Question Basket or Box
Suggested Group(s): Middle/Teen
Purpose: To normalize the experiences of group members by asking common questions that are related to grief and talking about the possible answers
Task/need: This activity can address any of the spiral tasks/needs depending on the questions included
Activity Setup:
- Ask, "Has anyone ever had a question that they wanted to ask about grieving, but didn’t?" "Well, we're going to give you the opportunity to ask those questions (or make statements) here in a safe place. Since not everybody is comfortable asking questions, we thought we'd let you write them on paper so that people don’t know that they're yours."
Materials:
- A basket or box
- Small pieces of paper
- Markers, pens or pencils
Description: Provide each child with a few pieces of paper and a pencil or marker with which to write a few questions that they may have or think that others may have about grief. Once the questions are written, have the group members fold them and place them in the basket. One by one, have group members select a question from the basket to guide the group's discussion. If that child wishes (remember the 'I-pass' rule is in play here), he/she may answer it and then allow others the opportunity to answer. Continue around the table giving each group member the opportunity to answer a question from the basket. Remind the group that it is okay if some questions don't seem to have an answer, but it is good to recognize this and discuss questions even if there is no real answer.
Activity Wrap-up:
- Note that it is the aim of the Caring Place to be a safe place for group members to ask questions and invite additional questions for the future, even those questions that may not have an answer
Suggestions: You may want to add some questions yourself to get at common questions that children and teens have about grief. It's okay to keep questions from group to group to build a collection of strong questions in addition to the questions that your present group has asked. Remember, it is okay to include questions for which there are no easy answers to let the group think about and discuss these issues.
