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Where Did It Go

A Tier 3 individual counseling lesson for kindergarteners to explore concepts of change, loss, and emotional awareness through a 'past vs. present' sorting activity.

TTheresa

Where Did It Go

A Tier 3 individual counseling lesson for kindergarteners to explore concepts of change, loss, and emotional awareness through a 'past vs. present' sorting activity.

TTheresa

Time Traveler Slides

Then and Now

⏳

Past

✨

Present

Learning about things that change

Teacher Note:

Welcome the student. Say: "Today we’re going to learn about things that happened before – that’s the past – and things happening now – that’s the present."

A Changing Caterpillar

Before

🐛

Caterpillar

Now

🦋

Butterfly

Teacher Note:

Ask: "How did this caterpillar change? Which picture shows 'then' and which shows 'now'?"

More Changes

🧊

💧

Ice → Puddle

🌱

🌻

Seed → Flower

Teacher Note:

Encourage the student to tell you what changed in these pictures. Which part happened before? Which part is happening now?

💭

🌟

Your Own Then and Now

Think of something you did before...
and something you do now.

Teacher Note:

Invite the student to share something from their own life. Prompt: "Can you think of something you did before (then) and now (present)?" Listen and validate.

Memory Box Cards

A sorting activity for understanding change and loss.

Instructions

Cut out the Object Cards on the next page.
Cut out the Box Labels below and tape them to two small boxes or bins.
Place cards face down. Have the student pick a card and decide: Past (gone/changed) or Present (here now).

⏳

PAST

"Before"

✨

PRESENT

"Right Now"

Object Cards

💧

Melted Ice

(Past)

🧊

Ice Cube

(Present)

🪹

Nest Without Eggs

(Past)

🪺

Nest With Eggs

(Present)

💥

Popped Bubble

(Past)

🫧

Shiny Bubble

(Present)

🖍️💔

Broken Crayon

(Past)

🖍️

New Crayon

(Present)

Where It Went Worksheet

Where It Went

Name: _____________________ Date: ___________

Thinking About Change

How do you feel when something moves to the "Past" box?

😊

Happy

😢

Sad

🤔

Confused

😐

Okay

What is something you liked that is in the "past" now?

Draw a picture here

Feeling Better

When we miss something from the past, what can we do?

🎨

Draw a picture

🫂

Get a hug

🗣️

Talk to someone

💭

Happy memory

Write or draw one more idea:

Gentle Change Teacher Guide

Individual Counseling Facilitation Script

Before You Begin

Setup

Sit with the student in a quiet, comfortable space. Have the Time Traveler Slides ready on a screen and the Memory Box Cards cut and ready for sorting.

Goal

Help the student grasp the abstract concepts of past/present to provide a framework for discussing personal loss and life changes.

Part 1: The Slides (3 min)

Intro & Vocabulary

"Hi there! Thanks for joining me. We’re going to do a sorting game to learn about things that happened before and things happening right now."

Show Slide 1: "The past is something that happened before. The present is what is happening right now. Can you tell me what 'past' means?"

Show Slide 2 & 3: "Which picture shows before? Which shows now? How did it change?"

Part 2: Sorting (5 min)

Tactile Activity

"I have a Past box and a Present box. Let’s pick a card. What do you see? Does it belong in the Past or Present?"

Guiding Prompts:

"Why did you choose that box?"
"That makes sense. It’s not the same anymore, is it?"
"Is this here now, or is it gone?"

Part 3: Emotion Check (7 min)

Deeper Processing

Reviewing the "Past" Box:

"Look at all these things. Sometimes when something changes or goes away, it makes us feel sad or confused. How do you feel when you see these?"

The Connection:

"Can you tell me about a time something you liked moved from present to past? Like a popped bubble or a toy that broke?"

Coping Talk:

"When we feel sad about the past, what can we do to feel better? (Draw, talk, get a hug, happy memories)."

Conclusion

"You did an amazing job today. Remember, it’s okay to feel sad when things change. I’m always here to help you talk about it."

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