Guidance Plan – Leeds Elementary School
Anna Carlisle, Counselor / Target Group: 2-3
Small Group Subject
Family Changes
Student Competency/Objectives
A1.4
A1.5
A1.6
A1.12
A2.5
A2.6
B1.4
B1.5
C1.6
C1.10
C1.11 / Personal/Social Development
Understand change is a part of growth
Identify and express feelings
Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior
Identify and recognize changing family roles
Recognize, accept, and appreciate ethnic and cultural diversity
Recognize and respect differences in various family configuration
Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems
Demonstrate when, where, and how to seek help for solving problems and making decisions
Identify resource people in the school and community, and know how to seek their help
Learn techniques for managing stress and conflict
Learn coping skills for managing life events
Objectives
1. To educate and inform participants about divorce
2. To share, identify, and accept one’s feelings about divorce.
3. To recognize and cope with situations and difficulties relating to divorce.
4. To develop positive personal relationships among family and friends.
5. To interact with and support peers who are experiencing divorce.
Lesson 1 Activities
1.  Students will write name in the middle of paper and draw a picture in each corner of something they like.
2.  Pictures will be used to introduce members of the group.
3.  Set group guidelines.
4.  Explain group process.
Materials/Resources / Group Evaluation / Expected Results
Paper, markers, crayons / 1.  Student response and participation.
2.  Parent report
3.  Teacher report on grades, peer interaction, and discipline referrals / By the end of the group, students will:
1.  Verbalize changes related to parents divorce.
2.  Acquire skills to appropriately express feelings related to divorce.
3.  Learn techniques for life changes related to divorce.
Lesson 2 Activities
1.  Introduce language associated with divorce with developmentally appropriate vocabulary.
2.  Allow students to express emotions related to divorce.
3.  Begin introducing coping skills for anger, sadness, and fear.
4.  Explain some feelings one may have related to divorce (grief process).
Materials/Resources
Feelings Chart
Dinosaurs Divorce
Paper, markers, crayons
Lesson 3 Activities
1.  Explore emotions that may be related to divorce.
2.  Present coping skills
Materials/Resources
Feelings Chart
Don’t Fall Apart on Saturdays
Balloon activity (teach participants to express feelings appropriately instead of letting them build until they “pop”)
Lesson 4 Activities
1.  Introduce changes that may occur with divorce.
2.  Allow participants to share changes they have already experienced.
3.  Present ideas for coping with changes.
Materials/Resources
Feelings Chart
Selections from My Life Turned upside down but I Turned It right side up Again
Lesson 5 Activities
1.  Explore emotions that may be related to divorce.
2.  Changes that participants may experience related to divorce will be continued.
3.  Step-families and changing family roles will be explored.
4.  Allow for questions from participants that may still be unanswered.
Materials/Resources
Feelings Chart
Dinosaurs Divorce
Paper, writing instruments
Lesson 6 Activities
1.  Reinforce information previously presented.
2.  Students will be exposed to feelings one may experience with divorce and appropriate coping skills.
Materials/Resources
Taking the “Duh” out of Divorce DVD by Trevor Romain