Coffee & Cedar: Trauma-Aware Lesson Plan
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

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Coffee and Cedar: English Questions for Discussion.pdf

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Coffee and Cedar: Spanish Discussion Questions

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”
– Author Unknown
“El sol no se tapa con un dedo.”
– Atun