Every school year is unique for each child, as it is a period of growth and reaching new milestones. Academics become more challenging and social skills are evolving. This year is especially unique, as students are presented with new ways of reaching these milestones. Whether it is in-person, virtual, or a hybrid of both, we are learning more about what our students truly need to feel successful, curious, and supported.

The challenges teachers and students are facing this year are unlike any they might have experienced before. Teachers strive to build relationships with their students despite the barriers of distance learning and masks, provide a safe and welcoming environment, engage students and make learning fun, and find a work-life balance. Students, too, are struggling with making new friends or maintaining friendships, staying focused on learning, remaining patient with technology, and celebrating achievements differently.

As teachers, at the end of a busy day, we might have wished we had more discussions to get to know each other, a few minutes to take a deep breath, or a few activities with real-world examples to help students develop their social skills in an interactive way. At Better Kids, we believe developing social emotional skills is an essential component to a child’s education. Here are five engaging SEL activities you can incorporate into your class schedule:

1. Morning Meetings

Starting each day with a class meeting is a great way to check in with your students. A typical morning meeting might look like this:

• Greeting - say hello to each child so they know their presence is noticed and welcomed into a safe environment

• Sharing - check in to see how they are feeling, and ask if they have anything they’d like to share about their weekend or their evening after the previous school day

• Activity - fun activities such as “I Spy” or a scavenger hunt are great for community building and can help your students feel excited about the day ahead and have fun together 

• Morning message - end your meeting with a special message to your students and set goals for the day

During the school year, these are also opportunities for everyone to get to know each other as a class community. These activities can help students develop their social awareness and relationship skills, even while practicing social distancing.

To save teachers lesson prep time, free ready-to-use Morning Meetings slides are available in our social emotional learning app, Wisdom: The World of Emotions (iOS, Android).

2. Brain breaks

Even as an adult, sitting at a desk for a long period of time can be difficult and tiring. Taking a step back from a particular task to give your brain a break may be exactly what you need to come back and refocus on your task. If you notice your students getting restless during a lesson, a brain break, such as jumping jacks or a few yoga stretches, will help them to feel energized. These may be especially helpful for virtual learning! 

My students especially love a brain break we do called “Freeze Dance” because they get the chance to dance and move to their favorite songs and they love the challenge of “freezing” suddenly when the music stops. 

Another “Brain Break” example:

3. Problem-solving Activities

When children are experiencing “big emotions” or are expressing their emotions in a way that can be hurtful to others, it is difficult to discuss how they could react differently in the moment. Taking a few minutes during the day to problem solve using social stories or discussing the difference between a “small,” “medium,” or “big” problem will help students remember the choices they can make when they are in those situations. A common phrase I hear when I ask a student why they reacted a certain way during a conflict is “they started it!” Taking the time to discuss these conflicts may be helpful for students who are able to recognize a problem but need guidance for approaching the problem with a peaceful solution.

4. Mindfulness Activities

When using mindful activities, it is important to be intentional with each one and not rush through them. I often look back on a busy day and wonder how I could have possibly taken a few moments for mindfulness but they are exactly the kind of activities a busy day needs. Mindfulness reminds us to slow down and be in the present moment. These activities will help your students feel more grounded, and will increase their self-awareness. For example, you can use these activities before learning a lesson, when transitioning back from lunch or recess, or to refocus during lesson. It is important to acknowledge any feelings of stress or anxiety we may be having and mindful activities are useful tools to help us feel calmer.

Short mindfulness activity example: 

5. SEL Books

Books provide illustrative examples of important SEL topics such as gratitude, being yourself, and overcoming fear. After reading these stories you can discuss with your students how the characters showed gratitude or how they overcame their fears. We created a free 14-week read aloud program with books for these topics and more! Each week includes lesson slides and worksheets to foster reflection and growth. You can sign up here to learn more about how you can use this program in-person or virtually.

Wisdom: The World of Emotions, features 300+ SEL activities like these on beautifully designed lesson slides, perfect for in-person or virtual learning! Wisdom aligns with the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL’s) framework for SEL to help students strengthen social emotional skills. As a result, educators will likely see an increase in positive attitudes as well as the confidence to achieve academic success and the ability to build stronger social relationships. You can try out a few of Wisdom’s activities for free on the freemium version, available for iOS and Android users!