Feelings Game Show
Suggested Group(s): Middle/Teen
Purpose: To explore feelings and/or grief experiences
Task/need: Group building, approaching the pain of the loss, acknowledging the reality of the loss
Activity Setup Ideas:
- Ask, "How many people have seen the game show $100,000 Pyramid™ on television?" Let the group know that you will be playing your own version of a game show with questions about topics related to why they come to the Caring Place.
- Describe the game and explain how it is played.
Materials:
- Index cards with one feeling written on each.
Description: This game is based on the television game show $100,000 Pyramid™. One group member starts the game by selecting a card and describing the feeling without using the word or part of it. Other group members attempt to guess the feeling. The first to guess correctly begins the process over again.
Activity Wrap Up Ideas:
- Although it is tempting, do not make this a purely competitive activity. Let the group know that since they took the risk of coming to the Caring Place, they are all winners and they can have some time in the Activities Room.
Variation to deepen the level of sharing: To adapt this activity for a deeper level of sharing with a teen group, consider using the following approach. Begin with index cards with the categories related to grieving (listed on next page) written on each. One group member starts the game by selecting a card and listing items that fit into the category on the card without using any of the words on the card. Other group members attempt to guess the category being described. The first to guess correctly selects another card and begins the process over again.
Example: For the category "things you see at the Caring Place," children may list items such as butterflies, fish, air hockey tables, pizza, etc. until somebody mentions "things you see at the Caring Place" or something similar.
Grief Experience Game Show Categories:
- Things you see at a funeral
- Things you see at the Caring Place
- Things that are sad
- Things that make you happy
- People who can support you
- People you can talk to about your grief
- Ways to express anger
- Places you feel safe
- Feelings you had when told that your family member died
- Things that help you remember your family member
- Things people say when someone has died
- Hurtful things people can say
- Things you do to feel better
- Why talking about your feelings is important
- Things you would like to ask your family member
- Things that change after a family member dies
- Ways to show people you love them
- Things that you would like to tell your family member who died
- Things that worry you
- Difficult things about the funeral/memorial service
- Things that are hard to understand about death
