Planned Teaching

                      Boys Town Social Skill Lesson Plan

                            "Responding to Grief or Loss"

Introduce Skill

Have you or someone you know ever experienced grief or loss?

What?

It may have been through death of someone loved, a divorce,

When?

a move, a change in life or family circumstances, a change in

Who?

friendship, or a medical illness.  What do you say?  When should

you say something?

Describe Skill Steps

1.  Look at the person.

2.  Use a calm, pleasant voice.

3.  Say "I'm sorry...(about your mom/dad, the accident, the 

     divorce, you're moving, etc.)

4.  Follow up by saying..."Is there anything I can do to help?"  OR

     Would you like me to come over?"  OR  "Could I bring

     something over for you?"  OR  Would you like me to call you

    daily at you home?"   etc.

Rationale

When you can respond to loss or grief appropriately, others will

Benefit

see you as caring, respectful, and mature.  OR  When you can

Neg. Consequence

respond to loss or grief appropriately, it opens communication

Concern

and offers assistance positively.

Request for

Repeat the steps.  Does this make sense?

   Acknowledgment

Practice

Role-play some hypothetical situations.  Write the skill steps on

the board and have the students use them in the role-plays.

Feedback

You did a great job of practicing "Responding to Grief or Loss!"

(Praise specific steps followed and give specific feed back for

areas of improvement.)

Positive

Because you practiced so well, you have earned 10 minutes of

   Consequence

extra free time.  (or other positive consequences that are

appropriate for the time like penny candy or playing a game.)

Follow-Up Practice

Let the class know that you will be observing the class to "catch

them" using the skill "Responding to Grief or Loss."  Continue to

praise correct use of the skill and re-teach as needed.