Unit Plan 4 (Grade 2 Counselor): Kindness, Empathy, and Helping Others

Focus: Introduce empathy as noticing how someone else might feel and choosing a kind response. The counselor uses picture cards or a read-aloud where students identify how a character feels and what a caring classmate could do. Students practice phrases such as “Are you okay?” “Do you want help?” and “You can join us.”

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: School Counseling (Kindness • Empathy • Classroom Belonging)

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

I. Introduction

This Grade 2 counseling lesson helps students understand empathy as noticing how another person might feel and choosing words or actions that show care. Students learn that kindness is more than being polite; it includes paying attention to others, noticing when someone may feel sad, left out, nervous, embarrassed, or frustrated, and responding in a helpful way.

The counselor uses picture cards, short scenarios, or a read-aloud to help students identify feelings and caring responses. Students practice simple empathy phrases such as “Are you okay?” “Do you want help?” “You can sit with me,” and “You can join us.” The goal is for students to understand that their words, actions, and choices can help classmates feel safe, included, and valued.

Essential Questions

• What does empathy mean?
• How can students notice how someone else might feel?
• What words and actions show kindness and care?
• How can students help classmates feel safe, included, and valued?
• Why does helping others make the classroom community stronger?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Explain empathy as noticing how someone else might feel and choosing a caring response.
2. Identify feelings shown by picture cards, story characters, or simple peer scenarios.
3. Choose kind words or actions that show care for others’ feelings and experiences.
4. Practice empathy phrases such as “Are you okay?” “Do you want help?” and “You can join us.”
5. Explain how words, actions, and choices can help classmates feel safe, included, and valued.
6. (Optional Session) Apply kindness and empathy through scenario sorting, role-play, or a classroom belonging activity.

Standards Alignment — Grade 2 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S3.2a — Show Kindness and Empathy
  • Use words and actions that show care for others’ feelings and experiences.
  • Example: A student notices a classmate looks sad and says, “Are you okay? Do you want to sit with me?”
• C:S1.2c — Contribute to Classroom and School Belonging
  • Recognize that their words, actions, and choices can help others feel safe, included, and valued.
  • Example: A student invites a classmate to join a group activity and says, “You can work with us.”

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can notice how someone else might feel.
• I can use kind words when someone needs care.
• I can choose a helpful action when someone feels sad, left out, nervous, or frustrated.
• I can help classmates feel included and valued.
• I can explain how kindness helps our classroom community.