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Moving Forward with Love

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Ronica Lien

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Moving Forward with Love Lesson Plan

Students will express feelings of loss and understand that love for those they've lost remains with them. They will practice healthy coping mechanisms for grief.

Processing grief in a healthy way is crucial for emotional well-being. This lesson provides K-3 students with tools to cope with loss and cherish memories.

Audience

K-3 Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through stories, discussion, and creative activities, students will explore enduring love after loss.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Speakers, Moving Forward with Love Slide Deck, The Invisible String (Read Aloud) Video, Book: Always Remember by Cece Meng, Paper for 'Goodbye Balloons', String or yarn, Markers, crayons, or colored pencils, Goodbye Letter Worksheet, Heart & Memory Coloring Page, and Optional: Actual balloons (for metaphorical release)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Moving Forward with Love Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Moving Forward with Love Slide Deck, The Invisible String (Read Aloud) Video, Goodbye Letter Worksheet, and Heart & Memory Coloring Page.
    - Gather necessary physical materials: Book: Always Remember, paper, string/yarn, markers/crayons.
    - Prepare 'Goodbye Balloons' paper: Cut out balloon shapes or have students draw them.
    - Ensure video and presentation equipment are working correctly.
    - Familiarize yourself with the book Always Remember for reading aloud.

Step 1

Warm Up: Sharing Memories

5 minutes

See Sharing Memories Warm Up
- Greet students and introduce the topic of feelings and memories.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using the warm-up questions.

Step 2

Introduction: The Invisible String

5 minutes

  • Show and discuss The Invisible String (Read Aloud) Video.
    - Explain the concept of an invisible string connecting us to loved ones, even when they're not physically present. Emphasize that love keeps us connected.

Step 3

Story Time: Always Remember

7 minutes

  • Read aloud the book Always Remember by Cece Meng.
    - Discuss how the characters in the story remember and honor those they've lost, and how they keep their love alive.

Step 4

Activity: Goodbye Balloons

8 minutes

See Goodbye Balloons Activity
- Explain the 'Goodbye Balloons' activity.
- Distribute paper balloons and art supplies. Instruct students to write or draw a message to a loved one they are saying goodbye to (it could be a person, a pet, or even a past experience).
- Allow time for creation.
- Have students share their balloons if they feel comfortable, then display them in the classroom or metaphorically 'release' them together.

Step 5

Cool Down: Heart & Memory Coloring

5 minutes

See Heart & Memory Cool Down
- Distribute the Heart & Memory Coloring Page.
- Encourage students to reflect on their feelings and the lesson's message as they color.
- Briefly recap the enduring nature of love and memories.

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Slide Deck

Moving Forward with Love

Saying Goodbye, Keeping Love in Our Hearts

How do we hold onto special memories?

Welcome the students to class. Introduce the topic by asking them about feelings and memories. Encourage sharing and listening. Explain that today we'll talk about how we keep love in our hearts, even when we have to say goodbye.

Warm Up: Sharing Memories

Think about a happy memory you have with someone special. What made it special?




Prompt students with a warm-up question to activate prior knowledge and connect to the theme of memories and feelings. Give them a minute to think and then invite a few to share. Reassure them that all feelings are okay.

Even when we're apart, love keeps us connected.

Introduce the video 'The Invisible String'. Explain that this story teaches us a beautiful idea about how we're always connected to the people and pets we love, no matter where they are. Play the video and then briefly discuss the main message.

Always Remember

How do the characters in the story remember and honor those they miss? How do they keep their love alive?

Show the cover of 'Always Remember' by Cece Meng. Explain that this book also helps us think about how we remember and honor those we love. After reading, use the body text as a discussion prompt.

Activity: Goodbye Balloons

Create a special message to someone you are saying goodbye to, but still love. You can draw a picture or write words.

Introduce the 'Goodbye Balloons' activity. Explain that it's a way to send a special message to someone we miss or are saying goodbye to. Emphasize that it can be a person, a pet, or even a past experience (like moving to a new school). Explain they can draw or write.

Cool Down: Heart & Memory Coloring

Color your heart and memories. Think about all the love you carry with you.

Explain the cool-down activity. Distribute the 'Heart & Memory Coloring Page'. Encourage students to think about how they can keep love and memories in their hearts as they color. Remind them that it's okay to feel sad, but also joyful remembering.

Love Stays in Our Hearts

The love you share with someone never truly goes away. It lives in your heart and your memories.

Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the main message: even when we say goodbye, the love we have for someone stays in our hearts forever. Thank students for sharing and participating.

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Warm Up

Sharing Memories Warm Up

Think about a happy memory you have with someone special. It could be a family member, a friend, or even a pet.

What made that memory special?


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Activity

The Invisible String (Read Aloud)

Watch this video to understand how love keeps us connected to special people, even when they are not with us.

The Invisible String (Read Aloud)

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Activity

Goodbye Balloons Activity

Sometimes when we have to say goodbye to someone or something special, it helps to send them a message. This could be a person, a pet, or even a place or a time that you miss.

  1. On your paper balloon, draw a picture or write a message to the person, pet, or special memory you are saying goodbye to.
  2. Think about what you want to say or remember about them.
  3. When you are finished, you can share your balloon with the class if you feel comfortable.
  4. We will either hang our balloons up in the classroom or metaphorically release them together, imagining our love and messages floating to our loved ones.
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Worksheet

Goodbye Letter Worksheet

Sometimes writing down our feelings can help. Write a letter to someone or something you miss or are saying goodbye to. It could be a person, a pet, or even a time that has passed.

Dear


I miss you because





My favorite memory with you is





I will always remember





Love,


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Cool Down

Heart & Memory Coloring Page

As you color, think about all the special memories and love you keep in your heart for those you miss.

(Imagine a simple coloring page with a large heart, and within the heart, smaller elements like stars, clouds, and outlines of a person or pet. Around the heart, there could be gentle waves or lines to represent the 'invisible string'.)























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Discussion

Keeping Love in Our Hearts Discussion

Let's talk about how we can keep the love for people, pets, or even special times in our hearts, even when we have to say goodbye.

  1. Invisible String Connection: After watching 'The Invisible String' video, what did you learn about how we are connected to people we love? Do you think the invisible string can break? Why or why not?


  2. Special Memories: Share one special memory you have of someone or something you miss. How does remembering this make you feel?


  3. Ways to Remember: Besides thinking about them, what are some other ways we can remember and honor those we miss? (e.g., looking at photos, talking about them, doing something they loved)


  4. Feelings are Okay: It's okay to feel sad when you miss someone, but it's also okay to feel happy when you remember good times. Can you share a time you felt both sad and happy when thinking about someone you miss?


  5. Love Stays: How does it make you feel to know that the love you have for someone never truly goes away, even if they are not here with you anymore?


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Game

Memory Garden Game

Objective: To create a collaborative

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Project Guide

My Grief Journey Project: Memory Box

Objective: To create a personal memory box to hold cherished items and memories of a loved one.

Introduction: We've learned that even when we say goodbye, the love and memories we have for someone special stay with us. This project is a way to create a special place for those memories.

Materials:

  • A small box (shoe box, tissue box, or any small container)
  • Art supplies (construction paper, markers, crayons, glue, glitter, fabric scraps, photos, etc.)
  • Items to put in the box (small trinkets, drawings, photos, letters, notes)

Instructions:

  1. Decorate Your Memory Box (15 minutes):

    • Take your box and decorate it to make it special. Think about the person, pet, or time you are remembering. What colors remind you of them? What designs make you think of happy times?
    • You can draw pictures, glue on photos, or write words that are meaningful to you.

  2. Gather Your Memories (10 minutes):

    • Think of small items that remind you of your loved one. These could be:
      • A small toy
      • A picture
      • A special rock or leaf
      • A drawing you made for them
      • A letter you wrote
    • Carefully place these items inside your decorated memory box.

  3. Share Your Box (Optional - 5 minutes):

    • If you feel comfortable, you can share your memory box with a partner or the class. Explain why you chose certain decorations or items.
    • Remember, this box is a special place for your heart and your memories.

Reflection Questions (to think about while creating your box):

  • What makes this person/pet/memory special to you?
  • What feeling does your memory box hold?
  • How does creating this box help you keep their love in your heart?

Teacher Notes:

  • Provide a variety of boxes and art supplies. Encourage students to bring items from home if appropriate (with parent permission).
  • Emphasize that the box is a personal and safe space for memories. Sharing is optional and should only happen if the student feels ready and comfortable.
  • This project can be done over multiple sessions if needed. Consider sending materials home or involving parents.
  • Focus on the process of creation and reflection, rather than a perfect end product.
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Quiz

Grief Understanding Quiz

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