Secondary/High School Content
Activity 4: What is grief?
Supporting Content
Watch the short guidance film and/or share short animated films below:
Why does Child Bereavement UK recommend using the words dead and died?
What are the theories of grief and how does this help us to understand grieving behaviour in pupils?
Activity ideas
Explore grief through art, drama, writing, music.
Use a thesaurus to develop the vocabulary of grief and use this vocabulary to:
- Write a collaborative poem ‘Grief is…’
- Use a piece of music to inspire a dance or short drama piece called ‘Grief’.
- Write a rap or song about grief.
- Compose a piece of music to express grief.
- Designate a piece of wall or use a large piece of paper to make a grief graffiti wall.
- Create a piece of wall art which reflects the learning about grief.
Reflection and Support
Remind pupils that emotional reactions are normal and may be experienced at any time. Signpost to how pupils can access support through school and other organisations.
Ask them to think of something they are good at, they feel proud of or that they wish to achieve. Ask them to write it on a small piece of paper (A6) and on the back of this piece of paper they could do:
- Mindfulness colouring:
- Draw a squiggle on a page and colour the segments.
- Fill a space with circles - draw round a pot, cup, tape roll, create patterns in the spaces.
- Abstract doodles.
- Create a graffiti name.
Ask pupils for examples of pieces of music which make them feel happy, create a feel-good playlist.
For staff – plan something together as part of the debrief. This could be a walk and talk or tea and cake after school, or at lunchtime. Signpost to support and check in with each other.