Lesson Plan

School Counselor: Brittney Dowell

Lesson Plan Title: Grief Groups

 Single Classroom Lesson

 Unit of Classroom Lessons: Lesson _____ of _____
 Small-Group Session Lessons: Lesson __1___ of __5___
Target Audience: Grades 3-5

Evidence Base:
 Best Practice (commonly used and believed to be of high quality)
 Action Research (individual investigates own practice to improve content/delivery)
 Research-Informed (a review of research provides foundation for content/delivery)
 Evidence-Based (highest level of evidence, results published in peer-reviewed journal)

ASCA Student Standards Targeted: Student Learning Objectives:

Identify 1–2 student standards relevant for this For each of the selected student standards, write or
targeted group and goal: select 1–2 learning objectives
(Best practice = select one)
M&B# Mindsets & Behaviors Statement Student Learning Objectives
B-SMS 7 Effective Coping Skills Student(s) will:
B-SS 4 Empathy - Students will learn they are not alone in
their grief
- Students will learn how to effectively
cope with their grief

Materials:
- Large piece of paper for wall
- Tape to hang paper on wall
- Markers or other coloring materials

Describe how you will:

Introduce Lesson Group introductions: Have students introduce themselves to the group
Topic/Focus: and then play an icebreaker game. Any icebreaker works such as would
Updated, June 2021
 you rather.
- Next, have the students take the pre-assessment
- Then, go over the expectations for the class
- No talking when others are talking
- What is said in the group, stays in the group
- Some of the things we will talk about in class will be difficult to
talk about. We will listen quietly and respectfully
- We will not make fun of others and what they are going through.

Communicate the - Students will learn they are not alone in their grief
Lesson Objective: - Students will learn how to effectively cope with their grief
Teach Content: - Ask students if they know what grief means
- Define Grief: “the deep sadness and loss you feel when someone
you love dies”
- Remind them that everyone grieves in their own way and some
take longer than others
- Have students name some of the feelings they have had since the
loss of their loved one

Practice Content:
- Grief wall: on the paper on the wall, have students decorate the
wall with the feelings they have experienced on their good days
and their bad days. The point of this is to allow them to express
their feelings about their personal grieving experience and see
that others are going through their grieving journey as well

Summarize/Close: - Ask student s what they learned from the lesson and how they
can use it throughout the week.

Data Collection Plan – For multiple lessons in a unit, complete this section only once for the unit.
Participation Data Plan:
Anticipated number 5-10
of students:
Planned length of 5 week- 30 minute lessons
lesson(s):
ASCA Student Standards Data Plan:
For each lesson/unit/small group, school counselors will administer pre-/post-assessment aligned with the selected
ASCA Student Standards and student learning objectives.
Pre-/Post-Assessment items are:
1. I know how to cope with my feelings when I’m sad or missing someone
2. I have someone I can talk to about my sadness or grief

Updated, June 2021

3. I think I am the only one who has lost a loved one
4. I think its important to learn how to deal with sadness or grief
Outcome Data Plan: (choose one and describe specific data point to compare)
Examples:
Achievement: School counselor will compare reading levels of students before and after delivery of lesson.
Attendance: School counselor will compare number of absences last year to this year.
Discipline: School counselor will compare total number of disciplinary reports for peer-on-peer conflict first quarter
with second quarter
 Achievement (describe): School counselor will compare students support systems before
and after delivery of lesson.

 Attendance (describe):

 Discipline (describe):

Follow-Up Plans
Explain your plan for students who missed the lesson.
- Meet with students individually to ensure they have good coping skills and do small
check in to see how they are feeling.

Explain your plan for students who did not demonstrate mastery on the pre-/post-assessment
of student standards (M&B)/student learning objectives.
- Create a monthly group or individual check in plan to meet with students who may still
be feeling alone or lost after the group.

Updated, June 2021