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Counseling Corner

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Lesson Plan

Counseling Corner Lesson Plan

Facilitate a 30-minute one-on-one counseling session where the student identifies current emotions and learns at least one coping strategy through guided activities and reflection.

Helping students recognize and label their feelings promotes self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. This individualized support empowers 5th graders to manage stress and build coping skills for future challenges.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guide student through emotion identification and practice coping strategies.

Materials

Prep

Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Rapport Building

5 minutes

  • Greet the student and explain the session's purpose
  • Emphasize confidentiality and create a safe space
  • Ask an open question: "How are you feeling today?"

Step 2

Emotion Identification

5 minutes

  • Show Emotion Identification Cards
  • Ask the student to select cards matching their current feelings
  • Discuss each selected emotion and how it feels

Step 3

Discuss Emotional Triggers

10 minutes

  • Invite the student to describe situations that led to these emotions
  • Use open-ended questions to explore context and intensity
  • Validate their experiences with active listening

Step 4

Introduce Coping Strategies

7 minutes

  • Present the Coping Strategies Worksheet
  • Review different coping options (e.g., deep breathing, drawing, talking)
  • Practice one chosen strategy together

Step 5

Reflection and Next Steps

3 minutes

  • Ask how the student feels after the coping exercise
  • Encourage them to share insights and ask questions
  • Provide positive reinforcement and plan to use strategies in future
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Slide Deck

Counseling Corner

Welcome! Today we’ll work together to understand how you’re feeling and learn ways to feel better.

Welcome the student warmly. Explain that this session is a safe space to talk about feelings. Emphasize confidentiality and that there are no right or wrong emotions.

Welcome and Overview

• How are you feeling today?
• What would you like to talk about?

Ask the student how they’re doing today. Note tone and body language. Use open questions to build rapport.

Identifying Emotions

• Select any Emotion Identification Cards that match how you feel right now.
• Tell me why you chose each card.

Bring out the Emotion Identification Cards. Invite the student to pick cards that match their current feelings. Discuss each choice.

Exploring Triggers

• What situations or events led to these feelings?
• Can you describe what happened and how you reacted?

Encourage the student to describe situations that led to these emotions. Use prompts: "What happened before?" "How did it make you feel?"

Learning Coping Strategies

• Review the Coping Strategies Worksheet together.
• Which strategy sounds most helpful to you?

Introduce the worksheet. Briefly review each strategy. Let the student choose one strategy to practice now.

Practicing a Strategy

• Let’s practice: follow these steps for your chosen strategy.
• Notice how your body and mind feel as you practice.

Guide the student through the chosen strategy (e.g., deep breathing exercise). Model the steps and support the student as they try it.

Reflection and Next Steps

• How do you feel after practicing?
• When might you use this strategy again?
• What other support do you need?

Ask reflective questions to see if the strategy helped. Plan next steps and encourage the student to use the strategy independently in the future.

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Worksheet

Coping Strategies Worksheet

In this worksheet, you’ll explore different ways to help yourself feel calmer and more in control. Read each strategy and write a brief note about how it might help you.


  1. Deep Breathing – Slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. How could this help you?



  2. Drawing or Coloring – Use art to express how you feel. How could this help you?



  3. Positive Self-Talk – Use kind words with yourself (e.g., “I can do this”). How could this help you?



  4. Talking to a Friend or Adult – Share your feelings with someone you trust. How could this help you?



  5. Physical Activity (stretching, walking, etc.) – Move your body to release stress. How could this help you?



  6. Listening to Calm Music – Let music help you relax. How could this help you?



  7. Counting to 10 Slowly – Give your mind a moment to reset. How could this help you?



  8. My Own Strategy: ________________________________
    How could this help you?



Your Plan

  1. Which one strategy would you like to try first?
    Name of strategy: ____________________________
    Why did you choose this one?






  2. When and where will you use this strategy?
    Who will you tell about your plan?






Practice & Reflection

Try your chosen strategy now. Then answer the questions below.

  1. How did you feel before practicing?











  2. How did you feel after practicing?











  3. Will you use this strategy again? Why or why not?











  4. What other support or strategies might help you in the future?











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Activity

Emotion Identification Cards

Print this page and cut along the dotted lines to create individual emotion cards. Use these cards to help the student recognize and label how they’re feeling.

Happy 🙂Sad ☹️Angry 😠
Scared 😨Surprised 😲Disgusted 🤢
Anxious 😰Excited 🤩Frustrated 😤
Proud 😎Tired 😴Calm 🧘

Instructions for Use:

  1. After printing, cut along the table cell borders to make 12 separate cards.
  2. Shuffle the cards face down and invite the student to pick any cards that match their current feelings.
  3. For each chosen card, ask:
    • “What does it mean to feel [Emotion]?”
    • “Can you tell me about a time you’ve felt this way?”
  4. Use the student’s responses to guide your discussion of emotional triggers and coping strategies.

Use these cards during the Emotion Identification step of your one-on-one session.

(Material link: Emotion Identification Cards)

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