25 fun and easy SEL activities to increase social skills (2023)

If students have strong social skills, such as B. Showing them how to handle their emotions and empathize with peers takes learning to a new level. The more emotionally intelligent we are, the stronger we are as learners. Social-emotional learning is a win-win situation that is fun and easy to integrate into everyday school life. If you're looking for new ways to help your students improve their soft skills, check out these 25 SEL Activitiesshare my lesson, a website created by the American Federation of Teachers with over 420,000 free teaching resources.

1. Draw with doodles

Each student's imagination and personality create a unique and vibrant classroom community. Start using art in your SEL activities! Give each student a doodle on the page and ask them to create something from that doodle. Line up the finished pieces and watch as each one started with the same doodle and turned into something unique. (grades 2-6)

MAKE A GIVEAWAY WITH THE Doodles ACTIVITY

2. Create a classroom network

How do communities support each other? How do people support each other? Students will explore these themes by answering questions and passing a ball of twine or twine. Through this activity, they will create a classroom network to understand interdependencies and express emotions. (grades K-2)

GET CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ON THE WEB

3. Towards music

Many agree that music is the language of the soul. Challenge students to find music that inspires positive coping skills, gratitude, responsibility, conflict resolution, relationship building, self-efficacy, resilience, and self-motivation to strengthen these essential skills through SEL activities. (grades 6-12)

FACE THE MUSIC ACTIVITY

4. Create a place of peace

Self-soothing strategies are the meat and potatoes of emotional intelligence. Explore these peacemaking movements and create a place for students to turn to when emotions become too much to handle. (grades K-12)

GET ACTIVITIES IN PRAÇA DA PAZ

5. Perfect picture books

Maria Walther, author of The Read Aloud Handbook, said: "What did we do when we all had to self-isolate at the start of the pandemic? We read books to each other." And he was right! Authors, teachers, celebrities and others have filmed themselves reading picture books. Why? WhyPicture books help us deal with difficult things.. They also help us grow socially and emotionally. (grades K-12)

GET PICTURE BOOK ACTIVITIES

6. It's time to transform!

Are you looking for a way to combine ELA, SEL and PE? Look no further! The Power Rangers are here for you. This unique combination helps students identify their individual strengths while learning to work as a team. (grades 1-3)

GET THE MORPHINE TIME ACTIVITY

7. Diversity is great in our community

Todd Parr's amazing book It's OK to Feel Different is the foundation of this SEL experience. Not only does this book teach us how diversity enriches our lives, it also teaches us that what we bring to the table and can be "different" is exactly what the community needs. (Grades pre-K-5)

GET DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

8. These shoes were made for walking.

Empathy is a muscle that needs attention to help with social and emotional growth. One way to generate empathy is to metaphorically put yourself in the other's shoes and imagine what he must be thinking and feeling. This experience brings together a bit of theater and a lot of perspective building. (Pre-K-12 grades)

BUY THE ACTIVITY HIKING SHOES

9. Fly with wings

If you're looking for a hand-picked collection of cohesive lessons, this resource is for you. The folks at Soar with Wings have assembled the tools students need and teachers can use in a practical way to support SEL over time. These SEL activities are both fun and educational. (grades K-5)

ACTIVITY FLY WITH WINGS

10. SEL Superpowers

Let DC Comics superheroes teach students the value of teamwork, friendship and self-esteem, and how to develop these superpowers in everyday life. Available in English and Spanish, these materials encourage purpose, diversity and collaboration. We will teach Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Supergirl such important life skills. (grades 1-3)

GET SUPERIOR ACTIVITIES

11. Empathy Learning Journeys

Created byEducation in a better world, this feature seamlessly integrates SEL and global competency into academic learning. Through a trio of wordless videos, a written story, and an accompanying lesson plan,Education in a better worldcreated a number of binge-worthy features. (grades 3-12)

GET EMPATHY ACTIVITY

12. You know what they say about assumptions...

You can get us into a hot mess! Start with a history of the White Mountain Apache Indians, learn about self-management, and unravel the challenges of judging others without having all the facts at hand. Do you remember the four surprising questions? Use them again with this experience. (Pre-K-6 grades)

GET THE ASSUMPTION ACTIVITY

13. Confusion Resolutions

Some of the hardest times to deal with emotions in the classroom are when confusion arises. Teach students how to overcome confusion and defend themselves with this activity that benefits ALL subjects. (grades 6-12)

GET THE SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFUSION ACTIVITY

14. Just breathe

A free, always available and always reliable resource for everyone is your breath. Knowing how to use the breath is extremely helpful for self-management and building resilience. It may sound simple, and it is, but it is one of the most powerful tools we can teach students. (grades 6-12)

GET THE BREATHE NOW ACTIVITY.

15. Is the teacher cruel?

Now we all seem to know something about Cruella Deville, especially her hostile nature towards Dalmatian puppies. But Cruella as an SEL teacher? Yes! This mini-unit builds knowledge on the CASEL skills of self-confidence, social awareness and relationship skills. (Grades 8-12)

BUY THE CRUELLA ACTIVITY

16. Inspiring music and art

This activity makes SEL an art. Senna and Summa use poetry and music to comfort and grow. They teach us how to use art in difficult times and manifest something beautiful. (grades 6-12)

GET ART ACTIVITIES

17. Share your spark

Maybe when you think of brightness, hope, inclusiveness and kindness,My little Ponycomes to mind? Well, if it's not for us adults, it's for our younger students. Thanks to the generosity of eOne and Hasbro, we can use these new ponies to teach little ones to celebrate each other's uniqueness. (Pre-K Kindergarten)

GET A BRILLIANT ACTIVITY

18. Books of great character

Reading develops social and emotional skills and vice versa, especially when dealing with diverse and complex characters. These characters can be found in books.brave like mejmany bubblesBy Christine Peck and Mags Deroma. These books and others in her collection teach mindfulness, courage, creativity, and empathy. (Grades Pre-K-3)

GET CHARACTER BOOK ACTIVITIES

19. Tree of Dreams

Is your resume structured so that there is little or no time for SEL? Without fear! This amazing four-question micro-lesson will help you use the shortest possible time and deal with the SEL effectively. (grades 2-6)

PURCHASE THE TREE OF DREAMS ACTIVITY.

20. You are enough

As you read these words, do you not feel relieved? I know this for sure. But sometimes even students need to be reminded that what they are is and always will be enough. enjoy the bookI'm enoughby Grace Byers and identifying personal strengths through parables. (grades 2-5)

HAVE ENOUGH ACTIVITY

21. Potato Perspectives

Surprisingly, potatoes can teach us a lot about the language we use in socio-emotional learning. Especially when Potato struggles with Eggplant in this sweet and important story. This feature is especially useful for multilingual learners. (grades 1-3)

GET THE POTATO INSIGHTS ACTIVITY.

22. Curiosity as a quest

Yes, we certainly want curiosity to bring out the best in us. When we are curious about the world around us, we deepen our understanding of the world around us. Explore cultural, social and environmental issues through curious questions in this activity. (grades 3-5)

GET THE QUESTION FROM CURIOSITY

23. Balance between moral ferocity and self-confidence

oh yes thatesa bite And it also addresses SEL in a way that will change the landscape of our communities. Discover ways to encourage compassionate action in challenging times with incredibly moving and rewarding work. (Grades 9-12)

GET BALANCED ACTIVITIES

24. Glass half full

Sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective and some insights from children to see the bright side and generate gratitude. Inspired byGlass half full news, an online series written from a child's perspective, this collection of activities beautifully blends SEL and ELA. (grades K-5)

ACTIVITY GET THE GLASS HALF FULL

25. The greatest gift is ourselves

Folk tales, including this one from Japan, are a constant reminder that each of us brings the greatest gift in the world: ourselves. best place can do. (grades K-12)

GET THE MOST GIVEAWAY ACTIVITY

Looking for more SEL activities?

If you need more SEL activities or want lessons and activities on other topics,share my lessonYou can help with over 420,000 free educational materials from preschool through college education. Plus, explore collections of SEL resources toelementary school studentsÖElementary and middle school students.

EXPLORE SHARE MY LESSON