A restorative end-of-year social-emotional activity focused on transition to 7th grade, celebrating 6th-grade accomplishments, and setting intentions for the summer, using a mountain expedition theme.
Session 3 introduces the metaphor of feelings as waves. Students explore the unpredictable nature of grief and learn to identify helpful vs. unhelpful outlets for strong waves like anger and bargaining.
Session 2 connects emotions to bodily sensations. Students explore where big feelings 'live' in their bodies and practice scanning for physical clues using a somatic mapping activity.
Session 5 centers on honoring the person who died, establishing enduring memories, and fostering long-term resilience and hope. Students create personal keepsake crafts.
Session 4 focuses on identifying internal and external safety systems. Students map out their protective anchors (grounding people and memories) and their coping sails (healthy, self-soothing behaviors).
Session 1 focuses on identifying and naming complex emotions associated with grief. Students learn the 'emotional weather' metaphor, explore how grief feels in their bodies, and practice sharing in a safe circle.
A final reflection on the simulation where students analyze their performance, identify breaking points, and create a long-term strategy for real-world balance.
Students create a personal 'Emergency Protocol' for overwhelming situations, learning how to prioritize tasks to drop and identifying support systems for recovery.