Printable Materials

Counselor Role Poster {#counselor-role-poster}

What Does a Counselor Do?

• Listen to your feelings
• Help you solve problems
• Keep your feelings safe

Your counselor is here to help you learn, grow, and feel happy at school!

Help Request Sentence Starters Cards {#help-request-sentence-starters-cards}

Cut these cards apart. Fold on the dotted line. You can decorate the back when you’re done!

• May I talk with you, please?

• Can you help me with ___?

• I feel ___ and need someone to talk to.

• I have a question about ___ and need help.

• I’m worried about ___ and would like to talk.

• Thank you for listening to me.
 
 

Name Tags Template {#name-tags-template}

Print one per student. Have them write or decorate their name, then add a sticker or drawing in the box.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Hello, my name is ________________ │
│ │
│ [ Draw or place a sticker here ] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

(Repeat per page or resize to fit two per page.)

Counselor Wave Game {#counselor-wave-game}

Objective: Reinforce greeting skills and build a positive connection with the school counselor through a fun, interactive wave-and-greet activity.

Time: 2–3 minutes

Materials:

• Open space in front of the class
• (Optional) Counselor Welcome Stickers from Counselor Welcome Stickers

Instructions:

1. Circle Formation

• Have students clear a small space and form a semicircle facing the counselor’s spot at the front.

1. Warm-Up Wave

• The counselor models a big, friendly wave and says, “Hello, everyone! I’m so happy to see you!”

1. Student Greetings

• Invite students, one at a time, to step forward, wave at the counselor, and say “Hello, Ms. Smith!” (or the counselor’s name).
• The counselor waves back and responds by name: “Hello, [Student Name]! Great to see you.”
• Student returns to their spot in the semicircle.

1. Class Wave Challenge

• After each student has greeted, start a “class wave.”
• The first student gives a wave to their neighbor, who then waves to the next, all the way around until it reaches the counselor.
• Counselor waves back to the first student to complete the loop.

1. Wrap-Up

• Counselor thanks everyone: “Thank you for those great waves and hellos! Remember, you can come see me whenever you need a friend to talk to.”
• Students give one last group wave and say, “Goodbye!”

Extension (if time):

• Have students practice using a sentence from the Help Request Sentence Starters Cards as they wave: e.g., “May I talk with you, please?”

This quick activity ends on a high, friendly note and reinforces for students that their counselor is approachable and ready to help.

How Do You Feel? {#how-do-you-feel-warmup}

Time: 3–5 minutes
Objective: Students identify and share their current feelings, setting the stage for understanding that the counselor is here to help with emotions.

Materials:

• Feelings Faces Chart (drawn on the board or printed)
• (Optional) Small emotion cards or thumbs-up/thumbs-down tokens

Instructions:

1. Gather students in a circle or on the carpet.
2. Show the Feelings Faces Chart and name each emotion (happy, sad, angry, worried, excited).
3. Model your own check-in:
   • “I feel happy today because I got to read a fun story.”
4. Invite students to choose a feeling from the chart that matches how they feel.
   • They can point to the face, hold up a card, or say the word if they’re comfortable.
   • Ask 2–3 volunteers to share why they chose that feeling.
5. Connect to the counselor’s role:
   • Remind students, “Our counselor, Ms. Smith, helps us when we feel sad, worried, or if we just need someone to talk to.”

Closing:

• Thank students for sharing their feelings.
• Reinforce: “All feelings are okay, and our counselor is here to help anytime.”