1st Grade
SEL Lesson Topics and Activities
1st Grade
SEL Lesson Topics and Activities
Lesson 1: Zones of Regulation
In this lesson, we learned about the Zones of Regulation. This is a concept that helps us name and understand our feelings so we can take the right steps to calm down. Watch this video to learn more: What are the Zones of Regulation?
Ask:
"What zone are you in?"
"What is the best zone to be in?"
Practice:
Ask your child to show you one strategy they would use to get back to the green zone!
Play this Zones of Regulation Race game. Place a blue, green, yellow, and red object around the room and race to the right zone when the emoji pops up on the screen!
Lesson 2: Listening and Following Directions
In this lesson, we learned how to listen with our whole body and follow directions the first time. We listened to a book called The Worst Day of My Life Ever by Julia Cook to understand the importance of listening the first time.
Ask:
"What should your ears/eyes/voice/body/brain do while you are listening?"
"Why is it important to listen to adults?"
Practice:
Play a game of Simon Says to practice listening.
Lesson 3: "Reset" when you are Upset
In this lesson, we learned about noticing when our body feels sad, angry, tired, etc. It is important to listen to those signals and use a "reset", or calm-down, strategy to help us feel better. This book helps us understand the connection between body sensations and feelings.
Ask:
"How do you know when you need to reset? Do you feel it in your body?"
"What is your favorite calm-down strategy?"
Practice:
Practice some calm-down strategies! You can use ideas from the read aloud linked above, or practice being mindful with this video.
Lesson 4: Review of Lessons 1-3
Challenge 1 - Zones of Regulation: Read your favorite book or turn on your favorite show. Point out the zone that each character is in. Can you find all 4 zones of regulation?
Challenge 2 - Listening and Following Directions: Play a game of Guess That Sound. For each sound you guess correctly (while listening with your whole body!), you earn 1 point. How many points did you earn?
Challenge 3 - Reset when Upset: Jump around the living room, notice your quick heartbeat, then set a timer for 1-3 minutes. Spend that time blowing bubbles, squeezing playdough, taking belly breaths, etc. After the timer goes off, feel your heartbeat again. Did it get slower? Why?
Lesson 5: TBD (Being a Good Friend - Respect)
Ask:
Practice:
Lesson 6: TBD (Responsibility?)
Ask:
Practice:
Lesson 7: Problem Solving
In this lesson, we discussed the types of problems we may run into, and explored some problem-solving strategies.
Ask:
Practice:
Lesson 8: Review of Lessons 5-7
Challenge 1 -
Challenge 2 -
Challenge 3 -
Lesson 9: Review of Lessons 1-3
Challenge 1 - Zones of Regulation: Play this video and pause after each clip. Discuss what zone the characters are in, and name some calming strategies they could use to get back to the green zone!
Challenge 2 - Listening and Following Directions: Grab a sheet of paper and some crayons. Your grown-up will give you one direction at a time (draw a yellow circle, color the ____ red, etc.). You must listen with your whole body and follow each direction right away! How did you do?
Challenge 3 - Reset when Upset: Review and practice some calm-down skills with this video.
Lesson 10: Interrupting
In this lesson, we discussed how our words are like cars, and too many cars on the road at one time can cause a traffic jam! So, we have to follow the rules of the road when talking, just like a car. When we have the green light, we can talk (when our friend finishes talking, when we raise our hand in class). When we have the red light, we should not talk (when someone else is talking).
Ask:
"Show me how you can silently ask for a green light during a red light time"
"Is there ever a time when it is OK to interrupt?" (emergencies)
Practice:
Play a game of Red Light, Green Light, but with your words! Tell your grown-up a story. When they say "Red Light", you have to stop talking. When they say "Green Light", you may go back to telling your story. This game will help you practice patience, too!
Lesson 11: Ignoring Distractions
In this lesson, we learned about using the concept of "Tunnel Vision" to help us stay focused. To do this, we must put whatever it is we want to focus on inside of our tunnel, and ignore the distractions around it!
Ask:
"If you get distracted by something, how long should you look before you refocus?" (3 seconds)
"Using your hands, put me inside of your "tunnel""
Practice:
BONUS: Grown-ups, feel free to make distractions around the room while your child plays this game. Remind them to keep the game inside their tunnel!
Lesson 12: Trying When Work is Hard
In this lesson, we learned about strategies we can use when work becomes frustrating. This includes asking for help from a friend or teacher, taking a quick reset break, or reminding ourselves of the Magical Yet!
Ask:
"Do you ever get frustrated? When?"
"What strategy would you use when you begin to feel frustrated?"
Practice:
Watch this read aloud to learn more about the Magical Yet!
Lesson 13: Review of Lessons 10-12
Challenge 1 - Interrupting:
Challenge 2 - Ignoring Distractions:
Challenge 3 - Trying When Work is Hard:
Lesson 14: Review of Lessons 5-7
Challenge 1 -
Challenge 2 -
Challenge 3 - Problem-Solving:
Lesson 15: Review of Lessons 1-3
Challenge 1 - Zones of Regulation: Play a game of feelings charades. Take turns acting out a scenario or feeling for the other player(s) to guess. Don't forget to include the zone, too!
Challenge 2 - Listening and Following Directions: Learn the Cha Cha Slide! Watch this step-by-step dance video and follow the directions on the screen. Have fun!
Challenge 3 - Reset when Upset: Take a reset break outside. Go for a walk and name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste!
Lesson 16: Celebration!
Review any and all activities above!
Thank you, families, for supporting Social-Emotional Learning this year! Practicing these skills at home helps students carry them into everyday life. Your role is so important!