https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy Teaching students about losing a loved one. en-us 2017-04-27 18:06:28 UTC 2025-09-26 23:33:12 UTC hello@padlet.com jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170164018 In this classic, often required reading novel, Harper Lee writes through the eyes of Scout (Jean Louise). Scout is a very young girl who lives with her father Atticus and brother Jem. When Scout was very young, her mother passed away. This is a story of overcoming adversity as seen through the tales of Tom Robinson's court case, racial prejudice of the time, and, of course, the loss of a mother for both Scout and Jem.
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Discussion:
What is the difference between how Scout and Jem react to their mother passing? Why?
(Can use this quote: "I did not miss her, but I think Jem did. He remembered her clearly, and sometimes in the middle of a game he would sigh at length, then go off and play by himself behind the car-house. When he was like that, I knew better than to bother him.")

Students could create padlets with evidence for how they reacted and how the loss shaped who they are.]]> 2017-05-05 12:57:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170164018 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170173827 This is a tale about Wendy - a thirteen-year-old girl who has lost her mother. Her absent father shows up and moves her out of state to California where she is challenged  to rebuild her life. Still in New York is her little brother who continues to deal with the loss on his own. This is a story where the lives of these two children are flipped upside down and headed in a new direction because of their loss.

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Discussion:
Describe the relationship between Wendy and her little brother.

Students can create a character x-ray for Wendy using quotations from the novel.]]> 2017-05-05 13:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170173827 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170184576 This book is a collection of tales about how people have created a means to remember their lost loved ones. Examples include creating a quilt, scholarship, or poem.

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This could be used to have students create a living memory project from the perspective of any character in the books on this padlet. For example, students could create a living memory for Scout's mother out of a list of choices. They would have to get into the character of Scout and consider what Scout might make to honor her mother.]]> 2017-05-05 14:08:15 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170184576 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170195355 Katniss and her younger sister, Prim, are left without their father who dies when Katniss is 11 and Prim is 4. Katniss is then charged with the difficult position of having to provide for their family as her mother dives deep into depression. Katniss has her family depending on her for survival from an early age. She uses this upbringing to then become the one who enters the hunger games - a contest between all of the 12 districts to see which district's chosen one will stay alive and return to normal life.

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Discussion:
How does Katniss' survival perspective carry over into the hunger games?
What is resilience? Does Katniss have resilience? Why or why not? Give examples from the text.]]> 2017-05-05 14:44:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170195355 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170200687 This is a short 3 minute video about what is means to be resilient. In the video, the shape (orignially a circle) needs to adapt and change to overcome the different challenges that are place in its way. Through the video, it changes from a circle to a triangle to a boat to a person.

This is a good video to use because it gives the students a mental framework to view and discuss loss from: that of a building resilience. It does so in a simple yet powerful way through the lens of this shape that has to change and adapt in order to maintain.

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Discussion: How does the character in [any book from this padlet] respond to challenges? What do they do to adapt or change in order to overcome their challenges? Give text-based examples.]]> 2017-05-05 15:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170200687 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170204745 Within this picture book is a multicultural story about Vietnamese four-year-old Kim whose mother is killed by a bomb during the Vietnam war. There is a notable quote, "During the day, Vinh and I were two bluebirds playing our bluebird games. At night, I cried for my mama." Throughout the picture book, Kim learns to feel safe and secure again through the orphanage she falls into. This story is one of hope when all seems hopeless and shows how wounds heal through love.

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Students can create a graphic poem describing Kim's character changes (from loss of mother [scared] --> orphanage [unsure] --> feeling loved and safe again)]]> 2017-05-05 15:20:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170204745 jbeckquest https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170335584 Sometimes children have worries about if their parent is going to love them when one of their parents passes away. This book directly handles this delicate subject. The child - called Small - is very worries that Large will not love him anymore, especially since Small believes he will be sad and grumpy. The entire theme of this picture book is that Large's love will never run out and Small has all the love in the world from Large!

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This would be another book to use individually with students who have gone through this situation. A special education teacher could read this book to a student in a resource room type setting and it could open up discussion that is honest and frank with a student who is going through a death of a parent.]]> 2017-05-07 01:29:44 UTC https://padlet.com/jbeckquest/enrovtgt1djy/wish/170335584