The Second Step program helps students build social-emotional skills—like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and setting goals—so they can thrive in school and in life.
Children benefit from social-emotional learning (SEL) at any time, but today it’s essential to help them develop the skills they need to connect and thrive. Second Step Elementary is a leading research-based SEL curriculum for Kindergarten–5th Grade students.
Social-emotional learning helps students succeed in the classroom and throughout their lives.
Children need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula teach children techniques to:
Gain confidence
Set goals
Make better decisions
Collaborate with others in work and play
Navigate the world more effectively
Social-emotional learning isn’t just a feel-good activity. It’s not psychotherapy or an attempt to parent kids. Nor is it a substitute for core academic subjects such as math, science, or literacy.
Cooperation
Communication
Decision-Making
Instead, SEL concepts provide an extra dimension to education, focusing on improving cooperation, communication, and decision-making. SEL gives students a framework for developing these skills in a world where emotional intelligence is critical for lifelong happiness, successful careers, and healthier relationships.
Sanford Harmony is a PreK–6th grade social emotional learning program that cultivates strong relationships between all students. Harmony’s approach to teaching social emotional skills shares effective strategies for problem-solving and building relationships with peers. Focusing on the peer relationship processes contributes to students’ academic success.
The program consists of structured activities, lessons, games, and stories designed to promote learning environments that are inclusive and collaborative to support the development of healthy peer relationships. Sanford Harmony creates opportunities for students to practice skills that build healthy relationships, increase emotional regulation, and improve communication with others. Using age-appropriate materials, lessons, and activities enhances students’ communication and relationship-building skills.
The five themes of Sanford Harmony are Diversity and Inclusion, Empathy and Critical Thinking, Communication, Problem-Solving, and Peer Relationships. Each of the Harmony themes addresses an important need in schools to create positive and proactive environments that support the student success of diverse students. Sanford Harmony uses the 2013 CASEL Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs (Preschool and Elementary School Edition). The CASEL Guide is a valuable framework for guiding program objectives to create school environments that promote social and emotional learning through school culture and school policies, and through developing relationships with peers.
The Six Pillars of Character
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
Making New Friends
Maintaining Relationships
Thankfulness
Veterans Day
Resilience
Toy Safety
Emergency Planning & Prevention
Family Communications Plan and Emergency Kit
Animal Safety
ATV Safety
Tractor/Equipment Safety
Road Safety
About Me
School Counselor's First Aid Kit
Growth Mindset
How to be a good student
Higher Education Opportunities
Post Secondary Opportunities
Career Exposure
Interest & Career Surveys
An online education program developed by EVERFI.
Interactive, game-based lessons help prepare students for success in the real world.
Provides students with opportunities to explore and identify challenges they may face.
Online content is designed to help students develop concrete strategies for managing challenges.
It increases awareness of resources and empowers students with the knowledge, skills, and language necessary to identify and support a peer who may be struggling.
Introduces core SEL competencies to teach elementary students how to practice compassion and empathy, identify emotions, and exercise growth mindset.
Educates elementary students on the importance of eating well, staying fit, and making healthy decisions through fun, interactive games.
Educates students about nutrition and making healthy decisions with fun games focused on grocery shopping basics & building a well-balanced meal.
Introduces students to foundational financial literacy concepts like budgeting, saving, income and careers through interactive lessons and games.
Science & engineering concepts come to life through the fast-paced game of hockey. Explore real world applications of STEM through sports.
Students explore STEM careers connected to their interests and aptitudes while practicing STEM concepts that are key for career readiness.
Includes self-paced digital lessons:
Healthy Coping Skills
Getting Help
Social & Emotional Learning
Health & Wellness
STEM & Career Readiness
Financial Education
Cultural Literacy
Course content is validated to meet Iowa school standards for mental health education and aligns with the National Health Education Standards (NHES).
All students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life. Our award-winning K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum:
Addresses top concerns for schools.
Prepares students with critical 21st-century skills.
K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum was designed and developed in partnership with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education -- and guided by research with thousands of educators. Each digital citizenship lesson takes on real challenges and digital dilemmas that students face today, giving them the skills they need to succeed as digital learners, leaders, and citizens tomorrow. Read about the research behind the curriculum.
Overcoming Obstacles provides educators with the tools to teach their students how to communicate effectively, achieve meaningful goals, make good decisions, and more. The Overcoming Obstacles Digital Library is the online hub where you can view, download, and customize all our award-winning K-12 resources for free. Click on the button labeled “Enter Library” for instant access to everything we publish, including curricula, student surveys, training guides, translations, and more. No registration or any personal information required – you can start teaching Overcoming Obstacles today!
Following best practices for a locally developed curriculum, Be Good People incorporates CASEL's SAFE elements. Its instructional features are common among evidence-based curricula.
Be Good People doesn't lock you into a rigid sequence. We offer example schedules with meaningful progressions of activities, but we encourage you to customize them to find the right "recipe" for your school.
Lessons involve teaching skills step-by-step and then applying them to relevant scenarios.
Extension Activities are less formal mixes of videos, discussion questions, worksheets, etc.
Community-building activities foster belonging through get-to-know-you questions and simple games.