Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey

Michael Aboulafia

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey

Support the student in exploring and understanding their feelings about grief, and provide practical coping strategies in a safe, supportive environment.

Grief can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for a young student. This lesson helps process emotions, builds self-soothing tools, and provides a framework to reflect on personal experiences.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Sensitive discussion, reflective activities, and practical coping strategies.

Materials

Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey

Prep

Preparation and Review

5 minutes

Review the Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey lesson plan.
Familiarize yourself with key grief coping strategies and reflective techniques.
Arrange a quiet, private space to support open and safe conversation.

Step 1

Introduction and Setting the Environment

5 minutes

Introduce the session by explaining that it's normal to have strong feelings, especially when dealing with loss.
Create a supportive environment and encourage the student to share how they feel in a safe space.

Step 2

Discussion and Reflection

10 minutes

Ask gentle, open-ended questions (e.g., 'How do you feel when you think about loss?') to help the student articulate their emotions.
Validate their feelings by emphasizing that experiencing grief is part of life.
Use reflective listening to help the student understand and describe their emotions.

Step 3

Expressive Activity

7 minutes

Provide the student with a drawing or journaling activity to express their feelings about grief.
Encourage the use of colors or words that represent their emotions.
Explain that this personal expression is a valuable way to process and understand their feelings.

Step 4

Closing, Coping Strategies, and Reflection

3 minutes

Summarize the discussion and the strategies covered during the session.
Share practical coping strategies such as:
• Deep breathing exercises: Inhale slowly through the nose and exhale through the mouth to reduce tension.
• Maintaining a feelings journal: Write or draw about emotions to process them privately.
• Talking with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor when feeling overwhelmed.
• Engaging in calming activities like listening to soothing music or taking a quiet walk.
Prompt a brief reflection by asking the student:
• 'What is one thing you learned today about handling your feelings?'
• 'How do you think these coping strategies could help you when you feel sad or overwhelmed?'
Encourage the student to share any thoughts about the session, emphasizing that their reflections are important for their growth and understanding.

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Slide Deck

Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey

Welcome! Today, we will talk about feelings and learn how to understand and express them, especially when experiencing loss.

Introduce the session by welcoming the student. Explain that today's session is a safe space to talk about feelings, especially when we are feeling sad or confused. Emphasize that it's okay to have strong feelings and that we're here to understand them together.

Creating a Safe Space

It's okay to feel sad, confused, or even a little angry. Let's talk about what you're experiencing in a caring and understanding way.

Set a calm tone. Remind the student that they are in a safe space. Use gentle language and encourage the student to share how they feel, ensuring to make them comfortable discussing emotions.

Exploring Our Emotions

How do you feel when you think about loss? Remember, your feelings are important and it's okay to share them.

Lead a gentle discussion by asking how loss makes the student feel. Use reflective listening to help them understand and articulate their emotions. Encourage open sharing and validate their feelings.

Express Yourself!

Take a few moments to draw or write about your feelings. Use colors or words that show how you feel inside.

Guide the student to express their emotions through an activity. They can draw or write, using colors or words that represent their feelings. Remind them that this activity is for them to express what they feel.

Closing and Coping

Remember: It's important to talk about your feelings. Try deep breathing or talking with a trusted person when you feel overwhelmed. We're here to support you.

Summarize the session by reviewing the discussion points, emphasizing that talking about emotions can help, and presenting a couple of simple coping strategies (like deep breathing or talking to someone trusted). Ensure the student leaves feeling supported.

Activity

Expressive Art Activity

In this activity, you'll have the chance to express your feelings through art. This is a space for you to use drawing, painting, or writing to explore and show the different emotions you’re experiencing. There is no right or wrong way to do this – every creation is unique and important!

Instructions:

Think about a time when you felt a strong emotion. It could be sadness, confusion, or even moments of feeling better after a sad time.
Choose your favorite art supplies, like crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paper and a journal.
Create a piece of art that shows how you feel inside. You might draw a picture, use colors to express different moods, or write words and sentences that capture your emotions.
Remember: This activity is just for you. There’s no right or wrong way to show your feelings. Your art is a personal expression of what you're going through.

Reflection Questions:

What colors or shapes did you choose to represent your feelings?
Does your art show one single emotion, or a mix of different feelings?
How do you feel after finishing your artwork?

Follow-Up:

If you feel comfortable, you can share your art with a trusted person or write about the experience in a journal.
Practice talking about your feelings using the words and images you created. Sharing may help you feel supported.

Remember, expressing yourself through art is a way to help you understand and process your emotions. Great job taking this step!

Understanding Grief: A Gentle Journey