Unit Plan 31 (Grade K Counselor): Feelings and Coping Review

Focus: Review emotion words and calming tools from the year. Students match feelings to coping strategies, act out calm-down tools, and identify what they can do when feelings become too big. The counselor revisits the class calm-down toolbox and celebrates strategies students have learned.

Grade Level: K

Subject Area: School Counseling (Feelings • Coping Strategies • Help-Seeking)

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

I. Introduction

This Kindergarten counseling lesson helps students review the feelings and coping tools they have practiced throughout the year. Students revisit common emotions such as happy, sad, mad, scared, worried, excited, frustrated, and calm while connecting each feeling to safe choices and calming strategies.

The counselor uses feeling cards, coping tool cards, movement practice, puppets, matching activities, and the class calm-down toolbox to help students celebrate what they have learned. Students practice breathing, counting, taking a break, using words, asking for help, and choosing a trusted adult when feelings feel too big. The goal is for students to leave the lesson with confidence that feelings can be named, bodies can be calmed, and help is available when needed.

Essential Questions

• What feeling words have students learned this year?
• What calming tools can help when feelings get big?
• How can students match a feeling to a safe coping strategy?
• What can students do when a feeling feels too big to handle alone?
• Who can help students with big feelings at school?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Name common emotions such as happy, sad, mad, scared, worried, excited, frustrated, and calm.
2. Match common feelings to helpful coping strategies.
3. Practice simple calming tools such as breathing, counting, taking a break, using words, or asking for help.
4. Identify when a feeling may be too big to handle alone.
5. Name a trusted adult who can help with big feelings.
6. Explain that feelings are normal and students can use tools to stay safe and ready to learn.
7. (Optional Session) Apply feelings and coping review skills through toolbox stations, puppet scenarios, feeling-to-tool matching, calm-down practice, trusted adult matching, or a reflection page.

Standards Alignment — Grade K (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S2.Ka — Name Common Emotions
  • Identify common emotions such as happy, sad, mad, scared, worried, excited, and calm.
  • Example: A student looks at a picture card and identifies the character as “mad.”
• C:S2.Kb — Use Simple Calming Strategies
  • Practice simple calming tools such as breathing, counting, taking a break, using words, or asking for help.
  • Example: A student practices “smell the flower, blow the candle” breathing after feeling frustrated.
• C:S2.Kc — Ask for Help with Big Feelings
  • Recognize when a feeling is too big to handle alone and identify a safe adult who can help.
  • Example: A student says, “I can ask my teacher or counselor when I feel really upset.”

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name my feelings.
• I can name happy, sad, mad, scared, worried, excited, and calm.
• I can choose a calming tool.
• I can breathe or count when my feelings get big.
• I can use words to say how I feel.
• I can ask for help.
• I can tell a trusted adult when my feeling is too big.