A Family of My Own (Grades 4-6)
Lesson Plan
Adapted From/Counselor Name: Karen Ward
Title of Lesson: A Family of My Own (Use this as the first lesson)
about families).
Quarter: 2nd
Audience: Classroom Small Group
Level: Primary (K-2) Intermediate (3-5)
Target Grade: 4th

COUNSELING STANDARDS
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

COUNSELING COMPETENCY(IES)
Demonstrate healthy ways of dealing with conflicts, stress and emotions in self and others

MATERIALS/RESOURCES:
Butcher Paper.
The book, Totally Uncool, by Janice Levy, is option #2.
Paper for each student in option #3.

ACTIVITY:
1. What is a family? Listen to all the answers and use their answers to make up a definition for a family. Record the definition on butcher paper ask students to list types of family configurations. Some possible responses would be: husbands, wives and children, mothers and children,
fathers and children, grandparents and grandchildren, stepparents and children, parents and adopted children, etc. Sometimes families change.
For example, divorce, death, remarriage, moving, incarceration. What are some feelings that come up when one of these things happens in a
family? So far, students are sharing in general about families. *IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL
FAMILY SITUATIONS IN FRONT OF THE CLASS! What are some healthy ways of dealing with conflicts, stress and emotions that can occur
because of change?
2. If time allows, read Totally Uncool, by Janice Levy. After the reading, have students name the ways that Elizabeth (the girlfriend) was
TOTALLY COOL about her relationship with Alex. (I counted 24 good things about their relationship.)
3. Now, ask students to think about their families. Be sure to acknowledge this would be the family you live with as well as the family that
doesn’t live with you like aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. Have students draw a picture of a person from their family that they would
like the class to know about. The picture should contain hints that tell something about the person. For example, holding a book means they like
to read; wearing certain clothes could show what they enjoy doing; show something about their job; a smile could indicate that they have a sense
of humor.
EVALUATION:
Pretest/Postest:
How did the student change as a result of this lesson? Students will acquire an awareness and an acceptance of the diversity in families.
Information/Comments/Follow-up: The second and third items can be done during another lesson time. *Be sure to remind students that you are available to talk to them privately about any concerns they might have about their families. To support the reading standard have students
discuss the interaction between Dad’s girlfriend and Ales in the Book, Totally Uncool.