Unit Plan 19 (Grade 3 Counselor): My Strengths, Interests, and Values
Help Grade 3 students explore strengths, interests, and values while building confidence, classroom belonging, and self-awareness without comparison.
Focus: Help students identify strengths, interests, values, and personal qualities that shape who they are. The counselor uses a strengths shield, identity map, or reflection page where students name things they enjoy, things they are proud of, and qualities they want to show more often. The focus is on confidence without comparison and recognizing that everyone contributes something valuable.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: School Counseling (Self-Awareness • Strengths • Classroom Belonging)
Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks, 30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This Grade 3 counseling lesson helps students reflect on who they are as learners, classmates, friends, and members of the classroom community. Students identify strengths, interests, values, and personal qualities that help shape their choices and confidence. The counselor emphasizes that students do not need to be the best at something for it to be a strength.
Students may complete a strengths shield, identity map, or reflection page that highlights things they enjoy, things they are proud of, qualities they value, and ways they contribute to the classroom. The lesson focuses on confidence without comparison. Students learn that different people bring different strengths, and a strong classroom community makes space for many kinds of contributions.
Essential Questions
- What are strengths, interests, values, and personal qualities?
- How can students recognize what makes them unique without comparing themselves to others?
- How do different strengths help a classroom community?
- How can students use words, actions, choices, and attitudes to help others feel valued?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify personal strengths, interests, values, and qualities that shape who they are.
- Name things they enjoy, things they are proud of, and qualities they want to show more often.
- Explain that confidence does not require being better than someone else.
- Recognize that different classmates contribute different strengths to the classroom community.
- Describe how words, actions, choices, and attitudes can help classmates feel safe, included, respected, and valued.
- (Optional Session) Create or expand a strengths shield, identity map, or classroom contribution reflection.
Standards Alignment — Grade 3 (ASCA-based Custom)
- C:S1.3b — Recognize Strengths, Interests, Values, and Growth Areas
- Identify personal strengths, interests, values, and areas where they are working to improve.
- Example: A student says, “I am good at explaining directions to others, and I am working on staying calm when I am frustrated.”
- C:S1.3c — Contribute Positively to Classroom and School Belonging
- Recognize how words, actions, choices, and attitudes can help classmates feel safe, included, respected, and valued.
- Example: A student invites a classmate into a group project and makes sure everyone has a role.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name one strength I have.
- I can name one interest or value that matters to me.
- I can describe one quality I want to show more often.
- I can explain how different students contribute different strengths.
- I can use my words and actions to help classmates feel valued.