Unit Plan 18 (Grade 2 Counselor): Safe and Responsible Choices at School

Focus: Review responsible choices in the classroom, hallway, bathroom, cafeteria, playground, bus line, and group settings. Students sort scenario cards into safe/unsafe or responsible/irresponsible choices. The counselor helps students explain how safe choices protect themselves, classmates, and the learning environment.

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: School Counseling (Safety • Responsibility • School Success)

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

I. Introduction

This Grade 2 counseling lesson helps students review safe, respectful, and responsible choices across the school day. Students discuss how choices in the classroom, hallway, bathroom, cafeteria, playground, bus line, and group settings can affect safety, learning, respect, and responsibility. The counselor emphasizes that safe choices protect students, classmates, adults, materials, routines, and the learning environment.

Students sort realistic school scenarios into safe or unsafe and responsible or irresponsible choices. They also identify when a student can make a better choice independently and when a trusted adult should be told. The goal is for students to understand that responsible choices are not just about following rules; they help everyone learn, feel safe, and be treated with respect.

Essential Questions

• What makes a choice safe, respectful, and responsible?
• How do student choices affect classmates and the learning environment?
• What choices help students stay safe in different school settings?
• When should students ask a trusted adult for help?
• How do listening, following directions, participating, and completing routines show responsibility?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify safe and unsafe choices in classroom, hallway, bathroom, cafeteria, playground, bus line, and group settings.
2. Identify responsible and irresponsible choices that affect learning, safety, respect, and routines.
3. Explain how safe choices protect themselves, classmates, adults, materials, and the learning environment.
4. Name trusted adults who can help when a situation is unsafe, confusing, hurtful, or too big to handle alone.
5. Connect safe and responsible choices to school-success behaviors such as listening, following directions, participating, completing routines, and managing materials.
6. (Optional Session) Apply safe and responsible choice-making through scenario sorting, role-play, or a school-setting decision challenge.

Standards Alignment — Grade 2 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S6.2c — Make Safe, Respectful, and Responsible Choices
  • Choose actions that support safety, learning, respect, and responsibility in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, playground, and group settings.
  • Example: A student chooses to walk away from unsafe play and tell an adult instead of joining in.
• C:S6.2a — Identify Trusted Adults and When to Seek Help
  • Name trusted adults at school and explain when a student should ask for help for themselves or someone else.
  • Example: A student identifies the counselor, teacher, nurse, principal, or playground supervisor as adults who can help with different problems.
• C:S5.2a — Practice Attention, Participation, and Responsibility
  • Use school-success behaviors such as listening, following directions, participating, completing routines, and managing materials.
  • Example: A student listens to directions, gathers the needed materials, and begins the task without extra reminders.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell if a choice is safe or unsafe.
• I can tell if a choice is responsible or irresponsible.
• I can explain how safe choices protect people and learning.
• I can ask a trusted adult for help when something is unsafe or too big.
• I can show responsibility by listening, following directions, participating, and managing materials.