Make a bracelet with coloured beads. Each bead representing a memory of the person or pet that has gone. They can wear their bracelet and take their memories around with them just like Bertle did at the end of the book where he went home with his memories hand in hand.

A fabulous book all about helping our kids to be brave and resilient - we've got the activity sheets as stand alone, or use them with the book too. Denial– when Bertle is looking for Hertle and he can’t believe it is true that his friend has gone. Powerful and moving text from children's author and poet John Dougherty is paired perfectly with warm illustrations from the wonderfully talented Thomas Docherty in a thoughtful and sensitive approach to this difficult topic. Bertle looks for Hertle but can’t find her. Have you ever looked for the person or pet that has gone? Schools do a wonderful job with supporting pupils emotionally, and the events of the past few years have affected many families. This book would be a recommended addition to the classroom to help pupils understand their feelings and to ensure that those no longer by their side are never forgotten.Sometimes they can be ok and feeling happy playing and then something reminds them of the person or pet that has gone. This can make them feel sad again. Can they make a list of things that remind them of the person or pet that has gone? How does it make them feel when these things remind them? They can use the Playdough mat with playdough or whiteboard pen to draw their facial expression. How could they make themselves feel better when this happens?

Our grief worksheets for kids offer a series of engaging and therapeutic activities. From drawing exercises to writing prompts, these worksheets provide a safe space for children to explore their emotions and share their thoughts about loss. A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning.”– Joe Coelho, Waterstones Children’s Laureate Bertle then starts to feel despair. What do you think despair means. Look at the picture to give you clues. This is the Thoughts Feelings Sensations Actions resource. It explores lots of different emotions. Children can see the connection their thoughts have with their feelings,…

Scared Unicorn

In addition to our worksheets and tips, we recommend the book “ The Hare-Shaped Hole“ by John Dougherty,and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. This beautiful book tells the story of a brave hare facing a challenging journey — one that involves loss and the process of healing. Why did Bertle find it hard to begin with to fill the hole with memories? Did he get better at it? Does it make him feel better to fill the hole with memories?

What is despair? Use a heart playdough mat to fill with colour to represent despair. Look at the picture in the book at Bertle when he is feeling despair to give ideas. The Hare-Shaped Hole is a poignant and touching picture book exploring death and grief, as Bertle the turtle learns to cope with the loss of his best friend Hertle the hare. Draw two columns, and label one as ‘Same’ and the other as ‘Different’– can they think about their person or pet and write what is same about them and what is different. They could talk and you scribe if they are young. This Self Esteem intervention Year Six, is for a group of six children and is led by a teaching assistant. It covers emotions, relaxation, calming…As a newly qualified ELSA, Debbie's amazing resources have helped me, more than anything else, to get a practical foothold in my role. Often created in response to the needs flagged up by fellow ELSAs, they're diverse, engaging, accessible and form the much of the core of my sessions, planning and assessment." Express Emotions Creatively: Art, music, or writing can be therapeutic outlets for children to express their feelings.

Description Description "A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning." - Joe Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate At the end of the book Bertle went home with his memories hand in hand. What do you think that means?Knowing what these stages are and how the pupil is experiencing them will give a better understanding of themselves and their unique experience. It will hopefully help them meet their own needs during the grieving process. Also knowing that they feel the emotions that they are feeling will normalize them and help them understand that it is ok. They are normal and there is hope, acceptance and healing for the future. It seems like hope is lost… until Gerda the kindly bear finds him. She explains that he must fill the hole with his memories of Hertle. And slowly… Bertle begins to feel a little bit better. The hole was a reminder for Bertle that his friend wasn’t there any more. Did anything remind you of the person or pet that had gone? What was it? A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.