Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Social-emotional learning activities in the classroom help to prime students’ minds for learning by reducing anxiety, bringing attention to the task at hand and encouraging positive mindsets.
In the pages that follow we provide sample activities to support student social and emotional development, organized around each of CASEL’s Five Core Competencies. For each core competency, we divide the sample activities into two types: (1) free-standing lesson/instruction activities. and (2) ongoing teaching practices that
These games are indexed by the social and emotional skills they give kids the opportunity to practice. The skills we chose are informed by both well-known SEL frameworks and the on-the-ground impact we see at schools around the country. Want more support for playtime at your school or organization? Let us know!
Conversation Starters for Families list questions to help get you and your family started on this activ-ity. This site describes five social-emotional learning games to play with your children to help them learn to manage their emotions and work on social skills.
Employing social emotional learning strategies can positively increase teacher efficacy, lessen burnout, and promote a focus on more balance between school and home responsibilities.
This resource includes 4 weeks of social emotional learning activities that can be used as homework, extra practice, or work for early finishers. Every page highlights a specific SEL skill, each with nine unique and fun activities for students to complete.
Free social emotional learning printables
Browse free social emotional learning printables on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.
Designed to foster social-emotional competence, the activities in this packet are organized around CASEL’s five core SEL standards: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.
Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Middle School
Explore our free social-emotional learning activities for middle school, plus additional materials and resources for grades 6-8.