Curriculum and instructional resources for social, emotional, physical, and environmental health.
Curriculum and instructional resources for social, emotional, physical, and environmental health.
Resources by Grade Level
Social Emotional Health Resources
NEW! 2020 Virginia Mental Wellness/Social Emotional Skills Standards of Learning
The Virginia Health Education Standards of Learning (SOLs) were updated and adopted in 2020. Refer to the 2020 Virginia Standards of Learning for Mental Wellness/Social and Emotional Skills document for a list of related standards by grade level/strand.
Additional Health Smart Virginia lessons related to Mental Wellness/Social Emotional Skills can be found using the Resources by Topic search on the Health Smart Virginia homepage or on each grade level page of Health Smart Virginia.
Overview
Social-Emotional Learning: What is SEL and Why it Matters
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), social-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. CASEL endorses the five core competencies of self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills as contributors to both academic and social success. For additional information, visit the CASEL website. Additionally, CASEL has outlined Teaching Activities to Support Core SEL Competencies.
More Background Resources on School Based Social Emotional Learning
- What is SEL
- WHAT is SEL? WHO is CASEL? Why Does SEL Matter To Everyone?
- Virginia Department of Education Social Emotional Resources
- Social-Emotional Learning: The Complete Guide
- Social Emotional Learning – A Best Practice Report
- Social Emotional Learning in Elementary School – Preparation for Success
- Social Emotional Learning – Bring to Any Content-Subject Classroom | Resilient Educator
- Social-Emotional Skills in School |Committee for Children
- Social Emotional Learning, Explained – YouTube
- Social Emotional Coaching Toolkit
- SEL: Goal-Setting and Relationships Are Part of District’s Academic Core – YouTube
- SEL – 5 ways to Incorporate in Middle School
- SEL and Workforce Readiness
- SEL Mitigates and Addresses Risk factors for Youth Suicide
- SEL Learning Policies and Physical Education
- Shape America – Crosswalk of National K-12 PE and CASEL SEL Standards
- Shape America – How to Integrate Social Emotional Learning in PE to Improve Class Climate
- Social Emotional Learning Resources during COVID-19-CASEL
- SOPHE Guide to Integrating SEL Competencies into Whole School Whole Community Whole Child Model
- Spotlight on Social Emotional Learning – Education Week
- Student Benefits from Social Emotional Learning
- Students Need Restorative Skills
- Tips for Social Emotional Learning by School Faculty and Staff
- Teens, Tweens and Quarantines
- Teach for America – Anti-Racism Resources to Help Teachers Heal, Learn and Listen
- Washington State – Parent and Family Brief re SEL
- What Health and Physical Educators Should Know About SEL
- Whole School Implementation of SEL – NY Guide
Spotlight Videos – 5 Core Social Emotional Competencies
8 Classroom Practices for Inclusive and Safe Learning Environments
- Arrange Orderly Physical Environment
- Define, Teach, and Acknowledge Rules and Expectations
- Define, Teach Classroom Routines
- Employ Active Supervision
- Provide Contingent Praise for Appropriate Behavior
- Continuum of Response Strategies for Inappropriate Behaviors
- Class-wide Group Contingencies
- Multiple Opportunities to Respond
Selected Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Instructional Resources
SEL Programs Available for Purchase
- Conscious Discipline: Ages 4 - Adult
- Caring School Community: K - 6th Grade
- Kelso’s Choice: Pre-K - 5th Grade
- Second Step: Prekindergarten-Middle School Program, includes:
- The Positivity Project – K-8th Grade
- The Positivity Project – How it Works – K-8th Grade
- Too Good for Violence – A Peaceable Place & Social Perspectives: K - 12th Grade
- Social Thinking: Ages 4 - Adult
Featured Free Program
Emotional ABC Classroom – Teaches self and social awareness, self-management, and responsible decision making.
Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness: Theory and Definition Video
- 33 Positive Affirmations for Kids – You Tube
- 101-Free-Positive-Thinking-Affirmations
- Act for Youth – Self Awareness Activities
- Being Grateful for Big and Little Things – Activity – Grades K-5
- Compassion Project Comprehensive Implementation Guide:
-
- Elementary Lessons
- Middle School Lessons
- High School Lessons
- Developing Good Habits – Self Awareness Activities
- Emotion Charades (Grade 2) – Lesson, Dice, Word Bank
- Fill Your Bucket Lesson (Grade 3)
- Free-Social-Skills-Lessons-for-Conversations
- Free-Social-Skills-Lessons for Perspective Taking and Empathy
- Gratitude-Workbook-Freebie
- Growth-Mindset-Task-Cards-FREE
- Hello Gratitude: Being Grateful for the Good Things in Life – Activity - Grades K-5
- Identity Charts, Facing History
- Mindfulness: The Present Moment (PreK - 5th) Lesson Plan and Worksheet
- Paying Attention with Animal Breaths (Grade K-1)
- Scholastic Grade 6-8 Social Emotional Resources
- Sesame Street – Challenges and Resilience Songs, Activities and Tips
- Social-Emotional-Learning Journal Free Sample
- Support Tree: Who’s Safe to Ask for Help – Activity – Grades PreK-3
- The Power of YET Posters
- Tolerance and Acceptance Pledge
- Toolkit: Identity Development, ACT for Youth
- Where the Wild Things Are Reading Guide – Activity – Ages 3-6
Social Awareness
Social Awareness: Definitions, Examples and Theories Video
- ACT for Youth Social Awareness activities for adults and students
- Being Kind and Respectful to Help Stop Bullying – Grades 4-5
- Blocking Rumors to Help Stop Bullying – Activity – Grades 3-5
- Bystander Skills to Prevent Bullying – 5 Activities – Grades 3-8
- Bullying or Joking? and How to Stop – Activity – Grades 6-8
- Class Meeting: Different from You – Understanding Activity – Grades 6-8
-
Class Meeting: Empathy Helps Stop Bullying – Activity – Grades 3-5
Compassion Project Comprehensive Implementation Guide: -
- Elementary Lessons
- Middle School Lessons
- High School Lessons
- A Student’s Guide to Using Social Media
- Celebrating Differences With The Foolish Tortoise
- Cross the Room to Get to Know Each Other Better – Activity – Grades K-5
- FREE Classroom Challenge – “Can’t Stop the Feeling” Video Treasure Hunt
- Help Stop Bullying with Kindness and Respect—Positive Class Climate Activity – Grades 3-5
- Inclusive Communities – Activity – Grades K-5
- Making a Difference – Positive Reinforcement of Good Deeds – Activity – Grades K-5
- Scholastic Grade 6-8 Social Emotional Resources
- The Invisible Boy: Classroom Discussions – Activity – Grades 1-5
- Tolerance and Acceptance-Pledge - Elementary
- Welcoming a New Neighbor – Age 3-5 Activity Game
- Welcoming Words – Beginning of the Year Activity – Pre-K - 3
Relationship Skills
- Act for Youth – Relationship Skills
- Am I in a Healthy Relationship? Teens Health
- Class Challenge: Make Fast Friends – Grades 6-8
- Class Coat of Arms – Activity – Grades K-8
- Class Meeting Video
- Cross the Room to Get to Know Each Other Better -Activity – Grades K-5
- FREE Classroom Challenge – “Can’t Stop the Feeling” Video Treasure Hunt
- Friendship-Making Activity – Grades 3-8
- Getting-to-Know-You-Questions – K-5
- How To Greet Someone At School, A Social Story – You Tube
- Inclusive Communities Activity – Grades K-5
- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - Social and Emotional Development Lesson Plans
-
- Elementary
-
- Kindergarten Lessons 1-4 Friendship is the Perfect Blendship
-
- How Does a Friend Act? (Lesson 1)
- How Do I Act Like a Friend? (Lesson 2)
- How We Are Alike and Different? (Lesson 3)
- Feeling Faces (Lesson 4)
- Grade 1 Lessons 1-3 Elementary Interactions
-
- Friendship Line Dancing (Lesson 1)
- Same and Different (Lesson 2)
- Express Yourself! (Lesson 3)
- Grade 2 Lessons 1-3 Individual and Group Differences
-
- Acting Out Respect and Promise (Lesson 1)
- Family Traditions (Lesson 2)
- Be a Problem Solver (Lesson 3)
- Grade 3 Lesson 1-4 Respecting Individual and Group Differences
-
- Celebrate Your Culture (Lesson 1)
- Communicate with I-Messages Part 1 (Lesson 2)
- Communicate with I-Messages Part 2 (Lesson 3)
- Be a Problem Solver (Lesson 4)
- Grade 4 Lessons 1-6 What Does It Take to Get Along with Others?
-
- What Does Respect Look Like in School? (Lesson 1)
- What Does Respect Look Like at Home? (Lesson 2)
- Respect for All Inside and Outside of School (Lesson 3)
- Similar and Different (Lesson 4)
- Talk It Over and Work It Out! (Lesson 5)
- Tic Tac Toe, Get Off My Toes (Lesson 6)
- Grade 5 Lessons 1-3 Respecting Differences in Others
-
- Acting Out Respect (Lesson 1)
- Respecting Differences (Lesson 2)
- The Problem-Solving Game (Lesson 3)
- Middle School Lessons
- High School Lessons
- Peer to Peer Relationships Video
- Pre-Empathy Development Game For Younger Grades
- Printable Conversation-Starters
- Relationship Skills Exercise Video
- Scholastic Grade 6-8 Social Emotional Resources
- Student SEL Passport Challenge
- Support Tree: Who’s Safe to Ask for Help – Activity – Grades PreK-3
- Unity Day Poster-Making – Activity – Grades K-5
- Welcoming Words– Beginning of the Year Activity – Pre-K - 3
- Welcoming a New Neighbor –Age 3-5 Activity Game
- Working with Others – K-5
Responsible Decision Making
- Free Social-Problem-Solving Task Cards
- Free Classroom Posters – Integrity
- Goal Setting and The SMART Method: Downloadable Worksheet
- How Big is My Problem? Task Cards
- Innoventure Jr.: Making Decisions (Video)
- Landmark Outreach Teaching Strategies for Responsible Decision Making
- Making Tough Choices with Kid President
- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – Social and Emotional Development Lesson Plans
-
- Elementary School
-
- Kindergarten Lessons 1-2 What Are Safe and Healthy Choices? Unit Plan
- First Grade Lessons 1-3 Following Personal Safety Rules Unit Plan
- Second Grade Lessons 1-2 Safe, Healthy Choices? How Do I Keep Myself Safe? Unit Plan
- Third Grade Lessons 1-2 Safe, Healthy Choices? How Do I Keep Myself Safe? Unit Plan
- Fourth Grade Lessons 1-2 Keeping Myself Safe By Making Safe; Healthy Choices Unit Plan
- Fifth Grade Lesson 1-2 Keeping Myself Safe By Making Safe and Healthy Choices Unit Plan
- Middle School Lessons
- High School Lessons
- Plant Grow Love Decision Making Activities – K-5
- Responsible Decision-Making Skill Activities for Students
- Scholastic Grade 6-8 Social Emotional Resources
- Solutions to Community Problems – Activity - K-5
- Teaching If–Then Plans: Accomplishing Goals for Real – Grades 6-8
- Teaching Touching Safety Rules: Safe and Unsafe Touching – Activity - K-5
Self-Regulation
- A 3 Minute Video about Persistence
- 5 Incredibly Fun GAMES to Teach Self-Regulation (Self-Control) | Early Childhood Development - YouTube
- 30 Coping-Strategies-in - 30 Days - Challenge - K-8
- 100-Free-Coping-Strategies - K-8
- Anger-Worksheets - K-8
- Calming-Poster - K-8
- Classroom Challenge: Reinforcing SEL Lessons with Haiku
- College and Career Readiness Framework Self-Regulation 9 Middle/High Lessons
- Coping-Strategies-Notebook - K-8
- Description of Self-Regulation Video
- Demonstrating Self-Regulation through Tone - Edutopia Video
- Executive-Functioning-Free-Workbook - K-8
- Executive-Functioning- Free Poster - K-8
- Guess and Learn EMOTIONS and FEELINGS for Kids (PART 2) | Teach Emotions to Kids - YouTube
- Guess and Learn EMOTIONS and FEELINGS for Kids (PART 2) | Teach Emotions to Kids - YouTube
- Homework Organization-Binder - K-8
- Inside Out and Emotional Health - YouTube
- Massachusetts General Hospital Downloadable High School Units: Reading and Activity
- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - Social and Emotional Development Lesson Plans
-
- Elementary School Lesson
-
- Third Grade Lessons
- Fourth Grade Lessons
- Middle School Lessons
- Mindfulness Activity—Gift of You - K-5th grade
- Mindfulness-Coloring Sheet - K-8
- Motivation-Workbook - K-8
- Paying Attention with Animal Breaths (Gr K-1)
- Scholastic Grade 6-8 Social Emotional Resources
- Self-Management Exercise
- Self-Regulation Information Sheet
- Self-Regulation Overview Video
- Teaching Self-Regulation through Modeling - Edutopia Video
More Resources to Address Various SEL Competencies
Coronavirus Resources
- Changing Perspectives - SEL Learning at Home Activities - COVID19
- Collection of Remote Learning SEL Resources
- Coping During COVID19 - Resources for Parents
- Help Children Cope With Stay At Home Amid Coronavirus Closures
- How is Coronavirus Impacting People of Color? – High School Lesson
- How to Support Anxious Kids During a Crisis - Committee for Children
- My Kid’s School is Closed, So Now What? – confident parents confident kids
- Social-Emotional Learning Should Be Priority During COVID-19 Crisis
- Social Emotional Resources – COVID-19
- Supporting Your Middle School Student During this School Closure
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Crisis | Child Mind Institute
- Tips and Resources for Children and Parents During COVID-19
Videos and Presentations
Breathing, Mindfulness, Calming
- 3 Minutes Body Scan Meditation - Mindfulness For Kids And Adults – YouTube
- A 5 Minute Japanese Method to Relax
- Bite Sized Mindfulness – TedTalk– – Kid-friendly Activities
- Breathing Video (Conscious Discipline Techniques) – YouTube
- Breathing Activity for Elementary Students
- Butterfly Breathing Video – YouTube
- Calming Exercises for Kids: Breathing and Stretching - YouTube
- Everyday mindfulness - YouTube
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Mindfulness – Elementary School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Mindfulness – Middle School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Mindfulness – High School
- Helpful Thoughts: CBT Activity – YouTube
- How Mindfulness Empowers Us: An Animation – YouTube
- How to Calm Your Worries and Sleep Better: A Scientist's Tips for Falling Asleep More Quickly – YouTube
- How to Defeat Negative Thinking: An Animation – YouTube
- Meditation 101: A Beginner's Guide – YouTube
- Mindfulness Activities in Health Class – YouTube
- Mindfulness for Kids: What does being present mean? - YouTube
- Mindful Movement for Young Learners – YouTube
- Mindful Moments – MCPS Be Well 365 – Student Activity Videos
- Mindfulness Breathing Activity for Children
- Mindfulness for students – Activity #1 – YouTube
- Peace Out – Bedtime Story Clips
- Social Skills Video: Taking a Break to Calm Down – YouTube
- The Present – OFFICIAL – YouTube
- Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation – YouTube
Other
- Alfred & Shadow – A short story about emotions (education psychology health animation) - YouTube
- Emotional Intelligence Podcast | The Imagine Neighborhood
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Social Emotional Health –– Elementary School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Social Emotional Health – Middle School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Social Emotional Health – High School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Use – Elementary School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Use – Middle School
- Health Smart Virginia You Tube Playlist – Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Use – High School
- Positive & Negative thinking Great Lesson - YouTube
- SEL at Home 3-5 – Google Slides
- SEL at Home K-2 – Google Slides
- Self-Compassion – YouTube
- Social Math Activity
- Strategies to Help Children Overcome Fears | Age-Related Fears | Why is my Child Afraid? – YouTube
- Where Does Compassion Really Come From? – YouTube
- A 3 Minute Video about Persistenc
Instructional Resources – Lessons, Activities
Health Smart Virginia SEL Lesson Plans and Resources
- Health Smart Virginia Homepage – Access numerous additional resources on each grade level page or through the Resources by Topic search
Searchable Lesson Sites
- Preschool Social Emotional Learning Templates
- Random Acts of Kindness Lessons
- Search Classroom Resources | PBS LearningMedia
- Social Emotional Classroom Posters, Booklists, Strategy Tools (Illinois)
- Social Emotional Learning Activities for High School | Study.com
- Social Emotional Learning Lesson Plans | Education.com
- Social-Emotional Learning with Minecraft | Minecraft: Education Edition
- Social Emotional Learning: Free Resources | Share My Lesson
- Social Emotional Learning Lesson Plans | Education.com
- Social Emotional Learning Curriculum & Activities | EVERFI
- Social Emotional Learning Units – EVERFI – Elementary, Middle, and High
- Social and Emotional Learning Resources on BrainPop!
By the Numbers
- 3 Committee for Children (CFC) Free SEL Classroom Activities
- 4 Inventive Games that Teach Students Social Skills
- 5 Activities to Support Students Through the Holidays
- 5-Minute Film Festival: Resources for Teaching About Character, Edutopia
- 5 Digital Tools To Promote Social-Emotional Learning In After School | Extended Notes
- 7 Fun Communication Games that Increase Understanding
- 7 SEL Activities for Students to Do at Home
- 8 Social Emotional Learning Activities for a Classroom
- 8 Downloadable SEL Activities for Home and School
- 10 Activities to Help Children Explore Emotions
- 10 Activities to Integrate Social Emotional Learning into the Classroom
- 10 Tips to Help Your Child with Anger, Aha! Parenting
- 10 Important Conflict Resolution Skills for Teenagers, Mom Junction
- 12 Activities to Help Children with Social Skills
- 12 Games to Teach Social-Emotional Learning – Playworks
- 12 Tools BUSD Toolbox: Social Emotional Learning Curriculum for K-6 Students
- 12 Ways Teachers Can Build Their Own Resilience
- 13 Powerful SEL Activities | Edutopia
- 15 Activities for Teaching CASEL Core Competencies | Waterford.org
- 16 Anger Management Activities, School Counseling Files
- 16 Social and Emotional Learning Activities - Aperture Education
- 21 Ways Teachers Can Integrate Social-Emotional Learning Throughout the Day
- 25 Ways to Integrate Social Emotional Learning into Your Classroom
- 25 At Home SEL Activities – Choice Board
- 30 Character-Building Ideas and Activities for School, Sign Up Genius
- 30 + Free Choice SEL Activities
- 73 Social Emotional Learning Activity Sheets
- 97 SEL Skills Activities – InspiredStudents.org
- 100 Kid Activities to Build Character, Moments a Day
- 101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills
- 132 SEL Apps, Games, Activities for Building Character in the Classroom
Conversation Starters
- Printable Conversation Starter Cards
- NBC Parent Toolkit- Social Emotional Conversation Starters for Kids 5-8
- Hot Chocolate Talk™ Campaign – Committee for Children
Other
- Active Listening Games for Elementary Students
- Breathing Activity for Elementary Students
- Character Role Playing Cards
- Coping With Test Anxiety
- Feelings Games, PBS Kids
- Getting to Know You Questions
- Growth Mindset Question Cards
- LAUSD Social Emotional Activities Workbook
- Making Decisions HPE Lesson
- Roses and Thorns Class Opening Activity
- Zen Pig: The Art of Gratitude – Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream Children's Books
- SEL Classroom Materials | Teaching Pyramid
- Social Emotional Learning – Richmond Public Schools • rpstech.org
- Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Curriculum
- Stress Relief Coloring Sheets!
- Teachers Pay Teachers Friendship Card Activity
- Teachers Pay Teachers Emotions BINGO
- Teachers Pay Teachers End of the Year Class Compliments Packet
- The Grounding Game K-8
- Think Before Your Speak Calming Coloring Sheets
- Overcoming Obstacles - Curriculum
Miscellaneous Articles
- Adolescence and Internet Identity, Psychology Today
- Anger Management for Children, Scholastic
- Breaking the Behavior Code – Responding to Disruptive Students
- Dealing with Divorce, Sesame Street
- Developing SEL Skills Through Reading
- Family Tools for Expressing Emotions, Vanderbilt University
- Five Steps of Emotion Coaching, Parenting Counts
- How to Build Your Child's Self Esteem, Today’s Parent
- Happy Teachers Practice Self-Care
- Improving Kids' Social Skills, Parents Magazine
- Managing Parent-Teen Conflict, RG Lewis
- MCPS Parent Tips, Actions, and Resources for SEL
- Parents’ and Teachers’ Guide to High Schooler Mental Health | Maryville Online
- Positive Cultural Identity, Project Cornerstone
- Role Play to Teach SEL
- Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide, National Association of School Psychologists
- SEL Skills - Classroom Teaching Activities
- Self-Efficacy
- Self Esteem and Character-Building Activity Skills for Teachers and Parents
- Social and Emotional Learning Strategies
- Social-Emotional Development: Experiences and Activities | VLS
- Social Emotional Workshop - Social-Emotional Learning for Every Student at Every Tier
- Supporting the Emotional Needs of Kids with Learning Disabilities, Child Mind Institute
- Teaching Grit – Help Students Overcome Inner Obstacles
- Teachers – Strategies for Recovering After Your Worst Day
- Teaching Social Skills, LD Online
- Tips for Parents, More Self Esteem
- Training Programs, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
- Trauma of Witnessing Overdose: What Youth Think and Say and What You Can Do
- Understanding Temperament, Center for Parenting Education
- Warning Signs of Youth Violence, American Psychological Association
- Your Teen's Search for Identity, Psych Central