Unit Plan 6 (Grade 1 Counselor): Taking Turns and Sharing Fairly

Focus: Give students explicit practice with taking turns, sharing materials, and waiting appropriately without grabbing or interrupting. The counselor uses a simple game, toy basket, or classroom material scenario to model fair and unfair choices. Students practice language such as “Can I have a turn when you are done?” “Let’s make a plan,” and “You can go first this time.”

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: School Counseling (Sharing • Turn-Taking • Small Problem-Solving)

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

I. Introduction

This Grade 1 counseling lesson helps students practice the social skills needed for games, centers, recess, partner work, and classroom routines. Students learn that taking turns and sharing fairly can prevent small problems from becoming bigger problems. They also learn that waiting, asking politely, and making a plan are safer and kinder choices than grabbing, arguing, interrupting, or walking away upset.

The counselor uses a simple classroom game, toy basket, shared material, puppet situation, or picture scenario to help students see the difference between fair and unfair choices. Students practice naming the problem, using turn-taking language, waiting appropriately, and cooperating with classmates. The goal is for students to build confidence using simple words and actions when more than one person wants the same item, role, or turn.

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to take turns fairly?
• How can students share materials without grabbing or arguing?
• What words can students use when they want a turn?
• How can students wait appropriately during games or group work?
• How can students name a small school problem and choose a fair solution?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify common small problems involving sharing, waiting, turn-taking, or shared materials.
2. Name the problem in a simple sentence, such as “We both want the same marker.”
3. Practice turn-taking and sharing language during a game, toy basket, or classroom material activity.
4. Identify fair and unfair choices during common Grade 1 social situations.
5. Practice waiting appropriately without grabbing, interrupting, yelling, or leaving the group.
6. Work cooperatively with classmates by sharing materials, taking turns, and making a simple plan.
7. (Optional Session) Apply turn-taking and sharing skills through role-play, scenario sorting, or a cooperative game.

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S3.1b — Share, Take Turns, and Cooperate
  • Practice sharing materials, taking turns, waiting appropriately, and working with classmates during activities.
  • Example: A student waits for a turn during a classroom game and says, “You can go first.”
• 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.”

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name a small problem.
• I can ask for a turn with respectful words.
• I can wait without grabbing or interrupting.
• I can share materials fairly.
• I can make a simple plan with a classmate.