Unit Plan 19 (Grade 2 Counselor): My Strengths, Interests, and Growth
Teach Grade 2 students to identify strengths, interests, and growth areas while building self-awareness, confidence, and classroom belonging.
Focus: Help students build self-awareness by naming what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what they are still learning. Students complete a simple “strength shield” or “all about my growth” activity. The counselor emphasizes that people can have different strengths and that growth takes effort and practice.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: School Counseling (Self-Awareness • Strengths • Classroom Belonging)
Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks, 30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This Grade 2 counseling lesson helps students recognize that every person has strengths, interests, and areas for growth. Students learn that strengths may include helping others, being creative, solving problems, listening, trying again, sharing, reading, drawing, building, encouraging others, or being a good teammate. They also learn that areas for growth are skills they are still practicing, not things to feel embarrassed about.
Students complete a simple strength shield, growth map, or “all about my growth” activity where they name what they enjoy, what they do well, and one skill they are working to improve. The counselor emphasizes that different strengths help the classroom community in different ways. The goal is for students to build confidence, respect differences, and understand that growth takes effort, practice, support, and time.
Essential Questions
- What are strengths, interests, and areas for growth?
- How can students recognize what they are good at and what they enjoy?
- Why is it okay to still be learning some skills?
- How do different strengths help the classroom community?
- How can students’ words, actions, and choices help others feel included and valued?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify personal strengths, interests, and skills they are working to improve.
- Explain that people can have different strengths and still all belong in the classroom community.
- Name one area for growth and one way to keep practicing.
- Recognize how strengths can be used to help classmates feel safe, included, and valued.
- Complete a strength shield, growth map, or reflection activity naming strengths, interests, and growth areas.
- (Optional Session) Apply self-awareness and belonging skills through partner sharing, strength sorting, or classroom community reflection.
Standards Alignment — Grade 2 (ASCA-based Custom)
- C:S1.2b — Recognize Strengths, Interests, and Areas for Growth
- Identify personal strengths, interests, and skills they are working to improve.
- Example: A student says, “I am good at helping others, and I am working on staying calm when I lose a game.”
- 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 name one strength I have.
- I can name one thing I enjoy.
- I can name one skill I am still working on.
- I can explain how my strengths can help others.
- I can respect that classmates may have different strengths and growth areas.