helper by: