Unit Plan 35 (Grade 5 Counselor): Look How I Have Grown

Focus: Invite students to reflect on growth in emotions, coping, friendships, conflict resolution, responsibility, safety, leadership, and goals. Students may complete a “then and now” reflection, personal growth map, or letter to their future middle school self. The counselor helps students celebrate progress while naming one skill they want to keep strengthening.

Grade Level: 5

Subject Area: School Counseling (Self-Reflection • Growth Mindset • Middle School Readiness)

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

I. Introduction

This Grade 5 counseling lesson gives students time to look back on how they have grown socially, emotionally, academically, and personally. Students reflect on the skills they have practiced across the year, including naming feelings, using coping tools, solving conflicts respectfully, setting goals, building friendships, making safe choices, showing leadership, and preparing for more independence.

Students may complete a “then and now” reflection, personal growth map, or letter to their future middle school self. The counselor helps students celebrate progress while also recognizing that growth is ongoing. The goal is for students to leave elementary school with confidence, self-awareness, and one clear skill they want to keep strengthening.

Essential Questions

• How have I grown in my emotions, coping, friendships, responsibility, and leadership?
• What strengths, values, or skills have helped me become more ready for middle school?
• How have perseverance, feedback, strategy switching, and support helped me improve?
• What is one skill or goal I want to keep strengthening as I move forward?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Reflect on personal growth in emotions, coping, friendships, conflict resolution, responsibility, safety, leadership, and goals.
2. Identify feelings, needs, and experiences connected to school, friendship, learning, transition, and personal growth.
3. Name personal strengths, interests, values, leadership qualities, and growth areas.
4. Explain how perseverance, growth mindset, feedback, self-talk, support, or strategy switching helped them improve.
5. Choose one realistic skill or goal they want to keep strengthening as they prepare for middle school.
6. (Optional Session) Create a letter, growth map, or reflection product that celebrates progress and identifies next steps.

Standards Alignment — Grade 5 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S1.5a — Identify Feelings, Needs, and Personal Experiences
  • Name emotions, describe needs, and connect feelings to school, friendship, family, group, learning, or transition experiences.
  • Example: A student says, “I felt anxious about middle school because I do not know what the schedule will be like.”
• C:S1.5b — Recognize Strengths, Interests, Values, and Growth Areas
  • Identify personal strengths, interests, values, leadership qualities, and areas for continued growth.
  • Example: A student says, “I am good at helping others stay calm, but I am working on speaking up when I need help.”
• C:S5.5b — Use Perseverance, Growth Mindset, and Strategy Switching
  • Keep trying when learning, friendships, responsibilities, or personal goals feel difficult and use strategies, feedback, self-talk, or support to improve.
  • Example: A student says, “This project is hard, so I will break it into steps and ask for feedback before I quit.”
• C:S5.5c — Set, Track, and Reflect on Personal Goals
  • Choose a realistic academic, social, emotional, behavior, leadership, or responsibility goal and track progress over time.
  • Example: A student sets a goal to stay organized for two weeks, tracks progress, and reflects on what helped or got in the way.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can describe how I have grown this year.
• I can name feelings, needs, and experiences that helped me learn about myself.
• I can identify my strengths, values, leadership qualities, and growth areas.
• I can explain how perseverance or strategy switching helped me improve.
• I can choose one skill or goal I want to keep strengthening in middle school.