Teacher Question?

Question

I have to teach Death education to a bunch of 8th graders, i am a health teacher but am having trouble finding some activities to do with them. I was hoping to see if anyone had some ideas on games, activities, or something that will have them work in groups of 4 or 5 relating to death education. Thanks

Answer 1

1. Have them plan their own funeral,

2. Discuss terminal illness.sustain life or pull the plug and why. Support your answer.

3.Type of disposals for bodies burials, cremation, at sea

4.Prices for shipping bodies for to place of birth or desired place of burial.

5. Respecting the peoples last request before death, what if it doesn't make any sense because of medication,

6 Allowing people to view the body regardless of the conditions.

Answer 2

I would be very careful with this subject. Will you be warning the parents that this lesson will be coming up? Some students have never been prepared for this in their family life.
I teach a unit on Death and Wills to high school students and I still have some that have much difficulty talking about the subject.
As for looking for ideas, I don't think I would have them plan their own funeral, but you could plan one together as a group for an unknown person. Euthanasia would be a great topic as some of them may have had animals that were euthanised. They may even have terminally ill relatives to relate it to.
Good luck, this is not an easy topic to teach.

Answer 3

maybe they could analyze things written on grave stones (i think theyre called epitaths right)...anyway, maybe analyze what they mean, what the family wanted people who saw it to know about the person. Maybe they could then create there own? --what would they want people to know. Or in that case maybe what would they want to be remembered for (obituaries)--read some, create there own.

Maybe some discussion about how deaths were handled differently 100 years ago compared to now? Or since it is a health class maybe comparing average age of death from different time periods to now. How is it different? What may be some of the reasons? (medicine, foods, etc)
This is tough...i wouldnt want to have to teach this! Good luck to you!