Classroom Lessons

 GRADES 4K-5th

Meet the Counselor Lesson

Student Learning Objective: I know who my school counselor is, what a school counselor can do for me, and how to get in touch with my school counselor.

Each year, your NPE School Counselor's showcase the role of the school counselor, the services we provide to student's and their families, and helping students understand how to get in touch with us if they need us to see them. 

School Counselor's strive to be available and visible to all students.

Kindergarten School Counseling Lesson: Building Friendships Through Kindness

This week, our kindergarten students participated in a social-emotional lesson focused on friendship, kindness, and positive behavior. The goal was to help students understand how their actions and attitudes can strengthen relationships with peers and create a caring classroom community.

Key Objectives:

• Students learned to identify qualities of a good friend.

• Students learned to recognize behaviors that encourage positive relationships.

• Students practiced understanding how their choices affect others’ feelings.
  
  

Lesson Highlights:

• We read or watched The Caring Me I Want to Be, discussing examples of kindness and how it makes both the giver and receiver feel.

• Students engaged in interactive kindness scenarios, standing when acts of kindness were shown and staying seated when they were not.

• Students drew pictures of acts of kindness they could do for classmates or teachers, reinforcing what they learned.
  
  

Outcome:
Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on activities, students practiced being responsible for their behavior and attitudes, recognizing that small acts of kindness help build strong, positive friendships. Pre- and post-assessments showed growth in students’ understanding of kind behaviors.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to notice how others feel and look for ways to show kindness at home and school. Simple acts, like sharing, helping, or using kind words, help children build lasting, positive friendships.

1st Grade School Counseling Lesson: Handling Conflict with “A Bug and a Wish”

This week, our first graders participated in a social-emotional lesson focused on conflict resolution, communication, and expressing feelings. The goal was to help students learn how to handle disagreements with classmates in a positive and respectful way.

Key Objectives:

• Students learned to use the “Bug and a Wish” strategy during conflicts. (“A bug” is something that bothers them, and “a wish” is what they would like the other person to do instead.)

• Students practiced describing a feeling and an action it can cause.

• Students practiced effective communication and listening skills with peers.
  
  

Lesson Highlights:

• Students read A Bug and a Wish by Karen Scheuer and identified examples of conflict and feelings in the story.

• Students discussed how Tyler, the character in the story, handled conflict and how they might handle similar situations.

• Students practiced using “Bug and a Wish” statements through scenarios and hands-on activities.
  
  

Outcome:
Students gained practical tools for resolving conflicts respectfully, understanding their own feelings, and expressing themselves clearly with peers.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to talk about what bugs them and what they wish others would do differently at home and school. This simple strategy helps children communicate their feelings effectively and maintain positive relationships.

2nd Grade School Counseling Lesson: Coping with Anxiety

This week, our second graders participated in a social-emotional lesson focused on managing worries, positive thinking, and coping skills. The goal was to help students recognize anxious thoughts and practice strategies to handle them in healthy ways.

Key Objectives:

• Students learned to recognize the difference between helpful (“good”) what-ifs and unhelpful (“grim”) what-ifs.

• Students practiced naming and using coping skills to manage feelings of worry or anxiety.

• Students explored positive thinking and growth mindset strategies to reframe worries.
  
  

Lesson Highlights:

• Students read The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore and discussed Cora’s experiences with worry.

• Students shared examples of their own worries and explored how those worries affect their behavior and emotions.

• Students practiced turning unhelpful “what-if” thoughts into positive or constructive statements.

• Students identified coping strategies that help them feel calmer, such as talking with someone, taking a break, or deep breathing.
  
  

Outcome:
Students gained practical tools to manage anxious thoughts, use coping skills, and approach challenges with confidence.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to notice when a worry arises, talk about it, and try coping strategies that help them feel calm and confident. Remind them that some “what-ifs” are helpful and some are not, and that practicing positive thinking can help them handle everyday worries more effectively.

3rd Grade School Counseling Lesson: Using study skills to improve grades

Objective:
Students will be able to identify and describe study skills that contribute to academic improvement.

Overview:
This lesson focuses on developing students’ awareness of effective study strategies that enhance learning outcomes. Through discussion of the different types of study skills, students will explore key techniques such as active review methods. Examples are flash cards, creating songs, repetition and recite, drawing pictures of vocabulary words, visualizing, and writing definitions in their own words. The aim is to help students understand how applying these strategies can lead to improved academic performance and greater confidence in their learning process.

Learning Outcome:
By the end of the lesson, students will demonstrate the ability to recognize study habits that positively influence their grades and overall academic success.

Parent Takeaway:

Parents are encouraged to support their child’s academic growth by reinforcing consistent study routines at home. Discuss with your child the study strategies they found most effective in class, and help them create a structured environment for homework and review. Encouraging goal-setting, minimizing distractions, and celebrating small academic achievements can strengthen the study habits introduced in this lesson and foster long-term success.

4th Grade School Counseling Lesson: Hearing vs. Listening

This week, our fourth graders participated in a social-emotional lesson focused on effective communication and listening skills. The goal was to help students understand the difference between simply hearing words and truly listening, and why listening is important in school, at home, and in everyday interactions.

Key Objectives:

• Students learned to describe the difference between hearing and listening.

• Students explored why listening is more important than just hearing, especially when understanding instructions or supporting others.

• Students practiced behaviors that show they are actively listening, such as eye contact, facing the speaker, and not fidgeting.
  
  

Lesson Highlights:

• Students discussed examples of hearing vs. listening and watched clips (Big Bang Theory, Charlie Brown) to see listening in action.

• Students read The Worst Day of My Life and discussed how listening could have improved the character’s day.

• Students participated in a fun “How Well Do You Listen” game to practice paying attention and following directions carefully.

• Students reflected on ways to be effective listeners in school, at home, and during activities like sports or group projects.
  
  

Outcome:
Students gained awareness that listening involves focus and understanding, not just hearing sounds. They practiced skills that help them follow directions, build positive relationships, and show respect to others.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to practice active listening at home—making eye contact, responding thoughtfully, and showing that they understand what someone is saying. Listening carefully helps children succeed academically, communicate effectively, and strengthen relationships.

5th Grade School Counseling Lesson: Conflict Resolution

This week, our fifth graders participated in a social-emotional lesson focused on understanding and resolving conflicts. The goal was to help students identify different ways people respond to conflict and practice strategies for resolving disagreements respectfully.

Key Objectives:

• Students learned to define conflict and conflict resolution.

• Students explored different conflict styles and identified the animal trait that best matches their personality (e.g., shark, owl, bear).

• Students practiced considering the best ways to respond in challenging situations with peers.
  
  

Lesson Highlights:

• Students discussed what conflict is and shared examples of conflicts that happen at school.

• Students completed a self-assessment to determine which animal personality best reflects their approach to conflict.

• Students watched videos and engaged in discussions about conflict resolution strategies.

• Students participated in an interactive activity, moving to animal pictures that represent how they would respond to scenarios and discussing whether those responses are appropriate or helpful.
  
  

Outcome:
Students gained awareness of their own conflict styles and practiced strategies for resolving disagreements in a positive and respectful way. This helps them build stronger relationships and collaborate effectively with others.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to think about how they respond in conflicts and explore strategies for resolving disagreements calmly and respectfully. Understanding their own style and considering others’ perspectives can help children navigate challenges at school, home, and in friendships.

Kindergarten School Counseling Lesson: Bullying – Llama Llama and the Bully Goat

This week, kindergarten students participated in a school counseling lesson focused on understanding bullying and how to be kind and supportive friends. Using the story Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney, students learned how our words and actions can affect others and how to stand up for kindness.

Lesson Objectives:

• Students learned to define bullying and understand the three key parts: it happens repeatedly, it’s meant to hurt someone’s feelings, and there’s an imbalance of power.

• Students identified ways to stop bullying and practiced recognizing the difference between being a buddy and being a bully.

Lesson Highlights:

• The class read or watched Llama Llama and the Bully Goat and discussed what bullying looked like in the story and how the characters handled it.

• Students explored how our actions can create a “ripple effect” — just like a rock dropped in water — showing how kindness spreads positivity, while unkind actions can have negative effects.

• Through an interactive “Buddy vs. Bully” activity, students sorted behaviors to show what being a good friend looks like.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage your child to notice how their words and actions affect others and to choose kindness every day. Ask them to tell you about the “ripple effect” and how they can be a buddy instead of a bully!

1st Grade School Counseling Lesson: Understanding Bullying

This week, first graders participated in a school counseling lesson about recognizing and responding to bullying. Through story discussions, group activities, and reflection, students learned what bullying looks like and how to safely get help.

Lesson Objectives:

• Students learned the four key characteristics of bullying — it’s on purpose, happens over and over, is done by the same person or group, and makes someone feel small or hurt.

• Students practiced what to do if they or someone else is being bullied, using the steps: “Be Brave, Be Bold, a Teacher Must Be Told.”

Lesson Highlights:

• The class watched Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Bullies and discussed how the character handled bullying and what he learned by asking for help.

• Students explored the difference between accidents, mean behavior, and bullying, and talked about the importance of telling a trusted adult—not as tattling, but to keep everyone safe.

• In small groups, students reviewed real-life bullying scenarios to decide if each situation was bullying and brainstormed the best ways to respond.

Takeaway for Families:
Ask your child to explain the difference between being mean and bullying, and to share the phrase “Be Brave, Be Bold, a Teacher Must Be Told.” Reinforcing this at home helps children feel confident and supported when speaking up for themselves or others.

2nd Grade School Counseling Lesson: Understanding and Responding to Bullying

This week, second graders continued learning about bullying—what it is, how to recognize it, and how to respond safely. Building on lessons from earlier grades, students practiced ways to stand up for themselves and others while working together to make school a kind and supportive place for everyone.

Lesson Objectives:

• Students learned to identify the three main characteristics of bullying—it is repeated, intentional, and involves a difference in power.

• They discussed different types of bullying (physical, verbal, emotional, and cyber).

• Students practiced two safe ways to get help, such as telling a trusted adult and standing up together with peers.

Lesson Highlights:

• The class read The Bully Blockers Club by Teresa Bateman and talked about how the main character, Lotty, handled bullying in positive and safe ways.

• Students explored how kindness, teamwork, and speaking up can stop bullying behavior more effectively than fighting back.

• In small groups, students created posters or “Bully Blockers Club” ideas to show how they can help stop bullying and support one another at school.

Takeaway for Families:
Ask your child what it means to be part of a “Bully Blockers Club” and how they can help make school safe and kind for everyone. Encourage them to always tell a trusted adult—like a teacher, counselor, or parent—if they see or experience bullying.

3rd Grade School Counseling Lesson: Be an Upstander

This week, third graders focused on learning how to be upstanders—students who speak up and take positive action when they see someone being treated unkindly. The goal of the lesson was to help students recognize the difference between a bystander (someone who watches and does nothing) and an upstander (someone who helps stop bullying or supports the person being targeted).

Lesson Objectives:

• Students learned to define bystander and upstander.

• They identified four ways to be an upstander when bullying occurs.

• The lesson reinforced the importance of belonging, kindness, and standing up for what’s right.

Lesson Highlights:

• The class watched The NED Show: Be an Upstander video and discussed how small actions—like speaking up, getting help from an adult, or including someone—can make a big difference.

• Students practiced what they learned through a Reader’s Theater activity, where they role-played different situations to show how upstanders can help stop bullying in safe and respectful ways.

• The lesson wrapped up with a group review of the four upstander actions and an optional pledge video to encourage kindness and responsibility at school.

Takeaway for Families:
Ask your child to explain the difference between a bystander and an upstander and to share one way they can show kindness or help if they see someone being left out or picked on. Encourage them to remember that being an upstander helps make our school a caring and safe place for everyone.

4th Grade School Counseling Lesson: Bullying – Be the One

This week, fourth graders participated in a school counseling lesson focused on bullying awareness, empathy, and standing up for others. Students revisited what bullying looks like, how it feels, and what it means to be someone who takes positive action to stop it.

Lesson Objectives:

• Identify key characteristics of bullying behavior and recognize when behavior becomes bullying.

• Learn ways to stand up to a bully and show empathy toward others.

Lesson Highlights:

• Students listened to the story One by Kathryn Otoshi, which uses colors to represent emotions and how kindness and courage can stop bullying.

• The class discussed how empathy—understanding and sharing another person’s feelings—can help build a more caring and inclusive school environment.

• Students reflected on times they may have felt like different characters in the story and shared ways they can “be the one” to make a difference.

• To close, each student decorated a paper number “1” with their personal idea for preventing bullying. These will be displayed together as a reminder that it only takes one person to stand up for kindness.

Takeaway for Families:
Ask your child to explain what empathy means and how they can “be the one” to help stop bullying at school. Encourage conversations about standing up for others safely and always telling a trusted adult if they or someone else needs help.

5th Grade School Counseling Lesson: Cyberbullying

This week, fifth graders participated in a lesson focused on cyberbullying awareness, online safety, and how to respond responsibly. Students learned what cyberbullying is, where it can happen, and the important steps to take if they or a peer experience it.

Lesson Objectives:

• Understand the meaning of cyberbullying and recognize situations where it can occur.

• Learn strategies to respond safely, including how to be an upstander and seek help from trusted adults.

Lesson Highlights:

• Students watched videos such as Think Before You Post and How to Be an Upstander, reinforcing the importance of online responsibility and safe behavior.

• In small groups, students completed a crossword puzzle to practice key terms and discussed scenarios about social media, texting, and email to explore appropriate responses.

• The lesson emphasized that even a single mean message can have an impact and that students should always tell a trusted adult if cyberbullying occurs.

Takeaway for Families:
Encourage conversations at home about online safety and responsible behavior online. Ask your child what they would do if they witnessed or experienced cyberbullying and remind them that adults at school and home are there to help.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LESSON

ALL GRADES

We teach students how to identify and explore their emotions, as well as offer a variety of copings strategies that can help students to regulate their emotions.

In this lesson, we teach that emotions are feelings we have when good and bad things happen. Both types of feelings are important because they keep us aware of our world.

We need to recognize what feelings we are having and learn the best way to handle them. We cannot stop our feelings or emotions, but we can control how we handle them!

We explore our emotions by differentiating between easy and hard feelings. Good things cause feelings that are easy and make us happy. Easy feelings help us learn and work better. Bad things cause feelings that are hard for us and make us sad. Hard feelings, like anger and fear, warn us of dangers and threats and help us protect ourselves.

The we discuss some ways to handle hard feelings because it is important that we do so in a positive way.

Coping skills are a helpful tool to use when we don't like an emotion we are feeling. Filling our toolkit with Coping Strategies that students can easily use will help them to better identify, understand, and regulate their emotions.

Examples of Coping Skills/Strategies are:

• Deep Breathing

• Taking a Break

• Drinking water or eating a snack

• Using a Fidget

• Writing, Drawing, or Coloring

What we encourage students to remember is that bad things sometimes happen. We cannot change that, but we can change: How We Feel, What We Say, and How we Behave

We encourage parents to have fun trying these Coping Strategies with their children at home!