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Holding a Memorial
After a death, we can often be left with a strong urge to ‘do something’ which marks the significance of the death and which states its importance to us. For family members this is usually the funeral or a ceremony of some other sort. It is not always either appropriate or possible for school children to attend these occasions though, so facilitating something within the school context is very important. The following are just a few ideas that are easy to do, yet significant. They can of course be combined.
- Light a candle and reflect
- Listen to some music. Maybe a significant piece to the person who has died – you may want to combine this with lighting a candle
- Create a memory box or book. Invite pupils to write a memory in the book about the person who has died, or place an object that means something to them and that has a story attached to it, in a memory box. This box could then be displayed, or kept, or presented to the family of the person who has died. (Children can make mistakes, which, especially in sensitive circumstances can upset them. You may want to get them to write on cards which are then stuck into the book, rather than directly into the book itself).
- Plant a tree in memory of the person.
- Create a plague, or wall display to commemorate their life
- Were they sporty? Name a cup after them and hold an annual sports tournament to win the trophy, or present it to the most improved sportsperson of the year.
- Did they like singing or acting? Hold a cabaret event in their honour.
- Invite pupils to write poems, songs, draw pictures and write letters to or about the person who died.
- Hold a balloon release ceremony where pupils each attach a message to helium filled balloons, and then all release them together.
- Hold a minute’s silence
- Get the school canteen to serve the person’s favourite meal one day.
