A compassionate curriculum resource for exploring resilience, identity, and healing in the classroom.
What's Included in This Resource
This downloadable lesson plan provides educators with a complete framework for facilitating meaningful, age-appropriate discussions around themes of trauma, resilience, and personal growth through the lens of
Coffee & Cedar.
Discussion Framework
- Carefully scaffolded questions that honor student experiences
- Trauma-informed facilitation guidance
- Safe space protocols and conversation agreements
- Strategies for managing sensitive disclosures
- Differentiation options for diverse learners
Writing Activities
- Reflective journaling prompts
- Creative response exercises
- Personal narrative scaffolds
- Peer sharing structures with built-in safety
- Extension activities for deeper exploration
SEL Alignment
This resource directly supports CASEL's five core competencies:
- Self-awareness through identity exploration
- Self-management via emotional regulation strategies
- Social awareness through perspective-taking
- Relationship skills in peer dialogue
- Responsible decision-making in challenging circumstances
Classroom Guidance
- Pre-reading preparation and content warnings
- Recognizing signs of student distress
- Connecting students to support resources
- Family communication templates
- Self-care strategies for educators
Designed for Educators Who:
- Value student emotional safety alongside academic growth
- Seek authentic texts that reflect diverse student experiences
- Want structured support for difficult conversations
- Prioritize trauma-informed teaching practices
“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”
– Author Unknown
“El sol no se tapa con un dedo.”
– Atun
Coffee & Cedar: Trauma-Aware Lesson Plan