SEL Resources
Tools for Social Emotional Learning
Made as a visual aide for my presentation at "Summer of Learning" 2023. Google Slides.
View the complete list of FREE online SEL resources in document form- or scroll down to peruse the same links (but with descriptions & images)
Check out my BitMoji "Digital Classroom" focused on wellness- chock full of links to relaxing activities!
FREE Online SEL Resources
Over the years, I have compiled a long list of helpful resources from the web (all SEL centric, all completely FREE) and it is my joy to share these with you!
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*Click the title of a resource and it will open in a new tab*
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Browse the resources here on my website, or click here for access to a
Google Docs "Master List"- a document with all the important links in one place.
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General Resources
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a leading source for all things SEL. They offer great information about the “Fundamentals of SEL” and “Systematic Implementation” as well as recent news and publications.
Check out the CASEL States Initiative list of SEL activities which includes links to resources from around the web as well as short descriptions.
“Overcoming Obstacles” offers in depth lesson plans and activity ideas for SEL learning. They offer four levels that make the content applicable for K-12 students, as well as additional resources.
Looking to incorporate SEL into storytime? This list of 50 SEL Picture books is a great place to start.
This read aloud YouTube video of a beautifully illustrated children’s book is focused on emotions!
This list of books and corresponding lessons is inspired by “International Children’s Book Day”, but can be used any time of year! Widen your student’s cultural awareness with wonderful picture books and lesson plan ideas to match.
Rather than specialized lessons focused only on SEL, this blog post by “We Are Teachers” will help you think of ways to integrate SEL into other learning activities. With 38 ideas offered, at least one or two is bound to spark inspiration!
While it is certainly important to teach SEL to our students, we also should be continuing to learn social and emotional skills ourselves! This “Understood” blog post outlines the importance of using these skills as well as practical strategies for employing them.
Rich with examples and neatly organized, this CASEL workbook is a lovely way to reflect on your own attitudes, intentions, and current behavior as a teacher. It is sure to enrich your SEL teaching experience by encouraging you to use the same skills you are teaching.
Self Awareness
Quirky animations add spark to this short video clip about the importance of mindfulness by author, Dan Harris.
Thanks to “Project Implicit” we have access to free Implicit Association Tests (IAT) in many categories. This assessment can be a powerful tool to help us think about the attitudes we may hold toward certain people groups.
Just 3 minutes of mindful breathing can do wonders for focus and mood! This short guided relaxation video on YouTube can help create a moment of calm in your classroom.
Cute animations and simple wording make mindfulness accessible to younger students. Just 3 minutes of mindful breathing can create a sense of calm in your classroom.
Headspace is a wonderful free mindfulness app and website! In addition to guided meditations, they offer a variety of animated videos explaining mindfulness.
The slogan “Living, learning, and teaching with mindful awareness” accurately sums up the focus of this blog! Check it out for interesting articles about self care and teaching SEL.
This edUtopia blog post offers great advice about mindfulness and breathing technique, specifically for teachers.
Self Management
A great way to get your students to take more ownership of their learning experience is to encourage goal setting in your classroom. This handout includes information about effective goal setting and a blank chart fo them to write their personal goals!
This detailed lesson plan from BrainPop provides everything you need for teaching students about the important relational skill of conflict resolution. Included is an animated video, related reading, online quiz, vocabulary list, activity ideas, and more.
Social Awareness
An “edutopia” article explaining the benefits of and giving instruction for Empathy Mapping- “a simple visual tool that can help teachers connect with students”
This printable handout from “Facing History and Ourselves” is a great tool for students to develop social awareness. You can use it as a starting point to discuss identity and how people are viewed by others.
Students who enjoy learning from videos will love this animated informational video by “ClickView”. Students are encouraged to think about who they are and what they value and enjoy as an individual.
Epals is a wonderful resource from McGraw Hill can be used to foster connection between students from around the world! They offer a “taste of culture” collaborative experience, a pen pal program, and more!
Relationship Skills
This fun “icebreaker” game from the scholastic website will get your students mingling and interacting. Simply download, print, and watch your students practice their relationship skills.
This lesson plan idea from “Kids Voting USA” is about cooperation. Discussion questions provided, helps to start a class conversation about the experience and about cooperation in general.
Use this list of 93 acts of kindness for kids and adults from the blog, “Prodigy”, to spark inspiration for a relationship centered activity, field trip, or class project.
This detailed lesson plan from Brainpop provides everything you need for teaching students about the important relational skill of conflict resolution. Included is an animated video, related reading, online quiz, vocabulary list, activity ideas, and more.
These unique questions from the blog, “Prodigy”, are sure to get your students excited to get to know one another. There are 50 questions in total, broken into sub categories.
This award-winning suite of six interactive games addresses key issues kids face in today's digital world. Each engaging game teaches critical digital citizenship skills that help students learn to use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate. Games are available in Spanish.
Responsible Decision Making
In addition to free printable child-friendly cards, this helpful resource from “Kiddie Matters” counseling blog includes helpful information. Decision making is simplified into a series of manageable steps- a valuable skill your students can take into the future!
This printable handout encourages students to reflect on their own decision making abilities. After writing about their decision making behaviors in the past, students are also asked to explore the meaning of the topic.