Lesson Plan
Counseling Quest Lesson Plan
Students will learn what counseling is, recognize its value, practice active listening skills, and discover when and how to seek help in a supportive classroom environment.
This lesson builds foundational social-emotional skills, fosters a sense of community, and equips students to support themselves and peers by understanding and accessing counseling resources.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive games, discussion, and reflection
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Counseling Concepts Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with definitions and key points.
- Print one copy of the Counseling Reflection Worksheet for each student.
- Cut apart the Counseling Scenario Cards for group activities.
- Gather the Active Listening Tokens and place them in a small container for distribution.
Step 1
Introduction and Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Welcome students and briefly explain the session’s purpose: to explore counseling and listening skills.
- Ask: “What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘counseling’?” Invite a few responses.
- Provide a simple definition: counseling is talking with a trained person to help with feelings or challenges.
Step 2
Listening Quest Game
15 minutes
- Explain that active listening is a key counseling skill; introduce the Active Listening Tokens. Each token represents showing you’re listening (eye contact, nodding, asking questions).
- Pair students and give each pair a Counseling Scenario Card.
- Student A reads the scenario; Student B practices active listening and uses tokens to demonstrate listening behaviors.
- After 3 minutes, partners switch roles with a new card.
Step 3
Group Discussion
10 minutes
- Reconvene as a class and ask pairs to share observations: How did it feel to be listened to?
- Discuss: Why might someone visit a counselor? When is it helpful to seek support from a counselor or trusted adult?
- Record key ideas on the board such as confidentiality, empathy, and professional guidance.
Step 4
Individual Reflection
10 minutes
- Hand out the Counseling Reflection Worksheet.
- Students complete prompts: “Describe a time you needed someone to listen. What listening behaviors helped you feel heard?” and “How would you seek help if you needed it?”
- Encourage honest, personal responses.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Share
5 minutes
- Invite a few volunteers to share one insight from their reflection.
- Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of strength, and counselors are here to support them.
- Remind students they can practice active listening with friends and family, and to talk to a trusted adult when they need help.
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Slide Deck
Counseling Quest
Introduction to Counseling & Active Listening Skills
6th Grade • 45 Minutes
Welcome everyone! Introduce yourself and the session. Explain that today’s adventure is called “Counseling Quest,” where we’ll learn what counseling is and practice active listening skills together.
Today’s Agenda
- Introduction & Icebreaker (5 min)
- Listening Quest Game (15 min)
- Group Discussion (10 min)
- Individual Reflection (10 min)
- Wrap-Up & Share (5 min)
Briefly walk through the agenda so students know what to expect and the timing for each part of the lesson.
What Is Counseling?
• A conversation with a trained person
• Helps you share feelings and challenges
• Offers support, guidance, and new perspectives
Ask: “What comes to mind when you hear ‘counseling’?” Collect a few ideas, then share this simple definition.
Why Is Counseling Important?
• Feel heard and understood
• Learn healthy ways to cope
• Solve problems with expert guidance
• Confidential and judgment-free space
Highlight each benefit as you go and encourage nods or thumbs-up if they agree.
Active Listening Skills
• Eye contact
• Nodding and facial expressions
• Asking open-ended questions
• Paraphrasing what you heard
• Positive body language
Introduce active listening as the cornerstone skill counselors use and everyone can practice.
Active Listening Tokens
• Each token = one listening behavior:
– Make eye contact
– Nod or use facial expressions
– Ask a follow-up question
– Paraphrase what you heard
• Use tokens to track your listening
Show the tokens you’ve prepared. Explain each token stands for one listening behavior they can use during the game.
Listening Quest Game
- Pair up and pick a Counseling Scenario Card.
- A reads the scenario; B practices listening and uses tokens.
- After 3 minutes, switch roles and choose a new card.
- Try to use at least 4 different tokens!
Explain how students will pair up, use Counseling Scenario Cards, and practice. Remind them of the 3-minute timer and switching roles.
Group Discussion Prompts
• How did it feel to be really listened to?
• Why might someone visit a counselor?
• When is it helpful to seek support?
• What does confidentiality mean?
Invite volunteers to share. Record their ideas on the board under keywords like “empathy,” “trust,” and “help.”
Individual Reflection
Complete your Counseling Reflection Worksheet:
- Describe a time you needed someone to listen.
- What listening behaviors helped you feel heard?
- How would you seek help if you needed it?
Distribute the Counseling Reflection Worksheet. Remind students that responses are personal and honest.
Wrap-Up & Reminders
• Sharing is brave—counselors are here to support you
• Practice active listening with friends and family
• Talk to a trusted adult when you need help
Thank students for their participation. Highlight that seeking help is a sign of strength and encourage them to practice listening every day.
Activity
Counseling Scenario Cards Activity
Use these scenario cards in pairs during the Listening Quest Game. Each student takes turns reading one card aloud while their partner practices active listening using the Active Listening Tokens.
Scenario Cards
- Your friend says, “I’m really nervous about the math test tomorrow. I don’t know what to do.”
- Your friend shares, “I feel left out at recess because a group of kids always plays without me.”
- Your friend admits, “My older sibling and I got into a big argument this morning, and now I don’t know how to make up.”
- Your friend confides, “I’m scared to speak up in class because I think others will laugh at me.”
- Your friend says, “I have so much science homework that I’m stressed I’ll never finish in time.”
- Your friend explains, “I haven’t been sleeping well because I worry about things going on at home.”
- Your friend shares, “Someone at school teased me about my clothes, and I don’t know how to handle it.”
- Your friend admits, “I’m worried about moving to a new house next month and leaving my friends behind.”
- Your friend says, “I often feel sad for no reason, and I don’t know why.”
- Your friend confides, “I’m afraid to talk to my teacher about my grades because I think I’ll get in trouble.”
Use each card for about 3 minutes of dialogue before switching roles. Encourage partners to try at least four different listening tokens with each scenario.
Activity
Active Listening Tokens
Use these tokens to practice and track active listening behaviors during the Listening Quest Game. Each token represents one key listening skill you can demonstrate when your partner is speaking.
What Are the Tokens?
• Small cards, chips, or objects (e.g., colored poker chips, craft pom-poms, paper tokens).
• Each token type corresponds to one listening behavior:
- Green Token – Eye Contact
- Blue Token – Nodding & Facial Expressions
- Yellow Token – Asking Open-Ended Questions
- Red Token – Paraphrasing What You Heard
Preparation (Teacher)
- Print or create 4 sets of colored tokens (at least 5 of each color) so every pair of students has a full set.
- Place tokens in small cups or bags labeled with the behavior name.
- Review with students what each behavior looks and sounds like.
How to Use the Tokens
- When partners pair up for the Listening Quest Game, give each listener one set of tokens.
- As Student A reads their scenario from the Counseling Scenario Cards, Student B listens and uses a token each time they demonstrate the corresponding behavior:
- Make eye contact → place a Green Token in front of you.
- Nod or show an appropriate facial expression → place a Blue Token.
- Ask a follow-up or open-ended question → place a Yellow Token.
- Paraphrase or summarize what you heard → place a Red Token.
- Aim to use at least four different tokens in each 3-minute round.
- After the timer ends, count your tokens to see which behaviors you used most. Switch roles and repeat with a new scenario.
Reflection
After each round, briefly discuss with your partner:
- Which tokens did you use most? Why?
- Which listening behaviors felt most natural? Which need more practice?
Worksheet
Counseling Reflection Worksheet
Complete the prompts below. Write in full sentences and be as thoughtful as you can.
- Describe a time you needed someone to listen. What was happening, and how did you feel?
- What listening behaviors helped you feel heard? (For example: eye contact, nodding, asking questions, paraphrasing.)
- How would you seek help if you needed support in the future? Who would you talk to and why?
Bonus (optional): Is there anything else you’d like to share about listening or asking for help?