by: Marianna Monheim
Updated: 1/26/2026
National School Counseling Week is the first full week of February. If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate your counselor, try this trio of activities: a counselor word search that introduces what counselors do, an acrostic poem built from that vocabulary, and a thank-you note students can personalize with specific details.
Here's the TL;DR
Counselors are often unsung heroes on your school campus. In addition to their own workload, they often have to take on many other responsibilities. If you’d like to have your students give a quick thank you this year, you can:
- Start with a word search, so students learn the true role of a school counselor
- Help students use terms from the word search to write their own acrostic poems
- Provide a template to help students write an organized, thoughtful thank-you note
You can progress through all 3 activities, or choose the one that suits you best. Plan for about 30 minutes to an hour for students to work on everything.
PS: My done-for-you activity pack is on TPT for just $1.
Table of Contents
What is National School Counseling Week?
National School Counseling Week happens the first full week of February and highlights how school counselors support students across the school day, from problem-solving and goal-setting to navigating friendship drama and big feelings. It’s a simple, timely excuse to pause and say, “Hey, we notice you.” For 2026, the dates are February 2–6, 2026.
Teachers Also Ask:
A simple thank you note will most likely mean the world to your counselor. To keep things academic, provide a template and have students revise and edit before writing their final copy.
Use the word search as a morning work activity, and do a quick discussion before starting your day. Have the students work on either the acrostic poem or thank you note during their independent work time or at a center.
A Plan for Schools Celebrating National School Counseling Week
Time is of the essence in upper elementary. You need things that fit into what you’re already doing, and an emphasis on academics over arts and crafts. Here’s a foolproof plan you can use:
Students who don’t see the school counselor may not understand why counselors are so important. The word search inside this activity pack includes words to describe the role of a counselor.
You can make word searches meaningful! Follow up with an acrostic poem activity with students using words from the word search to brainstorm ideas.
Have students write a thank-you note with specific, meaningful anecdotes. For less experienced writers, a template can do the heavy lifting.
Easy Differentiation Ideas
Here are ideas that will help you find the best fit for your class
- Strapped for time? The thank you note activity works on its own.
- Need a bulletin board? Have students decorate their acrostic poems for an easy display.
- Upper elementary but still emerging readers and writers? Model how to brainstorm using the word search word bank.
- Pair up or group as needed
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a celebration of school counselors and the important work they do, annually held on the first week of February.
Absolutely…the thank you template can be easily modified for other purposes. In addition, counselors may enjoy using the word search as a beginning of the year activity.
Gather all of the student thank you notes and leave them on her desk or in her mailbox as a fun surprise. Tie together with a cute ribbon for some extra flair.
National School Counseling Week, Done for You
Grab everything you need to complete the activities outlined on this page for just one dollar in my TPT store.
More February Activities for Upper Elementary Teachers
