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Third Grade
LESSON
Eight
Candles of Light: Honoring Grief & Loss
55 Minutes
This lesson is currently under review with Nest Educational Advisors. Please check back later for updates.
Lesson Overview
Students will explore the concept of grief, understand its impact, and discuss how resilience plays a role in the grieving process. They will engage with the story Badger’s Parting Gift by Susan Varley, reflect on their emotions, and brainstorm ways to help themselves and others while coping with grief. Finally, they will use these discussions to engage in hand-on craft activities to create symbolic representations of hope and light for their Table of Friendship.
Lesson Objectives
- Define grief, when it happens, and how to cope with it
- Identify resilience as a support for grieving.
- Practice empathy to support others who are grieving.
Materials
Handouts
quicklinks
how to prepare for this lesson
Talking about grief and loss in early childhood is an important way to help students process their feelings, validate and acknowledge their loss, and offer healing and copy strategies. Students who have not experienced grief and loss may have many questions or worries after the lesson, and it is wise to leave time in the days following to continue to share resources and remind students that you are there to answer any questions that have come up for them.
Please ensure to pre-check videos before class, as internet policies may vary among schools, to ensure accessibility.
Additional Resources
- Book: Badger's Parting Gift by Susan Varley