Who is the school counselor?

(ASCA website, ASCA national model, Foundation, Student Standards)

Name: Who is a school counselor?
ASCA Domain: Personal/Social Development
ASCA National Standard(s):
Standard B: Students will make decisions, set goals, and take
necessary action to achieve goals.
Standard C: Students will understand safety and survival skills
Competency: Self-Knowledge Application, Acquire Personal Safety
Skills
Indicator:
PS:B1.5- Demonstrate when, where and how to seek help for solving
problems and making decisions
PS:C1.5- Differentiate between situations requiring peer support and
situations requiring adult professional help.
PS:C1.6- Identify resource people in the school and community, and
know how to seek their help.
Grade level: 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will learn what a school counselor is,
and what they are in the school for.
2. Students will know how to request to see the
school counselor.
3. Students will understand the importance of
seeking help in times of need.
Attention getter: We will start the lesson, and every lesson, by
practicing our belly breathing. (Bring Hoberman Ball)
Attention getter: 5-4-3-2-1.. I will count down starting loudly and
then getting softer and softer until I am almost at a whisper. By the
time I reach 1, the students need to be quiet and ready to learn again.
Attention getter: Ok x- graders! If you can hear me clap twice, if
you can hear me clap once.
Lesson: The lesson will begin with belly breathing with the Hoberman ball. Once we
have practiced our breathing, I will then ask the students if they know what a school

counselor is. I will hand out note cards and have each student write out a problem or issue
that can come up in life that makes it difficult to concentrate or to be happy. They will
have to write if it is a big problem, medium problem, or a small problem. I will then ask
if any is will to share what they wrote down. After we have a discussion about who the
school counselor is, I will then ask for a volunteer (the strongest kid in the class).
Strength isnt always physical! I will have that student come to the front of the room. I
will tell the students that each rock represents something that can happen to them through
out the day. I will tell them that some of the things can happen to them before they come
to school. I will have the student hold out his/her arms. For each item, I will set a rock on
the students arm. After the student has rocks covering his/her arms I will place a large
rock in both of their hands. We will ask the student how he/she is doing with the rocks (it
should be hard for them to hold). I will then explain to the kids that my job is to remove
those rocks from them. I will then take some of the rocks off by explaining that I can
meet with them individually or in groups. There are some rocks I cant remove
completely, but I can help make them smaller, or support you as you carry your
rocks. I am here to help you become the best you possible.
Brain Break ideas: (If needed)
1. Noodles in a pot
2. Follow the leader- one kid starts something and they all
have to follow along
3. Kids Yoga
Auditory Component: Listening to the counselor and answering
questions as a group
Visual Component: Rock demonstration
Kinesthetic Component: Writing down issues on note cards
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.

to ask:
What does a school counselor do?
When can you go see the school counselor?
How can I go see the school counselor?
Where is the school counselor?

Items to bring:
1. Hoberman Ball
2. Rocks
3. Note cards