SEL Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade Students
Teaching our younger kindergarten and first grade students social-emotional skills is just as important as academics in these grades. Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps these little learners understand their feelings, build healthy relationships, and develop essential life skills like cooperation and empathy, which is more important than ever in our society. When students can manage their emotions and interact positively with others, it’s sure to create a happier, more productive classroom environment.
If you’re looking for SEL activities for kids or wondering how to apply SEL in the classroom, you’re in the right place!
Here are a few easy ways to incorporate SEL activities into your daily routine!
1. Morning Meetings with Feelings Check-In
Start each day with a quick “feelings check-in” during morning meetings. Give students the chance to share how they’re feeling by selecting an emotion from a feelings chart. This helps build emotional awareness and encourages students to communicate their feelings in a safe environment. A simple prompt like, “How are you feeling today?” can go a long way in helping students identify their emotions!
2. Role-Playing Social Scenarios
Role-playing is a fun, interactive way to teach young students how to handle common social situations. You can create simple scenarios like sharing toys, taking turns, or solving conflicts, and have students act out the proper way to respond. This method makes learning social skills more engaging and memorable for students.
3. Calm Down Corner
Setting up a calm down corner in your classroom is a great way to help students learn to manage their emotions when they’re feeling overwhelmed. The calm down corner should include cozy seating, calming visuals, and tools that will help your students relax, like stress balls or sensory bottles. Teach students how to use this space when they’re feeling upset, and encourage them to take a break to regain control of their emotions.
4. Reading Social Skills Stories
Reading stories about social situations is a fantastic way to introduce and reinforce SEL concepts. Stories that focus on things like friendship, sharing, and handling big emotions can spark discussions and help students understand these important lessons. Incorporating social skills stories into your read-aloud time also makes it easier for students to relate to the characters and apply what they’ve learned.
Looking to Boost Social-Emotional Learning in Your Classroom?
Creating a classroom where students feel supported emotionally is easier with the right tools. If you’re looking to help your students develop key social and emotional skills, check out my Calm Down Corner Visuals and Activities. It’s packed with engaging visuals and interactive tools to help young students learn to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
If you’re looking for more tips for the classroom, check out these classroom organization tips!