Lesson Plan

Healing Hearts Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize grief, identify associated emotions, and practice healthy coping strategies to support themselves and peers.

This lesson builds emotional resilience and empathy by helping 4th graders understand grief, express feelings safely, and discover comforting techniques. It fosters a supportive classroom community.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Grief

5 minutes

Step 2

Feeling Identification

10 minutes

Step 3

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

10 minutes

Step 4

Reflection and Commitment

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Healing Hearts: Coping with Grief

Welcome students and introduce the lesson objectives: recognizing grief, identifying feelings, and learning coping strategies to support ourselves and peers.

What is Grief?

Ask if anyone has heard the word “grief” or experienced loss. Define grief and emphasize that all feelings—sadness, confusion, anger—are valid.

Identifying Feelings

Distribute the [Feelings Flashcards](#feelings-flashcards-4th-grade). Show each card, ask students to name the emotion, and invite volunteers to share a time they felt that way.

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

Facilitate a whole-class brainstorm. Record all student ideas on chart paper. Then introduce any additional strategies from the handout.

Deep Breathing Exercise

Lead the class in a simple deep breathing exercise to demonstrate a quick coping tool.

Reflection & Commitment

Hand out the [Comforting Strategies Handout](#comforting-strategies-handout-4th-grade). Ask students to choose one strategy to try the next time they feel grief or sadness.

Thank You & Next Steps

Wrap up by encouraging students to practice their chosen strategies and support each other every day.

Lesson Plan

Healing Hearts Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Introduction to Grief

Step 2

Feeling Identification

Step 3

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

Step 4

Reflection and Commitment

Slide Deck

Healing Hearts: Coping with Grief

What is Grief?

Identifying Feelings

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

Deep Breathing Exercise

Reflection & Commitment

Thank You & Next Steps

Worksheet

Worksheet

Healing Hearts

Alyssha Walker