Unit Plan 23 (Grade 1 Counselor): Solving Friend Problems with Words

Focus: Help students use respectful words to solve common peer conflicts. The counselor presents scenarios such as someone taking a turn, refusing to share, knocking down a tower, or saying something hurtful. Students practice scripts like “Please stop,” “I don’t like that,” “Can we take turns?” “Let’s make a plan,” and “I need help.”

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: School Counseling (Friendship Problems • Problem-Solving • Respectful Words)

Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks, 30 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This Grade 1 counseling lesson helps students practice using words to solve common friend problems safely and respectfully. Students learn that small peer conflicts can happen during play, centers, partner work, recess, games, lunch, and group activities. Instead of grabbing, yelling, pushing, blaming, or giving up, students can stop, calm down, name the problem, and use respectful words.

The counselor uses puppet scenarios, picture cards, or short role-play examples to model common problems such as someone taking a turn, refusing to share, knocking down a tower, changing game rules, cutting in line, or saying something hurtful. Students practice short scripts they can remember and use at school. The goal is for students to understand that respectful words can help solve many friend problems, and adult help is important when a problem is too big, unsafe, or keeps happening.

Essential Questions

• What are common friend problems at school?
• How can students name a problem clearly?
• What respectful words can students use during conflict?
• How can students choose a safe solution?
• When should students ask an adult for help?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify common school and friendship problems, such as disagreements, waiting for a turn, sharing materials, feeling left out, or having a game conflict.
2. Use simple problem-solving steps: stop, calm down, name the problem, think of choices, choose a safe solution, and try it.
3. Practice respectful scripts such as “Please stop,” “I don’t like that,” “Can we take turns?” “Let’s make a plan,” and “I need help.”
4. Choose safe conflict responses such as using words, compromising, taking turns, walking away, or asking adult help.
5. Identify when a problem can be solved with respectful words and when adult help is needed.
6. Explain that solving friend problems safely means not hurting others with words or actions.
7. (Optional Session) Apply respectful problem-solving words through puppet scenarios, script practice, picture-card sorting, or safe role-play.

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S4.1a — Identify Common School Problems
  • Recognize common small problems at school, such as disagreements, waiting for a turn, losing a material, or feeling left out.
  • Example: A student says, “The problem is that we both want the same marker.”
• C:S4.1b — Use Simple Problem-Solving Steps
  • Use basic steps such as stop, calm down, name the problem, think of choices, choose a safe solution, and try it.
  • Example: A student practices saying, “Let’s take turns,” after naming the problem with a partner.
• C:S4.1c — Solve Conflicts Safely and Respectfully
  • Use words, compromise, turn-taking, walking away, or adult help to solve peer problems without hurting others.
  • Example: A student says, “Please stop. I do not like that,” and then asks an adult for help if the problem continues.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name a friend problem.
• I can stop and calm down before I choose.
• I can use respectful words.
• I can think of safe choices.
• I can take turns, compromise, walk away safely, or ask for help.
• I can ask an adult for help if the problem keeps happening or feels too big.