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

Focus: Invite students to reflect on social, emotional, and school-readiness growth. The counselor guides students to think about something they learned this year, a feeling they can name, a calming strategy they can use, or a friendship skill they improved. Students may draw a “before and now” picture or share one thing they can do better than before.

Grade Level: K

Subject Area: School Counseling (Reflection • Growth • School Confidence)

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

I. Introduction

This Kindergarten counseling lesson helps students look back on how they have grown during the school year. Students reflect on feelings they can name, calming tools they can use, friendship skills they have practiced, school routines they understand better, and challenges they can now handle with more confidence.

The counselor uses picture cards, puppets, class discussion, “before and now” drawings, and simple goal-setting prompts to help students recognize their own progress. Students learn that growth does not mean they are perfect; it means they practiced, tried again, learned from mistakes, and became stronger in small ways. The goal is for students to feel proud of what they have learned and choose one small goal to keep practicing.

Essential Questions

• How have students grown this year?
• What feelings can students name now?
• What calming tools can students use when feelings get big?
• What friendship or school skill has improved?
• What small goal can students keep practicing?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify a feeling, need, or school experience they remember from the year.
2. Name a personal strength, preference, or skill they are learning to use at school.
3. Explain that growth happens through practice, mistakes, help, and trying again.
4. Identify one thing they can do better now than they could before.
5. Create or share a simple “before and now” reflection using words, pictures, pointing, or actions.
6. Name one small school goal related to behavior, learning, friendship, responsibility, or coping.
7. (Optional Session) Apply reflection and growth skills through puppet practice, growth cards, before-and-now drawings, goal cards, class sharing, or a celebration reflection page.

Standards Alignment — Grade K (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S1.Ka — Recognize Feelings and Personal Experiences
  • Identify basic feelings, needs, and experiences using words, pictures, or actions.
  • Example: A student points to a feelings chart and says, “I feel sad because I miss my mom.”
• C:S1.Kb — Recognize Personal Strengths and Preferences
  • Name simple things they like, are good at, or are learning to do.
  • Example: A student says, “I am good at helping clean up,” or “I like building with blocks.”
• C:S5.Kb — Keep Trying When Learning Is Hard
  • Understand that learning takes practice and that mistakes are part of growing.
  • Example: A student says, “I can try again,” after struggling with a puzzle or task.
• C:S5.Kc — Set a Simple School Goal
  • Name one small goal related to behavior, learning, friendship, or responsibility.
  • Example: A student says, “My goal is to raise my hand before I talk.”

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name something I learned this year.
• I can name a feeling I know.
• I can name something I am good at.
• I can name something I am still learning.
• I can remember that mistakes help me grow.
• I can say, “I can try again.”
• I can choose one small goal to keep practicing.