Lesson Plan
Your School Counselor Pal
Students will be able to identify their school counselor and understand that the counselor is a trusted adult who can help them with feelings and problems.
Knowing the school counselor helps students feel safe and supported at school, giving them a go-to person when they need to talk about their feelings or problems.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and simple explanation using a slide deck.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, and School Counselor Pal Slide Deck
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
Review the School Counselor Pal Lesson Plan and the School Counselor Pal Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and flow. Ensure the projector or whiteboard is ready for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: Who Helps You?
3 minutes
Begin by asking students who they go to when they need help or feel sad/confused (e.g., parents, teachers).
Transition to introducing the idea of another helper at school: the school counselor. Display Slide 1.
Step 2
Meet Your Counselor
5 minutes
Introduce yourself as the school counselor (if you are the counselor) or introduce the school counselor by name and picture. Display Slide 2.
Explain that the counselor helps with feelings, friendships, and school problems.
Ask students for examples of feelings or problems they might talk about with a counselor.
Step 3
How Can a Counselor Help?
5 minutes
Go through different ways a school counselor can help, using simple language. Display Slides 3-5.
Emphasize that talking to a counselor is safe and confidential.
Reinforce that the counselor is a friendly face and a safe person to talk to.
Step 4
Quick Check & Wrap-up
2 minutes
Ask students to raise their hand if they can remember one way the school counselor can help.
Reiterate that the school counselor is here to help all students feel happy and safe at school. Display Slide 6.
Encourage students to say hello if they see the counselor in the hallway.
Slide Deck
Who is Your School Counselor?
A special helper just for you!
Start by asking students to share who they go to when they need help with something at home or at school (e.g., mom, dad, teacher). Explain that today, we're going to learn about another important helper at school.
Meet [Counselor's Name]!
My job is to help you feel happy and safe at school!
Introduce yourself as the school counselor or introduce the actual school counselor by name (and show a picture if possible). Explain that their job is to help all students feel happy and safe at school.
When You Have Big Feelings...
Talk about feeling sad, mad, or worried.
Explain that sometimes we have big feelings like being sad, angry, or worried. The counselor is a good person to talk to about these feelings.
Friendship Fun & Troubles
Learn how to be a good friend.
Solve problems with friends.
Talk about how friendships can sometimes be tricky. The counselor can help students learn how to be a good friend and solve problems with friends.
School Stuff
Help when school feels tricky.
Learn new ways to calm down or focus.
Mention other school-related issues like feeling shy, or finding it hard to focus. The counselor can help with strategies for these situations.
Your Counselor is Here for YOU!
A safe adult to talk to.
Here to help you shine!
Conclude by reiterating that the counselor is a friendly, safe adult who is there to support them. Encourage students to say hello or come talk if they need anything.
Script
Counselor Introduction Script
Warm-Up (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about feelings and helpers. Can you think of someone you go to when you feel happy? What about when you feel sad or need help with a problem? Turn and talk to a partner for a moment about who helps you."
(Allow 1 minute for partner talk.)
Teacher: "Great sharing! It's wonderful to know we have people who help us when we need it. Today, we're going to meet a very special helper who is here at school just for you!"
Introducing Your School Counselor (5 minutes)
Teacher: (Display Slide 1: Who is Your School Counselor?)
"Look at our slide! It asks, 'Who is Your School Counselor?' Has anyone heard of a school counselor before?"
(Allow a few students to share briefly.)
Teacher: (Display Slide 2: Meet [Counselor's Name]!)
"Today, I'm excited to introduce you to [Counselor's Name]! (Or, 'I am your school counselor, [Counselor's Name]!'). My/Their job is to help all of you feel happy and safe while you are at school. Just like your teacher helps you learn reading and math, the school counselor helps you learn about your feelings, make friends, and feel good about school."
Teacher: "Can you think of a feeling you might want to talk about? Or a question about making friends?"
(Allow a few students to offer ideas. Gently guide them if they mention private home issues, reminding them the counselor helps with school feelings and problems.)
How Can a Counselor Help? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's learn more about how [Counselor's Name] can help you."
Teacher: (Display Slide 3: When You Have Big Feelings...)
"Sometimes, we have big feelings, right? Feelings like being super happy, or maybe feeling a little sad, or even mad or worried. It's okay to have all these feelings! Your school counselor is a great person to talk to about them. They can help you understand your feelings and find ways to feel better."
Teacher: (Display Slide 4: Friendship Fun & Troubles)
"Who here likes to play with friends? Sometimes, friendships can be tricky. Maybe you have a disagreement, or you're not sure how to make new friends. Your school counselor can help you learn how to be a great friend and solve those friendship puzzles."
Teacher: (Display Slide 5: School Stuff)
"School can be super fun, but sometimes it can feel a little tricky. Maybe you're feeling shy, or it's hard to focus, or you're nervous about a test. The school counselor can help you with these 'school stuff' feelings and teach you new ways to feel calm and ready to learn."
Quick Check & Wrap-up (2 minutes)
Teacher: "So, who remembers one way your school counselor can help you? Raise your hand and tell me!"
(Call on a few students.)
Teacher: (Display Slide 6: Your Counselor is Here for YOU!)
"Remember, your school counselor, [Counselor's Name], is a safe, friendly adult here at school just for YOU. They are here to listen and help you with your feelings, your friends, and anything that makes school feel tricky. If you ever see them in the hallway, give them a wave and say hello! And if you need to talk, you can always ask your teacher to help you connect with the counselor."
"Thank you for listening, first graders! You are all amazing, and we have wonderful helpers here to make sure you have a great school day every day!"
Warm Up
Who Helps You? Who is a Trusted Adult?
Think about someone you go to when you need help or feel sad, happy, or worried.
- Who is a trusted adult you talk to when you need help?
- How does it feel to talk to that person and get help?
Cool Down
One Thing About Our Counselor
On your paper, write or draw one thing you learned today about what a school counselor does or how they can help students.
Discussion
Why Do We Need School Counselors?
Discuss with a partner or the class:
- Why is it important to have a school counselor at our school?
- What kinds of things might you talk to a school counselor about?
- How does knowing there's a school counselor make you feel about being at school?