Parent Guide > How to Get Through the Memorial Service

This week in class, we’re reading "How to Get Through the Memorial Service" by Richard J. Margolis.

In "How to Get Through the Memorial Service," a speaker gives advice to a young child about how to deal with grief.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Community, Death, Education & Knowledge, and Friendship & Family as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"What is the importance of community?", "How do people face death?", "How do we understand the world around us?", "What is a friend?", and "What makes a family?"

Ways to support your child:

• Ask your child about this poem at home:
  • What was "How to Get Through the Memorial Service" about?
  • What did you learn about Community?
  • What did you learn about Death?
  • What did you learn about Education & Knowledge?
  • What did you learn about Friendship & Family?
• Watch the following clips with your child at home:
  • 'Explaining Funerals to Children: what happens at a burial?'
  • 'Why is it important that your friends support you? | Ivy Cobbs | TEDxYouth@MBJH'
  • 'James Taylor You’ve Got a Friend'
  • 'Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs'