Heart Talk Lesson Plan Heart Talk: Two Homes, One Big Love
Understanding Family Changes with Love and Resilience
30 Minutes
Why This Matters
Understanding and expressing emotions around family changes is crucial for a child's emotional well-being. This lesson provides a safe space and tools for 1st graders to navigate these new dynamics, building resilience and healthy communication skills.
Objective
Students will be able to identify and express their feelings about changes in family structure due to parental divorce and learn strategies for communicating their needs and coping with living in two homes.
Teacher Prep
• Review all generated materials including script and slides.
• Print copies of Feeling Faces Worksheet (1 per student).
• Prepare card stock and scissors for Coping Cards Activity .
• Ensure projector/Smartboard is ready for Heart Talk Slides .
Materials
Smartboard / Projector
Markers or Crayons
Printed Worksheets
Scissors & Card Stock
Lesson Plan Flow
1
Warm Up: Beginning Our Heart Talk
5 min
Introduce the idea of big feelings and family changes. Students reflect on recent feelings and share one with a partner using the Warm Up document.
2
Introduction: Our Changing Families
5 min
Display Slides 1-2. Use the Heart Talk Script to explain that some children have two homes. Emphasize that all feelings are okay.
3
Reading & Discussion: My Two Homes
8 min
Read "My Two Homes" aloud. Pause to discuss key emotional points. Use the Communication Scenarios to practice "I feel..." statements.
4
Activity: Feeling Faces & Coping Cards
7 min
Students draw their feelings on the Feeling Faces Worksheet and create physical Coping Cards to keep for when feelings get big.
5
Check for Understanding: Quiz
3 min
Administer the Two Homes, One Heart Quiz to check understanding of "Heart Talk" and coping skills.
6
Cool Down: Reflecting on Our Feelings
2 min
Students complete the Cool Down Exit Ticket , sharing one thing they learned or felt.
Heart Talk Slides Families Are Special!
Families are all different and special.
What makes YOUR family special?
Home 1
Home 2
Sometimes Families Change
Sometimes mom and dad live in two different homes.
This can feel new and different.
It's okay to have lots of feelings about it!
Heart Talk: Share Your Feelings
It's good to talk about how you feel inside.
This is called Heart Talk.
Sharing helps you and others understand your big feelings.
What Feelings Do You Have?
😄
Happy
😢
Sad
😟
Confused
🤩
Excited
😥
Worried
What others can you name?
Talking About Two Homes
When you have two homes, you might feel different things.
Try using these words:
"I feel... when... I need..."
How can you tell your grown-ups how you feel?
Coping With Big Feelings
When feelings get big, what can you do?
Draw a picture
Talk to a grown-up
Play a game
Take a deep breath
What helps you?
You Are Loved!
You are important and loved in BOTH your homes.
Remember your Heart Talk and your Coping Skills !
It's a journey, and you're doing great!
Heart Talk Script Heart Talk Script
A Step-by-Step Facilitation Guide
1
Warm Up: Beginning Our Heart Talk (5 min)
"Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to have a very special 'Heart Talk.' Can everyone put their hand on their heart? That's where we keep our feelings! Our hearts can hold so many different feelings – happy, sad, excited, worried. Sometimes, big changes happen that can make our hearts feel lots of different things."
"Think for a moment about a time you felt a really strong feeling. Maybe super happy, or a little bit sad. Now, turn to a partner and quietly share one feeling you've had recently. You don't have to say why you felt it, just the feeling itself. Ready? Go!"
Allow 1-2 minutes for sharing. Bring class back together.
2
Introduction: Our Changing Families (5 min)
Slide 1: Families Are Special! "Look at this slide! Families are all different and special. Some families have a mom and a dad, some have two moms, some have two dads, some have one parent, some live with grandparents. What makes your family special? You can share with the person next to you, or if you feel brave, you can share with the whole class."
Slide 2: Sometimes Families Change "Sometimes, families change in different ways. And sometimes, mom and dad might decide to live in two different homes. This can feel new and very different for children. It's okay to have lots of feelings about it. You might feel a little sad, or confused, or even a little bit worried. All those feelings are normal and valid."
3
Reading & Discussion: My Two Homes (8 min)
"I have a story for us today called 'My Two Homes' . It's about a child whose parents live in two different houses. Let's read it together and think about how the child in the story feels and what they do."
Teacher Note: Pause at key emotional points. "Now that we've read our story, let's have a Heart Talk discussion. The story showed us that talking about feelings is really important. Imagine you're at one home and you miss your parent at the other home. What could you say to your grown-up to let them know how you feel?"
4
Activity: Feeling Faces & Coping Cards (7 min)
"It's super important to know how you're feeling and to have ways to help yourself when feelings get big. First, on your worksheet, I want you to draw a picture of how you might feel about family changes. You can draw one feeling, or many feelings!"
"Now, let's think about ways to help ourselves. We're going to make some Coping Cards! Look at the slides again. What other things help you feel better when you're sad, or worried, or confused?"
5
Beginning Our Heart Talk Warm Up Name:
Date:
Warm Up
Heart Talk
Beginning Our Heart Talk
Instructions
Listen to your teacher and think about your feelings.
1
Put your hand on your heart .
2
Think about a strong feeling you had recently.
3
Turn to a partner and quietly share one feeling .
My feeling was:
Draw a face or write your feeling word here!
Happy 😄 Sad 😢 Worried 😟 Excited 🤩
My Two Homes Reading My Two Homes
Maya loved her family. She loved her mom, and she loved her dad. They all lived together in one cozy house with a big backyard where Maya liked to play.
One day, Mom and Dad sat Maya down. They told her that they would not live in the same house anymore. Mom would live in a new apartment, and Dad would stay in their cozy house. Maya would have two homes.
Maya felt a little confused. She felt a little sad. She had lots of questions. Would her toys move? Would she still see both Mom and Dad every day? It felt like a big change in her heart.
At Mom's new apartment, Maya had a special corner for her books and a comfy bed. Mom helped her unpack her favorite teddy bear. "It's still your home, sweetie," Mom said, giving her a hug. Maya smiled a little.
When she went back to Dad's house, her old room was still there, just as she remembered. Dad made her favorite pancakes on Saturday mornings. "You have two special places now, Maya," Dad told her. "And we both love you very, very much."
Maya learned that even though her parents lived in two different houses, their love for her stayed big and strong. She learned that she could talk to Mom or Dad about her feelings, whether she was happy about her two homes, or sometimes missed one parent when she was with the other.
Talking about her feelings, her "Heart Talk," helped her feel better. Her two homes were both full of love, just in a new way.
Think About It
How did Maya feel when she first heard the news?
What helped Maya feel better in her two homes?
What is "Heart Talk"?
Communication Scenarios Discussion Heart Talk: Scenario Cards
Practicing Our "I Feel..." Statements
Instructions: Read each story. Think about what you could say using your Heart Talk.
1
Missing a Parent
Imagine you are at one home, and you really miss your mom or dad who is at the other home. What could you say to the grown-up you are with?
"I feel..."
2
Exciting News!
You learned something really cool at school! You want to tell your other parent all about it right now. How can you share your news?
"I feel..."
3
Feeling Confused
Rules might be a little different at each house. You feel confused about a rule. How can you ask about it?
"I feel..."
4
Left Something Behind
You want to play a game, but you left it at your other house. What can you say to find a solution?
"I feel..."
Coping Cards Activity Name:
Coping Cards
My Helpful Tools
Instructions
Think about things that help you feel better when you have big feelings. Draw one coping skill inside each box below!
Skill 1
I can draw a picture...
My skill is:
Skill 2
I can take deep breaths...
My skill is:
Skill 3
I can talk to my teacher...
My skill is:
Teacher Note: Cut these out to keep in your "Calm Down Kit" or pocket!
Feeling Faces Worksheet Name:
Feeling Faces
Heart Talk Expression
My Feelings About Family Changes
Draw a picture of how you feel about changes in your family, like having two homes. You can draw one feeling face, or many feelings!
😊 😢 😟 🤩
Draw your feelings here!
Need an idea? Try these!
😄 HAPPY
😢 SAD
😟 CONFUSED
🤩 EXCITED
😥 WORRIED
❓ NEW
Two Homes One Heart Quiz Two Homes, One Heart Quiz
Checking Our Feelings Knowledge
Name:
1
What is 'Heart Talk'?
Running fast
Talking about your feelings
Eating your lunch
2
If your parents live in two homes, is it okay to feel sad?
No, you should only feel happy.
Yes, all feelings are okay.
Only if you cry.
3
Name one thing you can do when you have big feelings (a coping skill).
4
Is it important to tell your grown-ups how you feel?
No, keep it a secret.
Yes, it helps them understand.
Only if you're happy.
Quiz Answer Key Quiz Answer Key
Two Homes, One Heart Assessment
1
What is 'Heart Talk'?
Correct Answer: Talking about your feelings
Explanation: The lesson defines 'Heart Talk' as openly discussing one's emotions with trusted adults or peers.
2
If your parents live in two homes, is it okay to feel sad?
Correct Answer: Yes, all feelings are okay.
Explanation: The lesson emphasizes that all feelings, including sadness, are normal and valid when families experience changes.
3
Name one thing you can do when you have big feelings (a coping skill).
Correct Answer: Answers may vary.
Explanation: Students learned various coping strategies during the activity. Acceptable answers include: draw a picture, talk to a grown-up, take deep breaths, play a game, hug a teddy bear.
4
Is it important to tell your grown-ups how you feel?
Correct Answer: Yes, it helps them understand.
Explanation: The lesson highlights the importance of communication for grown-ups to understand and support the child's needs.
Note: This quiz is a check for understanding. Focus on the student's ability to recognize that feelings are valid and communication is helpful.
Family Changes Rubric Family Changes Rubric
Assessment Tool for Emotional Understanding and Communication
Category 4 - Excellent 3 - Good 2 - Developing 1 - Needs Support Expression of Feelings Clearly identifies and expresses multiple feelings about family changes in drawings and/or discussion. Identifies and expresses some feelings about family changes. Attempts to express feelings, but may be unclear or limited. Shows little to no attempt to express feelings. Communication Skills Actively participates in discussions about communication, offering thoughtful responses. Participates in discussions and offers relevant responses. Participates with some prompting, responses may be brief. Requires significant prompting to participate. Coping Strategies Identifies and suggests multiple appropriate coping strategies, demonstrating understanding. Identifies one or two appropriate coping strategies. Can identify a coping strategy with some help. Struggles to identify any coping strategies. Engagement & Effort Fully engaged in all activities, showing strong effort and interest. Generally engaged in activities, shows good effort. Shows some engagement, but may need redirection. Minimal engagement and effort in activities.
Student Name
Final Score
Observation Note: This rubric is intended to guide teacher observation and understanding of student development in social-emotional learning. Sensitivity to individual student circumstances is paramount.
Reflecting on Our Feelings Cool Down Heart Talk Exit Ticket
Reflecting on Our Feelings
My Name:
Cool Down Activity
For your exit ticket, draw or write one thing you learned or one feeling you had during our Heart Talk today.
My Heart Talk Reflection
You did a great job today! ❤️
Family Feelings Test Family Feelings Test
Heart Talk Assessment
Name:
Date:
1
What does it mean to have a 'Heart Talk'?
Talking about your favorite food
Talking about your feelings
Talking about your toys
2
If your mom and dad live in two different houses, is it okay to feel confused sometimes?
No, you should never be confused.
Yes, it's normal to feel confused.
Only if you are a baby.
3
Imagine you are going from Mom's house to Dad's house. What is one feeling you might have?
I might feel...
4
Why is it good to tell a grown-up how you feel?
So they can buy you a toy.
So they can understand and help you.
So you can get in trouble.
5
Name two things you can do when you have a big feeling (coping skills).
6
Are you loved even if your parents live in two different homes?
No, not as much.
Yes, always!
Only by one parent.