Classroom Lessons
Information on monthly classroom counselor lessons
September
Topic: Meet your School Counselor & Learn about what a Counselor Does
The students learned that a school counselor is someone they can talk to if they have a problem or are working on learning a new skill. They also learned that a school counselor helps students learn and succeed in school.
October
Topic: Buddy Rules
All Students will be learning about our school's buddy rules.
Be Kind
Help Others
Include Others
Tell an Adult
We use these rules to help students make great choices when working and playing with friends, classmates, and peers. These rules help students to build positive relationships in and out of school, and further support our AIM rules. Collectively, these behaviors build a strong school community, foster belonging, and establish connection. All wonderful characteristics of Discovery Primary.
November
Topic: Identifying Feelings/Emotions
All students brainstormed all of the different different feelings and emotions they knew. We then discussed who has feelings/emotions, which is EVERYONE!
Kindergarten students then listened to the story The Way I Feel by Janan Cain and created a feelings jar.
First Grade students then listened to the story, The Feelings Train and identified the feelings different faces were showing.
Second Grade students then listened to the story Pigs Big Feelings by Kelly Sourne and identified feelings and what might cause a person to feel that way.
December
Topic: Coping strategies for big feelings
Kindergarten students listened to Keeping it Cool by Melissa Boyd and identified good ways and not so good ways to cope with big feelings.
First Grade students listened to The Choices I Make by Michael Gordon and made a coping skills spinner.
Second Grade students learned what our brain does when we lose control of our feelings (flipping our lid). We then made a coping skills spinner to help us calm down our brain.
For more information about coping skills click on this link Introducing Coping Skills - Strong4Life Children's Healthcare Atlanta
January
Topic: Growth Mindset
Kindergarten students listened to a story about a Try-ceratops who learned about changing his perspective and helping his brain to grow. The students then drew about hard things they are still learning to do.
1st Graders listened to a story about Joshua's Strong Brain. The students learned that hard work and mistakes help their brain grown stronger and smarter.
2nd Graders watched a short video about growth mindset. We then did an activity where they read statements and decide if each of the statements were a fixed or growth mindset.
February
Topic: Conflict Resolution
Kindergarten students listened to a story about a pair of boys working on solving a conflict using the "petals of peace". The "petals of peace" are the 5 steps we use to solve conflict. 1.stay calm 2.Use an I feel statement 3.Tell the person the reason 4.brainstorm solutions 5.agree on a solution
1st Graders listened to couple of stories about Wally warthog and how he solved a problem with his friends. Here are his steps 1.recognize there's a problem 2.calm your body and mind 3.use an I-statement to share how you are feeling 4.listen to how the other person feels 5.brainstorm solutions 6.agree on a solution that works for everyone 7.forgive each other and move on
2nd Graders learned more about talking it out (a Kelso's Choice). They learned about the 3 parts...
I feel. . . .
when you. . . .
Could you please. . . . ?
They also learned to be specific, speak in a clam and regular voice, and what to say in response.
March
Topic: Empathy
Kindergarten students listened to a story about two friends who were learning something new and how they showed empathy. We then practiced identifying feelings and how we could show empathy.
1st Graders started our empathy lesson by brainstorming what they thought empathy means. We worked together to figure out what empathy is and what it is not. We ended the lesson by practicing identifying feelings and how we can show empathy to others.
2nd Graders started our empathy lesson by brainstorming what they thought empathy means. We ended the lesson by doing a scoot activity. Students had to define empathy, identify feelings, determine if an action is or is not empathy, and come up with ways to show empathy.
April
Topic: Friendship
Kindergarten students listened to a story about a pair of trapeze artists who are friends. They also got to decide which behaviors are good friendship behaviors and not-so-good friendship behaviors.
1st Graders listened to couple of stories about friends and then determined what are good friendship behaviors and not-so-good friendship behaviors. Students then drew a picture of them being a good friend.
2nd Graders played 4 corners with friendship based questions. We then listened to couple of stories about friends and determined what are good friendship behaviors and not-so-good friendship behaviors. Students then wrote about what they could do to be a good friend in certain situations (Ex. How can you be a friend when you are mad at your friend?).
May
Topic: Self Esteem - Celebrating everything that makes us unique & special!
Kindergarten students listened to a story about a little bee who shared the things she liked about herself. Students then colored their own unique bees and wrote one trait that makes them special.
1st Grade students made an ice cream cone with 5 different things that make them unique and special.
2nd Grade students made a "recipe of me" listing several characteristics that make them unique and special. These are currently hanging up in the hallway.
June
Topic: Summer Tips
All Students will be learning about ways to keep their bodies safe and their minds growing this summer. Below are a few of those tips.
Ways to keep your body safe:
Wearing your seat belt, lifejacket, and helmet
Not talking to strangers
Learning your parent’s phone number
If it makes you feel uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult (like your parents)
Ways to keep your mind growing:
Drink lots of water
Reading for fun
Getting sleep
Learn something new