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When Hearts Feel Heavy

Lesson Plan

When Hearts Feel Heavy Lesson Plan

Student will learn to identify and name feelings of sadness and grief, express those emotions through drawing and journaling, and practice simple coping strategies to manage overwhelming feelings.

First graders experiencing grief need safe, supportive spaces to understand emotions and learn healthy coping skills. This session fosters emotional awareness, expression, and resilience.

Audience

1st Grade Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion, drawing, journaling, and coping strategies.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Grounding

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and invite them to sit comfortably.
  • Lead a simple breathing exercise: inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, repeat 3 times.
  • Explain that this is a safe space to talk about feelings.

Step 2

Emotion Identification

10 minutes

  • Show the Feeling Faces Chart and point to different faces.
  • Ask the student to name each feeling.
  • Introduce Emotion Word Cards one by one, asking the student to match words to faces and share a time they felt that way.
  • Validate their responses with encouraging comments.

Step 3

Expressive Drawing

7 minutes

  • Provide paper and crayons/colored pencils.
  • Invite the student to draw a picture showing when they felt sad or missed someone.
  • Encourage them to use colors that match their feelings.
  • Offer gentle prompts: “What is happening in your drawing?”

Step 4

Reflective Journaling

5 minutes

  • Give the student the Reflective Journal Page.
  • Ask them to complete simple prompts: “Today I feel… because…” and “One thing that helps me feel better is…”.
  • Write for them if needed, ensuring they express thoughts in their own words.

Step 5

Closing and Coping Strategies

3 minutes

  • Review the drawing and journal together, acknowledging bravery in sharing.
  • Introduce 2 simple coping strategies: deep breathing and hugging a stuffed animal.
  • Encourage the student to use these strategies when they feel sad.
  • End with a positive affirmation: “You are loved and supported.”
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Slide Deck

When Hearts Feel Heavy

Dealing with sadness and grief
1st Grade • 30-minute individual session

Welcome the student by name. Introduce yourself and explain that this is a special, safe time to talk about feelings. Say: “Today we’re going to learn about big feelings and how to share them.”

Welcome & Grounding

Let’s take three slow breaths together:
• Inhale for 4 seconds
• Exhale for 4 seconds
• Repeat 3 times
This helps our bodies feel calm.

Guide the student through each step. Model breathing with your hand on your heart or belly. Count out loud.

Feeling Faces Chart

Which face shows:
• Happy?
• Sad?
• Angry?
• Scared?

Hold up the Feeling Faces Chart. Point to each face and ask: “What do you think this face is feeling?” Encourage the student to point and name.

Emotion Word Matching

Match each word to a face:
• Sad
• Lonely
• Worried
• Tired

Tell me about a time you felt that way.

Shuffle the Emotion Word Cards. Ask the student to match each word to a face on the chart, then share a time they felt that way.

Expressive Drawing

Draw a picture of when you felt sad or missed someone.
• Use colors that match your feelings.
• What’s happening in your drawing?

Give the student paper and crayons/colored pencils. Encourage them to choose colors that match how they feel. Ask gentle prompts if they pause.

Reflective Journaling

Today I feel… because…
One thing that helps me feel better is…

Hand over the Reflective Journal Page. Read each prompt aloud and help write if needed, letting the student choose words.

Coping Strategies & Closing

Try these when you feel sad:
• Deep breathing
• Hug a stuffed animal

Remember: You are loved and supported.

Review the drawing and journal entries. Praise the student’s courage. Teach two simple strategies and end with affirmation.

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Worksheet

Emotion Word Cards

Cut out each card along the dotted lines. For each word, draw or match a face that shows that feeling (use the Feeling Faces Chart to help).

Sad

Draw a face showing someone who feels sad:










Lonely

Draw a face showing someone who feels lonely:










Worried

Draw a face showing someone who feels worried:










Tired

Draw a face showing someone who feels tired:










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Activity

Feeling Faces Chart

Look at each face below. Under the face, write the feeling word that matches. You can use these words: Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared.

🙂



😢



😠



😨


(Activity Note: Point to each face, say the feeling aloud, and then write it. You can also color each face to show how the feeling looks.)

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Journal

Reflective Journal Page

Use this page to share your thoughts and feelings. There are no right or wrong answers—just write what’s in your heart.

1. Today I feel… because…










2. One thing that helps me feel better is…










Remember, you can share this with someone you trust when you’re ready.

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