Social Emotional Learning
Playground: a place where a particular group of people choose to enjoy themselves.
The SEL/Character Playground is a full on immersive experience. Learners (students OR teachers) get to play with wide variety of activities around CASEL frameworks of Social Emotional Learning. Most activities are designed to be done with small group or pairs, but can also be done solo. This makes for an a great Professional Learning for teachers, set up in stations for indoor recess, and can be done in a variety of ways.The Playground was designed by Sarah Wood, REMC 8-Kent ISD.
Self Awareness Activities:
Zones of Regulation Fortune Teller
Small group talk on chosen topics
Brain Games- Stacking Chairs
Walk and Talk
Growth Mindset Crossword Puzzle
"I Am" Affirmation Speech Bubbles
Read "The Dot" and fill in your own dot page
Self- Management Activities:
Calming Coloring
Start Your Own Bullet Journal
Build a structure
Partner Jenga with questions
Read "Smart Cookie" and create a poster
Stacking Rocks
Hidden Picture book
Small group discussion
Responsible Decision Making Activities:
Connect 4 with a partner and questions
Wonder and Think Pictures
One minute quiet time
Shape cards
Guess Who- emotions
Stacking cats
Article and discuss
Spot It
Relationship Skills Activities:
Random Act of Kindness
In someone else's shoes
Read "Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors" with a partner
Build a playground
Barrel of Monkeys with questions
Yoga
Question game with a partner
Stacking Cups
Social Awareness Activities:
Read book from the options provided
Color a compliment card
Color a person
Tenzi
Dicebreaker Conversations
Tik-Tak-Toe
Countries of the world match
Tanagrams
Each topic also has a digital choice board with options using online resources and website.
The SEL Playground is great for Professional Development for teachers too! They get to experience the playground by doing the activities, as they would use in the classroom, and get hands-on experience for each areas.
The different "sandboxes" can be checked out individually to use in the classrooms. It is suggested to allow for 30minutes for introduction, play, and follow up. The whole SEL playground can be done in about 45-60minutes for a whole class.