Honouring Diversity Junior High Activity (Tanis Machacek)
In this activity students have the opportunity to learn more about depression and reflect on it.
Implementation of this activity begins with a teacher led discussion so students understand depression and the effects it can have on someone. Teacher should define depression and its symptoms with the students. As well as discuss where and how students with depression can get help.
After discussing depression in the classroom students will complete a journal entry based on a poem of their choosing. Teacher will pick out several poems from the website below or any other website of their choosing (to insure they are appropriate for the classroom and specific grade level). Students will be given time to find a poem they connect with on a personal level. Have students respond to writing prompt in their journals.The writing prompts may vary depending on the age of the students or class make up. Below are some example prompts that teachers may use in their classroom. Students will be expected to relate their journal response to the poem they have chosen. A classroom discussion on teen depression and the journal reflections will follow. Students may share their journal responses if they are willing to, but should not be required to share what they have written.
Example Poem:
Lost by Thalia
What do you call it when all you feel is pain?
When your loved ones look at you and all you feel is shame?
When your tired of living and playing this game?
when you know your life is meaningless and your the only one to blame?
What do you call it when the hurt is in your soul?
When you smile and laugh but you know its all a show?
When you feel like you've hit your all time low?
When nothing makes you happy and the darkness around you grows?
What do you call it when you feel so alone?
When your in your house but it don't feel like home?
When you look back in your life and every choice you made now seems wrong?
When the wait to die seems too long.
Source: Pain Poem, Lost, Depression Poem http://www.bestteenpoems.com/poem/when-all-you-feel-is-pain#ixzz2IT7SO0OP
www.BestTeenPoems.com
Follow us: bestteenpoems on Facebook
Example Writing Prompts:
Option 1) Write a letter to the author of this poem. What could you say to them to help them have a more positive view on life? Do you have any advice for this person (like talking to a parent or friends)?
Option 2) Write a journal entry. Imagine the author of this poem is one of your friends. What advice might you given them? How could you help them have a more positive view about their life? What positive things could you remind your friend of?
Option 3) How did this poem make you feel? What things in your life make you feel depressed? What are positive things in your life that make you happy?
Teenager Poetry Website:
http://www.bestteenpoems.com/poems/depression/
Implementation of this activity begins with a teacher led discussion so students understand depression and the effects it can have on someone. Teacher should define depression and its symptoms with the students. As well as discuss where and how students with depression can get help.
After discussing depression in the classroom students will complete a journal entry based on a poem of their choosing. Teacher will pick out several poems from the website below or any other website of their choosing (to insure they are appropriate for the classroom and specific grade level). Students will be given time to find a poem they connect with on a personal level. Have students respond to writing prompt in their journals.The writing prompts may vary depending on the age of the students or class make up. Below are some example prompts that teachers may use in their classroom. Students will be expected to relate their journal response to the poem they have chosen. A classroom discussion on teen depression and the journal reflections will follow. Students may share their journal responses if they are willing to, but should not be required to share what they have written.
Example Poem:
Lost by Thalia
What do you call it when all you feel is pain?
When your loved ones look at you and all you feel is shame?
When your tired of living and playing this game?
when you know your life is meaningless and your the only one to blame?
What do you call it when the hurt is in your soul?
When you smile and laugh but you know its all a show?
When you feel like you've hit your all time low?
When nothing makes you happy and the darkness around you grows?
What do you call it when you feel so alone?
When your in your house but it don't feel like home?
When you look back in your life and every choice you made now seems wrong?
When the wait to die seems too long.
Source: Pain Poem, Lost, Depression Poem http://www.bestteenpoems.com/poem/when-all-you-feel-is-pain#ixzz2IT7SO0OP
www.BestTeenPoems.com
Follow us: bestteenpoems on Facebook
Example Writing Prompts:
Option 1) Write a letter to the author of this poem. What could you say to them to help them have a more positive view on life? Do you have any advice for this person (like talking to a parent or friends)?
Option 2) Write a journal entry. Imagine the author of this poem is one of your friends. What advice might you given them? How could you help them have a more positive view about their life? What positive things could you remind your friend of?
Option 3) How did this poem make you feel? What things in your life make you feel depressed? What are positive things in your life that make you happy?
Teenager Poetry Website:
http://www.bestteenpoems.com/poems/depression/