Unit Plan 6 (Grade K Counselor): Taking Turns and Sharing

Focus: Give students practice with one of the most common Kindergarten social challenges: waiting and sharing. The counselor uses a simple game, toy basket, or picture cards to model what it sounds like to ask for a turn and what it looks like to wait calmly. Students practice phrases such as “Can I have a turn when you are done?” and “You can go first.”

Grade Level: K

Subject Area: School Counseling (Sharing • Turn-Taking • Small Problems)

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

I. Introduction

This Kindergarten counseling lesson helps students practice sharing, waiting, and taking turns during classroom activities. Students learn that wanting the same toy, marker, game piece, or classroom material is a common small problem at school. They also learn that small problems can often be solved with words, waiting, sharing, and help from an adult if needed.

The counselor uses a simple game, toy basket, puppet scenario, or picture-card sort to model what sharing and turn-taking look like. Students practice asking for a turn, waiting calmly, letting someone go first, and naming the small problem when two people want the same item. The goal is for students to build language and confidence for handling common Kindergarten social situations safely and respectfully.

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to take turns?
• What does it mean to share?
• What can students say when they want a turn?
• What can students do while they wait?
• How can students name a small problem about sharing or turns?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Explain taking turns and sharing using simple words, pictures, or actions.
2. Practice waiting during a classroom game, toy activity, or counselor lesson.
3. Use turn-taking phrases such as “Can I have a turn when you are done?” and “You can go first.”
4. Identify common small problems, such as not getting a turn, losing a toy, or wanting the same material as a classmate.
5. Name a small problem using simple language, such as “We both wanted the same crayon.”
6. Choose safe and respectful actions during turn-taking and sharing situations.
7. (Optional Session) Apply sharing and turn-taking skills through a game, toy basket activity, puppet practice, small-problem cards, or partner reflection.

Standards Alignment — Grade K (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S3.Kb — Take Turns and Share
  • Practice taking turns, sharing materials, and waiting during classroom activities.
  • Example: A student waits for a turn with a game piece during a counselor lesson.
• C:S4.Ka — Identify Small Problems
  • Recognize common small problems at school, such as not getting a turn, losing a toy, or disagreeing with a friend.
  • Example: A student says, “We both wanted the same crayon,” during a problem-solving discussion.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can take turns.
• I can share materials.
• I can wait calmly.
• I can say, “Can I have a turn when you are done?”
• I can say, “You can go first.”
• I can name a small problem.
• I can use words instead of grabbing.