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When Sadness Stays Awhile

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Lesson Plan

When Sadness Stays Awhile

Students will be able to identify common feelings associated with grief and loss, understand that these feelings are a natural response, and explore healthy coping strategies.

Grief and loss are universal experiences, yet often misunderstood or avoided. This lesson helps students normalize these feelings, develop empathy for themselves and others, and equip them with tools to navigate difficult emotions, promoting their social-emotional well-being.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 Minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and individual reflection.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Slide Deck: When Sadness Stays Awhile, Journal: My Grief Journey, Warm Up: Feeling Thermometer, and Cool Down: One Word Reflection

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 Minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Feeling Thermometer

5 Minutes

  • Project or draw a 'Feeling Thermometer' on the board (0-10, 0 being calm, 10 being overwhelmed).
    - Ask students to silently reflect on where their emotions are right now, explaining that it's okay to be anywhere on the scale.
    - Introduce the topic: "Today we're going to talk about a feeling that can sometimes make our thermometer reach a high number: sadness, especially when it comes from losing something or someone important. We call this grief." (Refer to Warm Up: Feeling Thermometer)

Step 2

Introduction to Grief and Loss

10 Minutes

  • Use the Slide Deck: When Sadness Stays Awhile to guide the discussion.
    - Define grief as a natural response to loss, emphasizing that loss isn't just about death, but can be anything from a pet moving away to a friendship ending.
    - Discuss common emotions associated with grief (sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, numbness) and explain that there's no "right" way to grieve. Focus on the idea that everyone's experience is unique.
    - Encourage students to share general examples of loss they or someone they know might have experienced (e.g., losing a game, a favorite toy, moving to a new school), without pressuring them to share personal or sensitive information.

Step 3

Coping Strategies & Journaling

10 Minutes

  • Present healthy coping strategies for grief, such as talking to a trusted adult, journaling, engaging in creative activities, exercise, spending time in nature, or allowing oneself to feel emotions.
    - Distribute the Journal: My Grief Journey and instruct students to complete the prompts, encouraging them to think about coping mechanisms that might work for them. Reassure them that this is a private reflection.
    - Play calming music during this time to create a reflective atmosphere.

Step 4

Cool Down: One Word Reflection

5 Minutes

  • Bring students back together. Ask each student to share one word that describes something they learned or felt during the lesson, or one word that represents a coping strategy they might try. (Refer to Cool Down: One Word Reflection)
    - Thank students for their participation and bravery in discussing a tough topic.
    - Remind them that support is available if they ever need to talk further.
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Slide Deck

When Sadness Stays Awhile

Understanding Grief and Loss

Sometimes big feelings show up and stay for a bit. Today, we're going to explore what those feelings are and how to navigate them when they come from loss.

Welcome students and set a calm tone. Explain the purpose of the Feeling Thermometer and assure them it's okay to feel whatever they are feeling. Connect this to the idea that today's topic, grief, often involves intense feelings.

What Is Grief?

Grief is a natural and normal reaction to loss.

Loss isn't just about someone dying. It can be:

  • Moving to a new town
  • A friendship changing
  • Losing a pet
  • A dream not coming true
  • Losing an important item

Define grief clearly. Emphasize that loss isn't just death, but can be many things (moving, changing schools, ending friendships, losing an object). Ask students for general, non-personal examples of loss. (e.g. losing a game, a favorite toy, moving to a new school).

Feelings of Grief

Grief can bring many different feelings, like:

  • Sadness: A deep ache
  • Anger: Feeling frustrated or mad
  • Confusion: Not understanding why
  • Guilt: Thinking about what you could have done differently
  • Numbness: Feeling nothing at all
  • Relief: Sometimes, when something difficult ends

All of these feelings are normal. Your experience is unique.

Discuss the common emotions associated with grief. Stress that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel. Validate all emotions. Point out that these feelings can come and go, or even happen all at once.

Navigating the Waves: Coping

How can we help ourselves when we're grieving?

  • Talk about it: Share your feelings with a trusted adult or friend.
  • Journal: Write down your thoughts and emotions.
  • Creative Expression: Draw, paint, listen to music.
  • Movement: Exercise, play sports, go for a walk.
  • Nature: Spend time outdoors.
  • Self-Care: Eat well, get enough sleep, do things you enjoy.

What are some other ways you cope when you feel sad or overwhelmed?

Introduce healthy coping mechanisms. Frame these as tools to help manage feelings, not to get rid of them completely. Brainstorm other ideas with the class. Refer students to the Journal: My Grief Journey for individual reflection.

Remember, You're Not Alone

Grief is a journey, not a race. It's okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or anything else.

Support is always available. Don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult, school counselor, or friend if you need to talk.

Conclude by reiterating that grief is a process and it's okay to ask for help. Encourage students to use the strategies discussed. Prepare for the Cool Down: One Word Reflection.

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Warm Up

Feeling Thermometer Warm Up

Instructions: Silently reflect on where your emotions are right now using the scale below. There are no right or wrong answers, and it's okay to be anywhere on the scale. This is just a way to check in with ourselves.

My Feeling Thermometer (Rate 0-10)

0 - Calm, Peaceful, Relaxed




1 - A little bit happy or content




2 - Good, generally positive




3 - Okay, steady




4 - Slightly uneasy or anxious




5 - Neutral, neither good nor bad, maybe a little tired




6 - A bit stressed or irritated




7 - Frustrated, annoyed, or slightly sad




8 - Very stressed, angry, or deeply sad




9 - Overwhelmed, distressed, unable to focus




10 - In crisis, unable to cope, feeling extreme emotions



(No need to share your number out loud, this is for you.)

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Journal

My Grief Journey Journal

Sometimes when we experience loss, our feelings can be big and confusing. This journal is a private space for you to explore those feelings and think about how you cope.

Part 1: What Does Loss Mean to Me?

  1. In your own words, what does "loss" mean to you? Think about different kinds of loss, not just the ones we talked about in class.











  2. Can you think of a time when you experienced a small loss (like losing a game, breaking a favorite toy, or a friend moving away)? How did you feel at that time?











Part 2: My Feelings

  1. Grief can bring many different emotions. List 3-5 emotions you might feel when experiencing a loss. You can use words from our discussion or your own.






  2. Is there one feeling from your list that you find particularly difficult to deal with? Why do you think that feeling is challenging?






Part 3: My Coping Toolkit

  1. We talked about different ways to cope with grief. From the list below, circle or highlight the strategies you think might help you. Add your own ideas too!

    • Talking to a trusted adult
    • Writing in a journal
    • Drawing or creating art
    • Listening to music
    • Exercising or playing sports
    • Spending time in nature
    • Getting enough sleep
    • Eating healthy foods
    • Spending time with friends/family
    • Watching a favorite movie
    • (Your idea):





  2. Choose one coping strategy you circled or wrote down. Describe how you might use this strategy the next time you feel sad or overwhelmed due to a loss.











Remember, your feelings are valid, and it takes strength to explore them. You are not alone.

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Cool Down

One Word Reflection

Instructions: Think about our discussion on grief and loss today. In the space below, write down one word that describes:

  • Something new you learned
  • How you feel after this discussion
  • A coping strategy you might try
  • A key takeaway from the lesson

My one word:







(Be prepared to share your word with the class if called upon.)

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