Belly Breathing for Kids
In this belly breathing for kids activity, students will learn a new strategy for how to remain calm during stressful situations.
Tim Huntley
Find Someone Who
Recommended Grade Level: Elementary and Middle School SEL Skill(s): Social Initiation Duration: 30 minutes Materials: Find Someone Who Lesson Instructions Prep: At the top of the chart paper write “Social Initiation: Meeting New People.” Hang it in a visible space and gather students for a discussion. Prompt: Begin by asking … Read more
Emotion Charades for Kids: Feelings and Empathy
Recommended Grade Level: All SEL Skill(s): Communication, Empathy Duration: 35 minutes Materials: Charades for Kids Lesson Instructions Pre-Discussion: Begin by talking with the group about the importance of recognizing other people’s feelings. Explain that understanding how another person is feeling is called empathy, and when we express empathy toward other people, we … Read more
Freeze Game Activity
Recommended Grade Level: Elementary SEL Skill(s): Impulse Control Duration: 30 minutes Materials: Freeze Game Activity Instructions Begin by asking the group if they can think of a time when they were tempted to do something that they knew they should not do. Give the example of seeing a freshly baked … Read more
Body Language Game: Telephone Game
Recommended Grade Level: Elementary SEL Skill(s): Communication Duration: 30 minutes Materials: Communication poster Body Language Game Directions Post-Discussion: Once you’ve played a few rounds of verbal telephone and body language telephone, bring the group back together for a discussion. The main goal of this lesson is for students to recognize that we communicate … Read more
Calm Down Corner
Students will list emotion words, identify emotion regulation strategies, practice identifying their own emotions in a situation, and learn how to apply emotion regulation strategies to manage their feelings.
Nonverbal Communication Activities for Students in Grades K-8
Nonverbal communication activities are a great way to enhance critical social and emotional skills, including knowledge of voice inflection, facial expressions, and body language. In this activity, students will practice for a puppet show by reading scripts, and feeling words indicate what emotion should be conveyed while saying the line. Students … Read more
Perspective Taking Activities
Recommended Grade Level: Elementary and Middle School SEL Skill(s): Communication, Empathy Duration: 30 minutes Materials: What Is That Cards Perspective Cards Perspective Taking Activity Instructions Prep: Print out or display on the board the What Is That and What Does This Remind You Of cards. Print one set of Perspective … Read more
Emotion Words to Convey a Range of Feelings
Recommended Grade Level: Elementary SEL Skill(s): Emotion Regulation, Empathy Duration: 30 minutes Materials: Emotion words sorting printable Situations that cause different emotions worksheet Emotion Words Worksheet One Start the discussion by asking students the following questions: What’s the difference between being annoyed and being furious? Are there any other emotions … Read more
Circle of Control Worksheet for Students
With this circle of control worksheet, you will assist students in managing their anxiety by providing a clear understanding of what they can and cannot control. The lesson helps them examine why things can’t always go their own way, and to make a plan for having a positive attitude about things they cannot change!