Engaging SEL Activities for Elementary Students: Fostering Social and Emotional Growth
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for elementary students' development, fostering essential skills for navigating relationships, managing emotions, and making responsible decisions. Effective SEL implementation includes explicit instruction-dedicated time for students to learn about, reflect on, and discuss SEL competencies. This article provides practical SEL activities tailored for elementary classrooms, aligning with the five core CASEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.
Integrating SEL into the Classroom
Whether initiating SEL due to a district mandate, personal interest, or long-standing belief in its importance, incorporating SEL doesn't necessitate a complete overhaul of teaching practices. Often, SEL is already present in teacher-student relationships, classroom interactions, and modeled skills. The key is to recognize and build upon these existing foundations through explicit instruction.
Similar to lesson planning, core competencies can guide SEL instruction. Drawing from the New Jersey Social and Emotional Learning Competencies, the following activities offer a starting point for teaching these crucial skills. These activities can be introduced gradually, focusing on one competency at a time, or presented as an overview.
Five SEL Activities for Elementary Students
1. Self-Awareness: Emotion Check-In
Activity: Begin by having students do a daily check-in about how they are feeling.
This survey may or may not lead to a discussion; sometimes it’s enough to just acknowledge the feeling. In my experience, students often voluntarily express their emotions.
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Why it Works: Recognizing and understanding one's own emotions is the cornerstone of self-awareness. This activity encourages children to identify and name their feelings, building emotional literacy.
2. Self-Management: Goal-Setting and Reflection
Activity: Near the end of each marking period, have students complete a goal-setting sheet to reflect on what they’re doing to contribute to their grade (turning in assignments on time, organizing paperwork, utilizing feedback). This reflection can be as short or long as you wish.
While students can show a lot of awareness about their actions and what they need to do, consider providing examples.
Why it Works: Self-management involves regulating emotions, managing stress, and setting goals. This activity promotes self-discipline and accountability by encouraging students to reflect on their actions and identify strategies for improvement.
3. Social Awareness: "This or That" Respectful Discussions
Activity: A low-stakes starting point to practice respectful discussion of differences is to play “this or that.” Review classroom norms for respectful discussion and begin: football or basketball? Math or English? Xbox or PC?
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When I heard audible reactions on some heavily debated topics-for example, math vs. English-I paused to model respectfully disagreeing or repairing through an apology since I (as an English teacher) may have offended the math-lovers. Students enjoyed finding commonalities with their peers and expressing their passions with respect for difference.
Why it Works: Social awareness involves understanding and empathizing with others, including those from diverse backgrounds. "This or That" fosters respectful communication and encourages students to appreciate different perspectives.
4. Responsible Decision-Making: Scenario Discussions
Activity: To address responsible decision-making, I started with scenarios. I showed Heinz’s Dilemma, which shows the consequences for three choices in response to a terminal diagnosis.
Why it Works: Responsible decision-making requires considering consequences and ethical implications. Discussing scenarios helps students develop critical thinking skills and learn to make informed choices.
5. Relationship Skills: Balloon Toss
Activity: Fun community-building games and reflection questions can help students establish and improve their group dynamics and communication. One of my favorite activities is a balloon toss. In groups of three to four, students keep the balloon in the air for one minute without holding it. Play three rounds, switching up the rules (“use your nondominant arm,” “use only your head,” etc.”) Between rounds, ask the groups to discuss what was and wasn’t working. How’s the team communication?
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Why it Works: Relationship skills involve building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, and working collaboratively. The Balloon Toss promotes teamwork and communication skills through a fun, engaging activity.
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