Healing Hearts Lesson Plan Healing Hearts: Grief Support
Support Group Lesson Plan • Grade 8
Tier 2 Support
Why This Matters
Grief can be an isolating and overwhelming experience for adolescents. This lesson provides a safe space for students to process their emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and realize they are not alone in their experiences, which is crucial for their emotional well-being and academic success.
Logistics
Time: 45 minutes
Approach: Interactive activities & facilitated discussion
Audience: 8th Grade
Materials Needed
Slide Deck: Healing Hearts Intro
Script: Guiding the Healing Journey
Emotional Check-in Worksheet
Art Activity: My Grief Landscape Guide
Art supplies (paper, markers, pencils)
Soft manipulatives (stress balls, squishy toys, Play-Doh)
Preparation Steps
Review the lesson plan and script beforehand.
Gather art supplies and soft manipulatives.
Arrange seating in a circle to foster community.
Ensure the Slide Deck is ready and worksheets are printed.
Instructional Flow
1. Welcome & Grounding (5 min)
Greet students warmly. Sit in a circle. Use Slide 1.
Lead a brief grounding exercise: three deep breaths, focusing on feet on the floor.
2. Emotional Check-in & Scaling (10 min)
Distribute Worksheet. Use Slide 2.
Discuss how feelings change. Guide students through filling out their worksheets. Invite voluntary sharing of one feeling and their number.
3. Play Therapy Exploration (10 min)
Introduce soft manipulatives. Use Slide 3.
Encourage students to explore objects while reflecting on feelings. Facilitate a brief discussion on how it felt to use them.
4. Art Activity: My Grief Landscape (15 min)
Distribute Guide and art supplies. Use Slide 4.
Create a visual representation of grief using colors, shapes, and images. Play calming music.
5. Connection & Closure (5 min)
Invite voluntary sharing. Use Slide 5.
Summarize key takeaways: feelings are valid, healthy coping helps, and connection is important.
"Students will identify and express feelings related to grief, learn coping strategies, and connect with peers in a supportive setting."
Healing Hearts Intro Slides Healing Hearts
Welcome to Our Safe Space
Share your feelings
Learn coping tools
Connect with others
Feel supported
There is no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with today.
Teacher Notes: Welcome students warmly. Ensure a calm and inviting atmosphere. Briefly explain that this is a safe space to talk about feelings.
Checking In: Emotional Scale
How are you feeling today?
1
Really Tough
Overwhelmed
5
Doing Okay
Managing
10
Peaceful
Joyful
It's normal for feelings to go up and down. All feelings are welcome here.
Teacher Notes: Explain emotional scaling. Emphasize that all feelings are okay and can change. Guide students to mark their worksheet. Invite voluntary sharing.
Hands-On Feelings
Sometimes it's hard to find the right words. Soft objects can help you:
Express what you're feeling
Soothe yourself
Focus your thoughts
Exploring Emotions with Objects
Feel free to explore and use the manipulatives as you wish.
Teacher Notes: Introduce the manipulatives. Explain they can use them to help express feelings or calm down. Encourage quiet exploration for 5-7 mins.
My Grief Landscape
Grief can feel like a big, complex landscape. Use colors, shapes, and images to show:
How your grief feels
What it looks like to you
Anything you want to express
"Let your creativity flow. There is no wrong way to do this."
Teacher Notes: Introduce the art activity as a way to visually represent their inner world. Reassure them there's no 'right' or 'wrong' art. Emphasize self-expression.
Moving Forward Together
Your feelings are valid
Many ways to cope
You are not alone
Thank you for sharing this space with us.
Teacher Notes: Allow voluntary sharing of art. Conclude by reiterating key messages and offering ongoing support resources if needed.
Guiding the Healing Journey Script Guiding the Healing Journey
Grief Support Group Facilitator Script
Target Time: 45 Minutes
5 MIN
1. Welcome and Grounding
Teacher Script
"Hi everyone. Welcome to our Healing Hearts group. I really appreciate you all being here today. Take a moment to get comfortable in your seats."
[Pause, allow students to settle]
"Sometimes, when we're dealing with big feelings, it helps to just notice where we are right now. Let's take three slow, deep breaths together. You can close your eyes if you like, or just lower your gaze. In through your nose... and out through your mouth. (Pause) Again, in... and out. (Pause) One more time, in... and out."
Slide 1: "As our slide says, this is our 'Healing Hearts' space. This is a place where you can share your feelings, learn some tools to help you cope, and connect with other people who understand."
10 MIN
2. Emotional Check-in & Scaling
Teacher Script
"Okay, next up is our emotional check-in. I'm going to hand out a simple worksheet. On it, you'll see a line, almost like a scale. On this scale, 1 means you're feeling really tough or overwhelmed today. A 5 might mean you're feeling okay, just managing. And a 10 could mean you're feeling peaceful or even joyful."
"It's completely normal for our feelings to go up and down. Mark where you are on your worksheet. If you can think of one word to describe that feeling, you can write it down too."
[Allow 1-2 minutes for reflection]
"Would anyone like to share one feeling they're experiencing today, or their number on the scale? Remember, it's totally optional."
Worksheet & Slide 2: Actively listen and validate feelings. Use phrases like, "Thank you for sharing that. It takes courage."
10 MIN
3. Play Therapy Exploration
Teacher Script
"Sometimes, it's really hard to find the right words. We have some soft objects here today – stress balls, squishy toys, and Play-Doh. These aren't just toys; they can help you express things non-verbally or help you calm your body and focus."
"I invite you to gently take one or two objects and just explore them. See how they feel. You can squeeze them, mold them, or just hold them while you think."
[Allow 5-7 minutes for quiet exploration with soft music]
"How did using these objects feel? Did it help you feel a bit more settled?"
Slide 3: Encourage students to focus on the sensory experience rather than "playing."
15 MIN
4. Art Activity: My Grief Landscape
Teacher Script
Emotional Check-in Worksheet Emotional Check-in
My Feelings Today
Name:
Date:
How are you feeling right now?
Think about your emotions today. It's okay to feel whatever you're feeling. Circle the number on the scale that best fits your mood.
Scale 1 Tough / Overwhelmed
Scale 5 Managing / Okay
Scale 10 Peaceful / Joyful
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
One word to describe how you feel:
What is one thing you might need today?
(To feel a little better or more supported)
"Your feelings are valid, exactly as they are."
Grief Landscape Activity Guide My Grief Landscape
An Art Exploration Activity
Sometimes words aren't enough to express the big feelings we carry. Think of your grief—or the emotions connected to a loss—as a unique **landscape**. What does it look like inside your heart right now?
Ideas to Explore
Colors
Are they bright, dark, muted, or swirling together?
Shapes & Lines
Are there sharp mountains, gentle hills, or jagged edges?
Weather Patterns
Is it sunny, stormy, foggy, or a mix of everything?
Natural Elements
Are there rivers, trees, rocks, open fields, or pathways?
Light & Shadow
Where is the light in your landscape? Where are the shadows?
Keep in Mind
There is no right or wrong way to create your landscape.
This is about your expression, not making a perfect picture.
Take your time, breathe, and create what feels authentic.
Design Space Below
(Use this space for small sketches or notes, or use the provided blank art paper for your full landscape)
"Let your feelings guide your hands."
