Holiday Classroom Counseling Lessons

The holidays are a wonderful time for teaching giving, compassion, empathy, and even careers. Here are a few of the lessons I teach during the holiday season.

Snowmen At Work
This lesson works well with Kindergarten -3rd grade, and it is a fun way to introduce careers to my younger students.  First, I read the book Snowmen At Work, by Caralyn Buehner, and on each page we talk about each job that is portrayed. She includes many jobs such as mechanic, baker, dentist, truck driver, teacher, and more.  Then, I have each student think and share about what career they may like to have when they get older.  Finally, I have each student decorate a snowman like the career they have chosen.  Click here for the worksheet. The students loved creating these and sharing them with the class, and it really got them thinking about each job, because they had to think about what the person would wear and the tools they use.

Snowmen At Work



How Santa Got His Elves
How Santa Got His Elves, by E.J. Sullivan, is a very cute story about how the first elves came to work at the North Pole.  First, we read and dicuss the story, and then each student fills out an "Elf Job Application." The is fun way for students to practice thinking about how to apply for a job.  They have to think about the skills a good elf would need, the character traits Santa would be looking for, and what previous work experience would help an elf get the job. Click on the application here to download! 

How Santa Got His Elves

Enemy Pie
Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson, isn't a holiday story, but with this particular lesson, I like to teach it to my 4th graders around Christmas time. The little boy in the story has a really hard time making friends with the boy who just moved in down the street. The description on the cover reads, "one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend."  After reading the story, I talk with the students about what qualities make a good friend.  We make a long list of positive friendship qualities on the board and then use the qualities to write Friendship Recipes. Since Christmas is a time for baking lots of cookies, I post their "Good Friend" recipies on a bulliten board that says, "Recipies for Friendship."



Enemy Pie