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Heart to Heal

Lesson Plan

Heart to Heal Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize common signs of grief and practice three coping strategies—talking, journaling, and breathing exercises—through discussion and hands-on activities.

This lesson builds emotional resilience by helping 8th graders process loss, develop healthy coping skills, and support peers empathetically.

Audience

8th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, group brainstorm, and personal reflection

Materials

Projector, Whiteboard and Markers, Grief Coping Strategies Handout, Feelings Check-In Worksheet, and Students’ Reflection Journals

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet students and explain that grief is a natural response to loss, not just death but any big change.
  • Ask volunteers: “What does grief mean to you?” and list responses on the whiteboard.
  • Emphasize that everyone experiences grief differently and it’s okay to feel a range of emotions.

Step 2

Identifying Signs of Grief

7 minutes

  • Divide class into small groups; ask each group to brainstorm emotional, physical, and behavioral signs of grief.
  • Rotate to each group to prompt deeper thinking (e.g., changes in sleep, appetite, mood).
  • Have groups share one key sign and record these on the whiteboard.

Step 3

Learning Coping Strategies

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Grief Coping Strategies Handout.
  • Review each strategy together: talking with a trusted person, journaling feelings, and breathing exercises.
  • In pairs, students choose one strategy and role-play or describe how they’d use it in real life.

Step 4

Feelings Check-In Activity

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Feelings Check-In Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to reflect silently and complete the worksheet, noting current feelings and which coping strategy feels most helpful.
  • Collect worksheets or have students keep them for further support sessions.

Step 5

Closing and Reflection

5 minutes

  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one coping strategy they’ll try and why.
  • Encourage students to write more in their Students’ Reflection Journals after class.
  • Remind the class of available support resources (school counselor, trusted adult) if they need more help.
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Slide Deck

Heart to Heal: Coping with Grief

Welcome to our 30-minute lesson on grief. We will:

  • Define grief
  • Identify common signs
  • Learn three coping strategies
  • Practice in pairs
  • Reflect and share

Greet students warmly and introduce today’s topic: coping with grief. Explain the session flow: definition, signs, strategies, practice, reflection. Icebreaker: “What does grief mean to you?”

What Is Grief?

Grief is a natural response to loss or big life changes. It can involve:

  • A mix of emotions (sadness, anger, confusion)
  • Physical sensations (tiredness, tension)
  • Behavioral shifts (withdrawing, changes in routine)

Ask volunteers to share their ideas. Record key words on the board. Emphasize that grief can follow many types of loss.

Common Signs of Grief

Emotional Signs:

  • Sadness or tearfulness
  • Anger or irritability

Physical Signs:

  • Fatigue or low energy
  • Headaches or appetite changes

Behavioral Signs:

  • Withdrawing from friends
  • Trouble concentrating

Divide into small groups. Ask each group to brainstorm signs under emotional, physical, and behavioral categories. Circulate and prompt details (sleep, appetite, mood).

Three Coping Strategies

  1. Talk with a trusted person (friend, parent, counselor)
  2. Journal your thoughts and feelings
  3. Try breathing exercises: inhale 4 seconds, hold 2, exhale 6

Distribute the Grief Coping Strategies Handout. Briefly explain each strategy. Guide students through a short breathing exercise demo.

Strategy Practice Activity

In pairs:

  • Pick one coping strategy from the handout
  • Role-play or describe how you’d use it in real life
  • Share feedback with your partner

Explain the pair activity: choose one strategy and role-play using scenarios (e.g., feeling overwhelmed at home). Encourage creativity and peer support.

Feelings Check-In

Reflect silently and complete the worksheet:

  • How are you feeling right now?
  • Which strategy feels most helpful today?

Hand out the Feelings Check-In Worksheet. Allow quiet time for completion. Remind students they can keep or turn it in.

Reflection & Resources

• Share one strategy you will try and why
• Write more in your reflection journal
• Reach out to a counselor or trusted adult for help

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their chosen strategy and why. Remind students about ongoing journaling and support resources. Thank everyone for participating.

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Worksheet

Grief Coping Strategies Handout

When we experience grief, having practical steps to manage our feelings can help us feel more in control. Below are three proven strategies you can try right away.

1. Talk with a Trusted Person

Talking about what you’re feeling can lighten the load. You don’t have to face grief alone.

Steps:

  1. Choose someone you feel safe with (friend, family member, counselor).
  2. Find a quiet time and place to talk without distractions.
  3. Share what you’re feeling—sadness, anger, confusion—and listen to their support.
  4. Ask questions if you need advice or just want someone to listen.

Who could you talk to this week?






2. Journal Your Thoughts and Feelings

Writing down your emotions helps you process them and see patterns over time.

Steps:

  1. Set aside 5–10 minutes in a quiet spot.
  2. Write the date at the top of the page.
  3. Describe how you feel—use words, draw pictures, or make a list.
  4. Reflect: What triggered these feelings? What helped you feel even a little bit better?

Take a moment to write how you feel right now:










3. Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing can calm your nervous system and reduce stress.

Try the 4-2-6 Breathing Technique:

  • Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds.
  • Hold your breath for 2 seconds.
  • Exhale gently through your mouth for 6 seconds.
  • Repeat 5 times.

Practice now and notice how you feel:






Reflection and Next Steps

  1. Which one of these strategies will you try first?
    ________________________________


  2. When might you use this strategy (e.g., at home, before a test, when you feel alone)?
    ________________________________





Keep this handout handy and refer back whenever you need a reminder of these strategies. You’ve got this!

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Worksheet

Feelings Check-In Worksheet

Use this quick check-in to notice how you’re feeling and pick a coping strategy to try. Keep it nearby whenever you need to pause and reflect.

Name: ________________________ Date: ___________

  1. What emotions are you experiencing right now? (List at least three)






  2. On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), how intense is your strongest emotion?
    1 2 3 4 5

  1. Which coping strategy from the Grief Coping Strategies Handout feels most helpful today? Explain why:






  2. What is one step you will take right now to practice this strategy?






  3. Who is one trusted person you can reach out to if you need extra support?



Keep this worksheet for your records or share it with your counselor or a trusted adult if you’d like more support.

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