Giant Chain
Suggested Group(s): Young/Middle/Teen
Purpose: To introduce the group members and the people who died in their families. It is a concrete way for the children to see how they are linked together as a group by the death of a family member.
Task/need: Group building, acknowledging the reality of the death
Activity Setup Ideas:
- Ask the children, "What makes you a unique person?" "What are your favorite things to do, eat, watch and enjoy?"
- Ask the same about the person that died.
Materials:
- Long strips of paper
- Markers
- Magazines
- Crayons
- Glue
- Scissors
- Stapler
Description: Each child takes a long strip of paper, writes his/her name on one side and the name of the person who died on the other side. They can then choose to write a message to their family member, draw pictures, use pictures from magazines or decorate the chain in any way that they choose. (They may want to draw or find pictures telling something about the deceased like a favorite color, food, TV show, music, etc.)
Activity Wrap Up Ideas:
- At a closing circle, the child tells who died in their family and anything else that they want to share.
- The strips of paper are then stapled into connecting links, making a group chain.
- You may want to discuss how the grief that the children experience links the group together.
- Hang the chain to display the new group throughout the session.
Suggestion: Since both sides of the paper strip will be used, you may not want to have the group use materials that will be easily smudged or dislodged, such as glitter, paint or large objects glued on to the paper. If you do use these materials, you may need two meetings to allow time for drying between completing each side.
