Heart Helper Slides Meet Your Counselor
Hello, Friends! 👋
We Are All
Heart Helpers!
Let's explore how your school counselor helps your heart feel happy, safe, and ready to learn!
Ready to start? Wiggle your fingers!
Slide 1 of 6
What is a Counselor?
A Safe Friend in School
My Big Job
I help every single student solve problems, understand big feelings, and make awesome friends!
We Talk and Play
We draw, use puppets, and read books to share feelings.
We Practice Calm
We learn magic breaths and easy ways to relax our bodies.
We Team Up
We learn how to share, take turns, and talk through squabbles.
Group Question: Have you ever talked to a helper? Raise your hand!
Slide 2 of 6
The Feelings Weather
How Is Your Heart Right Now?
Feelings are like the weather—they change, and that's okay!
☀️
Sunny
Happy & Excited
My body has fun energy, and I feel ready to play!
🌀
Windy
Mad or Frustrated
My fists are tight. I might want to stomp or yell.
🌧️
Rainy
Sad or Tired
I want to curl up, cry, or just rest my eyes.
☁️
Cloudy
Scared or Worried
My tummy feels fluttery. I'm not sure what to do.
Active Pause: Take a deep breath in through your nose, blow it out! 💨
Slide 3 of 6
Calm-Down Tools
Try It With Me!
1. Balloon Breath
Put your hands on your head. Breathe in and stretch high like a big balloon! Breathe out and let your hands go soft.
2. The Hug Squeeze
Wrap your arms around your chest. Give yourself a big, warm squeeze and hold it for three seconds. Let go and shake it out!
3. Star Tracing
Use your finger to draw a star in the air. Breathe in as you go up, and breathe out as you go down. Look at how calm you are!
Let's practice the Balloon Breath together as a class right now!
Slide 4 of 6
When Should We Talk?
There is No Problem Too Big or Small!
Your Heart Helper is always ready to listen.
You don't have to carry heavy feelings alone. We can talk about everything from big, sad rain clouds to exciting, shiny victories!
Our room is a private, warm, and safe space for you.
😭
You feel super sad or hurt
😡
You're mad at a friend
🥺
You miss your family
🥳
You have great news!
Remember: I am your advocate and helper!
Slide 5 of 6
How to Find Me
We are ready to learn and play!
Where is my office? Let's trace the map!
1 Ask your classroom teacher first!
2 Walk with a buddy or your teacher.
3 Knock softly on my door with the big heart! ❤️
💝
The Heart Helper Pledge
"I am small but I am brave. If I need a helping hand, I can ask. I can tell. My counselor will understand."
Let's say it together!
Thank you, super helpers! Now, let's start our activity!
Slide 6 of 6
Helper Hub Lesson Plan Teacher Facilitation Guide
Heart Helpers Lesson Plan
Meet Your School Counselor • Grade Level: Pre-K to 2nd
Duration: 30-45 Mins Focus: Social-Emotional
Objectives
Identify the School Counselor as a helper.
Recognize and label four basic feelings.
Practice three comforting calm-down tools.
Materials Needed
Heart Helper Slides (Presentation)
Scenario Activity Cards (printed & cut)
Calm Down Toolbox Coloring Worksheet
Lesson Pacing & Steps
0-5 Mins
Introduction & Warm-Up (Wiggle & Welcome)
Introduce yourself as the school counselor and explain that your room is a safe place to share feelings. Start with Slide 1. Ask students to show they are ready to learn by wiggling their fingers, then freezing. This establishes a fun, responsive classroom climate immediately.
5-15 Mins
Instruction: Slides 2 & 3 (Role & Feelings)
Slide 2 (Role): Explain that a counselor plays games, reads stories, and helps resolve arguments. Ask: "Who are some other helpers in our school or community?"
Slide 3 (Feelings Weather): Describe feelings using weather metaphors. Have students mimic faces: sunny (smile wide), windy (stomp/scowl), rainy (slouch/sigh), cloudy (hug self).
15-22 Mins
Guided Practice: Slide 4 (Calm-Down Tools)
Lead students through the three physical practices featured on the slide:
Balloon Breath Breathe in, expand arms wide; exhale, sink down.
Hug Squeeze Wrap arms tight, hold for 3, release and sigh.
Star Tracing Trace outline of fingers, breathing on each point.
Unit: Counselor Connection • Lesson 1 Page 1 of 2
Lesson Plan (Continued)
Active Scenario & Worksheet Implementation Details
22-30 Mins
Movement Activity: Heart Helper Scenario Cards
Read aloud the situations from the printable Scenario Cards. For each scenario, ask students to act out the physical response on the card:
Scenario A (Sad/Rainy): Put hands on cheeks, make a sad face, take a slow deep breath.
Scenario B (Angry/Windy): Stomp feet quietly 3 times, blow out the breath to calm down.
Scenario C (Sharing/Sunny): Wave arms in the air and smile wide to share happy news!
Explain: "We can go to the counselor for big sad feelings, big angry feelings, or even happy celebrations!"
Calm Down Toolbox Worksheet Name:
Date:
My Calm-Down Toolbox!
Color your toolbox! Then, color or draw inside the toolbox to show the helpers and tools that keep your heart feeling safe, relaxed, and happy.
Draw or Color Your Feelings Here
🧸🎨📖
🧘🌟💬
Toolbox Handle
Draw some things that help you feel cozy and calm!
1
Balloon Breath
Trace this circle as you breathe in big, and let it out!
🎈
2
The Hug Squeeze
Give yourself a big warm squeeze. Draw a happy face inside!
😊
3
Star Tracing
Trace around the points of the star to slow down your breathing.
⭐
Remember: Your school counselor is a friendly helper who always listens to your heart!
Heart Helper Scenario Cards Interactive Station Activity
Heart Helper Scenario Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Use these cards for movement-based roleplay!
6 Scenario Cards Grade Pre-K to 2nd
👉 How to Play: Read a card to the class. Have students stand up and act out the Heart Action to practice navigating feelings and peer relationships.
🌧️
Card 1: Rainy Cloud
Missing Your Family
You walk into school and feel a big rainy cloud in your heart. You miss your family and feel ready to cry.
💓 Heart Action:
Wrap your arms around yourself. Do the Hug Squeeze and say: "I am safe and loved!"
🌀
Card 2: Stormy Wind
The Taken Toy
Another kid takes the toy you were using without asking. You feel hot and super mad, like a big storm!
💓 Heart Action:
Stomp your feet quietly 3 times, take a deep breath, and let out a gentle wind breath to blow the storm away.
☁️
Card 3: Cloudy Mist
Tummy Butterflies
Your teacher says it is time to do a new activity, and your tummy feels fluttery and nervous.
💓 Heart Action:
Raise your finger in the air. Draw a slow star shape to relax those fluttery butterflies.
☀️
Card 4: Sunny Day
Super Exciting News
You built a huge block tower or drew a master painting, and your heart is bursting with happiness!
💓 Heart Action:
Smile as big as you can, raise both hands in the air, and give a silent high-five to a buddy!
🤝
Card 5: Sharing Bridge
Sharing a Swing
You want to play on the swings, but a classmate is using it and you are not sure how to ask.
💓 Heart Action:
Stand tall, make eye contact with an imaginary friend, and say with a nice, kind voice: "Can we take turns?"
🚪
Card 6: Welcome Door
Finding the Office
You have a secret feeling you want to share with the counselor, but you are not sure what to do first.
💓 Heart Action:
Walk in place quietly, then tap 3 times gently in the air as if knocking on the counselor's office door.
Activity Station Cards • Cut along dashed borders Page 1 of 1
Counselor Connection Parent Flyer 💝
Home & School Partnership
The Counselor Connection
Supporting your child's emotional, social, and academic growth together.
Welcome Families!
Hello! This week, your student participated in our "Heart Helpers" classroom guidance lesson. They learned that the school counselor is a friendly, supportive advocate who helps everyone navigate big emotions, solve playground problems, and feel safe and happy at school. I am so excited to partner with you to champion your student this year!
How I Help Students
Big & Small Feelings
Helping children recognize sadness, anger, anxiety, and learning healthy ways to express them.
Friendships & Conflicts
Guiding students through peer conflicts, learning cooperation, active listening, and sharing.
Coping Strategies
Teaching quick and actionable calm-down strategies that students can practice independently.
Partnering with Families
As your partner, please don't hesitate to reach out if your child is experiencing:
Transitions (new home, school changes, separation)
Significant emotional or behavioral changes at home
Grief, loss, or family wellness changes
Difficulties making friends or school anxiety
Try This at Home: Balloon Breath!
Ask your student to show you the Balloon Breath they practiced today! It's a fantastic, interactive way to reset during times of high energy or frustration. Simply put your hands on your head, breathe in deep as you expand your arms wide like a giant balloon, and release your breath with a soft sigh as your hands float back down.
Contact Information
School Counselor Name
Office Phone
Email Address
Office Location / Hours
Stronger together for our students! 🤝 Home-School Partnership Handout