Social Emotional Learning During School Closure 5.26.2020

Suggested activities can be repeated and you can choose what to enjoy at any time during the week.

I hope you enjoy them!

Activities to Choose From For All Grades

Mindfulness Exercise Practice Letting Go. Sit in a comfortable position with both feet on the floor. Squeeze all the muscles in your body as tightly as you can. Squish your toes and feet. Harden the muscles in your legs all the way up to your hips! Make your belly tight. Squeeze your hands into fists. Raise your shoulders up, up, up the sides of your head. Hold everything tight for just a few seconds! Now release your body fully. Just breathe and let everything go.

Create your own "Zones" check in!

Here you and your child will find creative ways to make your own "Zones" tools to communicate feelings. (for example but not limited to the following, Blue - sad; Green - good to go; Yellow - anxious, worried; Red - mad) My personal favorite is the Lego model! Feel free to take a picture of what you create and send it to me at lisa_hunt@wrsd.net Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Make the "How Are You Feeling" chart like a "Zones" chart. What color would the rain be? Or the tornado? How Are You Feeling chart

How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad?

This story is about how to handle strong feelings. Feel free to help your child make connections and find personal relevance in the story. Explore other strategies to help oneself calm down (some of which can be found on every page of this website!) Pick a favorite strategy or two and have your child draw a picture or make a sign as a reminder...just in case it is needed in the future.

Make an "I Message" Using this Worksheet

The Home School Psychologist - Asking for Help

Adam Parker leads us again in how to ask for help in a calm and kind manner through instruction and song! Learning to ask for help may be a skill that helps prevent strong emotions such as feeling frustrated, angry or thinking harsh thoughts about oneself (e.g., "I can't do this"; "I'm not smart enough"; "This is too hard.")

Have your child learn the words and sing along with the song! (You can turn on transcripts to see the lyrics.)

Make a connection with last week, can you and your child think up a rule or guide? When is a good time to ask for help and what are the best words to use? And after getting help, what are the kind words that should be shared? Remember the story Bear Says Thanks ? And, remember how Bear felt when he thought he had nothing to offer his friends?

Fun, optional activity for second grade students (or ambitious Kindergarten and first grade students and families!): Make a tally chart to keep track of the numbers of times you and your family members say, "Thanks!" Tally Charts and Bar Graphs Brainpop Jr.

Remind your child about the concept of gratitude and the many ways people can show gratitude throughout the day. For example, thank a helper in the community, thank a family member for making dinner and otherwise take a moment to observe the goodness around you. Dr. Chris Willard on Gratitude

Thought Bubble Should I say it or just think it? Use the chart below to help your child think before saying or doing something that might hurt others (even if by accident!) Thought Bubble Chart Remember, if one makes a mistake, like Dinosaur, one can always say...."I'm sorry!"

Yoga Animal Poses

This little booklet offers a fun and easy way to stretch and encourages mindfulness. Yoga with Animals Take a break from your "job" and do an animal pose. (Don't forget to breath!) Let Mrs. Hunt know which pose is your favorite at lisa_hunt@wrsd.net ?

Fun, optional activity for First graders (and ambitious Kindergarten or Second Grade students!): Living or Non-living? Make your yoga pose after completing your ELA worksheet. "If a tadpole grows and becomes a frog, can a ______ grow and become a _____?"

How are you feeling?

Use this chart (see link below) to help describe how you are feeling and from that create an "I message". (e.g., "I feel....when...because...I want..."

Yoga With Animals For Kids