5 Core Competencies of Social Emotional Learning
Self-awareness
Use this lesson to help students to appreciate their own strengths but also ask for help when they need it. Download the activity.
Self-management
Use this lesson to help students practice the power of trying again. Download the activity.
Social awareness
Use this worksheet to show students that we all have special talents that add up to great communities. Download the activity.
Relationship skills
Use this lesson to teach students about resilience and that asking for help shows willingness to learn. Download the activity.
Responsible decision-making
Use this activity to help students seek challenges and put their decision-making skills to the test. Download the activity.
Games to Teach and Reinforce Social and Emotional Learning Skills
Starfish and Tornadoes
Turtle Time
Who am I right now?
Let's Make a Deal
Take Turns Taking Charge
Additional Games You Can Modify to Practice Social Emotional Skills
1. Don’t Break the Ice – A great way to get kids talking about their emotions is to use a game that they’re already familiar with. It’s easy to transform the game Don’t Break the Ice into a social-emotional learning game! Simply write different prompts on the different ice blocks. You can use a dry erase marker so that you can change the prompts easily. These can be anything, from questions about bullying to how different situations make them feel.
2. Emotions Jenga – In order to play this hands-on game, you simply need a Jenga set and a marker. On random blocks, write different emotions that you want your students to learn about. This should include such emotions as anger, happiness, worry, bored, jealous and more. A student pulls an emotion Jenga block out. Then, they tell their partner what that emotion means and what makes them feel it. For example, if they pulled the anger block, they would have to describe what anger means and express what makes them angry.