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Counseling Connection

Liana Sheinkin

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Introduce the concept of counseling and begin building trust through visuals and interactive play, helping the student feel safe and heard.

Establishing rapport early reduces anxiety, supports engagement, and accommodates speech delays by using multisensory and alternative communication methods.

Audience

1st Grade Individual Counseling

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Visuals, simple language, and interactive games.

Materials

Counselor Introduction Board, Visual Feelings Chart, Emotion Dice, All About Me Worksheet, Crayons or Washable Markers, and Comfort Item (small fidget or stuffed toy)

Prep

Prepare Counseling Materials

20 minutes

  • Review the Counselor Introduction Board to familiarize yourself with each visual cue.
  • Print and laminate the Visual Feelings Chart and All About Me Worksheet.
  • Assemble or cut and fold the Emotion Dice; secure edges with tape or glue.
  • Gather crayons or washable markers and select a small comfort item (e.g., fidget toy or stuffed animal).
  • Arrange a quiet, distraction-free seating area for the session.

Step 1

Welcome & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet the student by name and invite them to choose their comfort item.
  • Show the Visual Feelings Chart and ask, "How are you feeling today?" Encourage pointing or nonverbal response.
  • Acknowledge their answer with, "Thank you for sharing how you feel."

Step 2

Introduction to Counseling

5 minutes

  • Present the Counselor Introduction Board.
  • Use simple language: "Counseling is a time we can talk, draw, or play about feelings and anything on your mind. I’m here to listen and help."
  • Invite any questions; allow them to point or gesture if they can’t verbalize.

Step 3

Feelings Dice Game

10 minutes

  • Roll the Emotion Dice together.
  • Identify the emotion on the top face and find the matching picture on the Visual Feelings Chart.
  • Ask, "Have you ever felt like this?" Give time for pointing, nodding, or brief words.
  • Validate: "It’s OK to feel that way. Everyone feels that sometimes."

Step 4

All About Me Collage

8 minutes

  • Give the student the All About Me Worksheet and crayons.
  • Prompt: "Draw or color things you like—your favorite toy, food, or color."
  • Encourage them to point or talk about each picture; acknowledge each with positive feedback.

Step 5

Closing & Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Praise their participation: "Great job today!"
  • Check-in one more time with the Visual Feelings Chart: "How do you feel now?"
  • Briefly preview next session: "Next time, we'll play another feelings game and learn more about what helps us feel calm."
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Activity

Session 1 Activity Details

1. Feelings Dice Game (10 minutes)

Objective: Help the student identify and label emotions using visuals and a fun, hands-on game.

Materials:

  • Emotion Dice
  • Visual Feelings Chart

Teacher Instructions:

  1. Sit next to the student with the Emotion Dice and the Visual Feelings Chart within reach.
  2. Say: “Let’s roll the dice and see what feeling we get!”
    • Roll one die and hold it up so the student can see the face.
    • Point to the matching picture on the Visual Feelings Chart.
  3. Ask (allow pointing or gestures): “Have you ever felt like this?”
    • Wait patiently—give at least 10 seconds for a nonverbal or verbal response.
    • If no response, model briefly: “I feel sad when I drop my ice cream.”
  4. Validate: “Thank you for sharing. It’s okay to feel [emotion name].”
  5. Repeat 4–6 rolls, mixing in questions like:
    • “When do you feel this feeling?”
    • “Where do you feel it in your body?”

2. All About Me Collage (8 minutes)

Objective: Encourage self-expression and build rapport by having the student draw things they like.

Materials:

  • All About Me Worksheet
  • Crayons or Washable Markers

Teacher Instructions:

  1. Hand the student the All About Me Worksheet and choose 2–3 colors together.
  2. Say: “Draw or color your favorite things—your favorite toy, food, color, or anything you love.”
  3. As the student works, prompt gently:
    • “Tell me about this picture,” or “Point to your favorite.”
    • Offer descriptive praise: “I see a red car—you must really like cars!”
  4. If the student is stuck, model by drawing a simple shape (e.g., star) and label it.

Student Work Space:
(Use the space below to draw your favorite things!)





Transition & Closing (2 minutes)

  • Give enthusiastic praise: “Great job sharing and drawing today!”
  • Re-check feelings: Point to the Visual Feelings Chart and ask, “How do you feel now?”
  • Preview next session: “Next time we’ll play a new calm-down game and talk about what helps us feel safe.”

End of Session 1 Activities

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Worksheet

Emotion Dice

Use this template to create your own six-sided Emotion Dice. Print, cut, and fold to assemble a fun tool for exploring feelings!

Instructions:

  1. Print this page on cardstock for durability.
  2. Cut along all solid outer lines of the net below.
  3. Fold along the dotted lines so that each emotion square becomes one face of the dice.
  4. Glue or tape the tabs to secure the cube.
  5. Roll the dice during your session and have the student name or point to the emotion shown.

| Calm |
| |
| (draw icon)|
|____________|
· · ·

| Happy | Sad | Angry | Scared |
| | | | |
| (icon) | (icon) | (icon) | (icon) |
|||________|_______|
· · ·

| Excited |
| |
| (draw icon)|
|____________|

Emotion Labels:

  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Angry
  • Scared
  • Excited
  • Calm

Teacher Note: Draw or glue a simple face or picture representing each emotion in the blank space provided. Laminate for repeated use.

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