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Counseling Kickoff

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Lesson Plan

Counseling Kickoff Lesson Plan

Introduce 5th and 6th graders to the counseling process, build rapport, and gather initial information to personalize future sessions.

Setting a warm, structured welcome lowers anxiety and fosters trust, making students more comfortable sharing and engaging in counseling.

Audience

5th and 6th Grade New Counseling Students

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive intro, engaging worksheets, and emotional check-in.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Warm-Up

3 minutes

  • Greet the student by name and offer a friendly handshake or wave.
  • Display the Counselor Introduction Slides:
    • Share your photo, background, and favorite hobbies.
    • Explain your role and how you support students.

Step 2

Session Goals Overview

3 minutes

  • Explain what counseling is and what it isn’t (support vs. punishment).
  • Outline three goals for today’s session:
    1. Get to know each other.
    2. Learn counseling purpose and confidentiality.
    3. Start understanding student’s interests and feelings.

Step 3

Get-to-Know-You Activity

7 minutes

  • Hand the student the Student Get-to-Know-You Worksheet.
  • Guide them through sections on interests, strengths, and favorite activities.
  • Encourage open-ended answers and ask follow-up questions to build rapport.

Step 4

Feelings Check-In

5 minutes

  • Spread the Feelings Emoji Cards face-up.
  • Ask the student to pick one card that shows how they feel right now.
  • Discuss why they chose that emotion and validate their feelings.

Step 5

Closing and Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Summarize what you learned about the student today.
  • Reinforce confidentiality and invite any questions.
  • Explain what they can expect at the next session and thank them for sharing.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Counseling!

Hello! I’m Ms. Johnson, your school counselor. I’m so glad we get to spend time together. Today is all about getting to know each other and making sure you feel comfortable.

Greet the student warmly by name. Introduce yourself with a smile and explain that this slide shows who you are and why you’re excited to work together.

About Me

• I’ve been a school counselor for 5 years
• I love reading mystery novels and hiking on weekends
• I enjoy helping students feel supported and succeed

Share a bit about your background and hobbies to help the student connect. Point to each bullet as you speak.

What Is Counseling?

Counseling is:
• A safe space to talk and learn
• A supportive way to solve problems
• A place to share your thoughts and feelings

Counseling is not:
• A punishment
• Telling you exactly what to do

Define counseling in kid-friendly terms. Emphasize what counseling is and isn’t. Encourage questions.

Today’s Session Goals

  1. Get to know each other
  2. Learn about counseling and confidentiality
  3. Share your interests and feelings

Go through each goal and tie it back to student benefit. Check in briefly to see if these make sense.

Let’s Get Started!

First, we’ll use a fun worksheet to learn more about you. Ready to begin?

Use this slide to transition. Invite the student to pick up their worksheet and get ready for the next activity.

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Worksheet

Student Get-to-Know-You Worksheet

Welcome! This worksheet will help me learn about you. Feel free to write or draw your answers.

1. Your Name:




2. Today’s Date:




3. Three of My Favorite Things:

  1. _________________________________


  2. _________________________________


  3. _________________________________


4. My Hobbies or Activities I Enjoy:







5. Something I’m Proud Of (a talent, skill, or achievement):







6. How I Feel When I’m Happy:







7. How I Feel When I’m Worried or Upset:







8. One Thing I Hope to Talk About in Counseling:







9. Draw or Write About Something That Makes You Smile:












Great job! We’ll talk about your answers together. Remember, this is a safe space to share anything you like.

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Activity

Feelings Emoji Cards

Use these cards to help students express how they feel in a fun, visual way. Perfect for quick emotional check-ins.

Purpose:
To provide a simple, non-verbal way for students to share their feelings and start a conversation.

Materials Needed:
• Printed emoji cards (laminated if possible)
• A small table or surface to spread the cards

Cards:

  1. 😄 – Happy

  2. 😢 – Sad

  3. 😡 – Angry

  4. 😨 – Anxious

  5. 😕 – Confused

  6. 😴 – Tired

  7. 😐 – Okay

  8. 😃 – Excited

  9. 😇 – Calm

  10. 😞 – Disappointed

Preparation:
• Print and cut out each emoji card.
• (Optional) Laminate cards for durability.
• Arrange cards face-up in a fan or grid so all are visible.

Instructions:

  1. Invite the student to look at all the emoji cards.
  2. Ask: “Which emoji shows how you feel right now?”
  3. Encourage them to pick one card.
  4. Ask follow-up questions:
    • “What made you choose this emoji?”
    • “Can you tell me more about how you’re feeling today?”
  5. Validate their emotion and thank them for sharing.

Follow-Up Points:

  • Use the chosen emoji as a bridge to discuss coping strategies.
  • Track changes over multiple sessions to notice patterns.
  • If a student picks a negative emotion, collaborate on a small action they can try to feel better.

These cards will help students open up and give you valuable insight into their emotional state!

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