Family Change
Lesson Plan
 
Adapted from Counselor Name:  Karen Ward
Title of Lesson:  Family Changes
School:  Tucson Unified School District Counseling Department
Quarter:  2nd
 Audience:   Classroom   Small Group
Level:    Primary (K-2)   Intermediate (3-5)
Target Grade: K-5
 
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)
Identify and express feelings.  Use effective ways to deal with a wide variety of feelings.
 
MATERIALS/RESOURCES:
Six poster boards prepared ahead of time with one statement per poster:  IT’S GOOD TO SHARE YOUR FEELINGS; TRUST THAT YOU WILL
BE TAKEN CARE OF; SOME THINGS WILL STAY THE SAME; SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE; YOU MIGHT FEEL MIXED UP; IT’S GOOD
TO ASK FOR HELP; IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.
 
ACTIVITY:
Remind students that the discussion of family changes will be in general, not specific information about their family.  Tell students they can make
an appointment to talk with you about their family changes. Ask and discuss the following questions with students: how could a family change, i.e.
divorce, moving, re-marriage, death, etc; what happens when the family changes; what are some feelings a person might have when dealing with
these types of changes. Tell students you are going to teach them some things they need to know about taking care of themselves during a
change in the family.  If students haven’t experienced a change, have them share on the statements about what they would do.  Next, hang the
poster boards scattered around the room.  Allow students time for sharing about each poster.  Give students an opportunity to go to which ever
poster they want to write down a sharing.  For example by poster board:  IT’S GOOD TO SHARE YOUR FEELINGS-write a feeling word about
change; TRUST THAT YOU WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF-Who would take care of you; SOME THINGS WILL STAY THE SAME-name some
things that would stay the same;  SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE-what;  YOU MIGHT FEEL MIXED UP - what would worry you;  IT’S GOOD TO
ASK FOR HELP-who would help you;  IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT - have all students write, it is not my fault.   
 
 EVALUATION:   
Pretest/Postest:        
 
How did the student change as a result of this lesson?  Students will demonstrate that they can handle change.
 
Information/Comments/Follow-up:  Let students know that when and if changes happen in their family, they can come talk to you.