TeachersFirst's Social and Emotional Learning Resources
Social-emotional Learning (SEL) is the process by which students of all ages develop and use social and emotional skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Using SEL skills, students better understand emotion, manage their own, and show empathy towards others. SEL skills also help students set and achieve positive goals. Although this is an ongoing process through all grade levels, you can begin to instill these skills and understandings in even your youngest students. We encourage you to find appropriate tools and resources in this collection to use with your students and in your lessons.

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Attitude Anchor Chart - Zearn
Grades
K to 8tag(s): character education (74), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Share this anchor chart with students and post it on a bulletin board to remind students to reflect upon their work and learning process. As discussed on the information for the chart, provide students with badges for demonstrating the different qualities found on the chart. Instead of a printable badge, use a digital badge creation tool such as Makebadges, reviewed here, to create unique badges to share with students. Include students in reflection and developing positive attitudes by encouraging them to use this anchor chart as an example to create their acronym and learning attitude goals. Use Canva Edu, reviewed here, to design and share anchor charts to print and display in your classroom and online.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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WellCheq - Jodi Miller
Grades
K to 12tag(s): emotions (45), identity (26), social and emotional learning (72), Teacher Utilities (132)
In the Classroom
Share WellCheq with your school counselors for possible use in monitoring the mental wellness of students. If your school doesn't want to use a program such as this, consider other possibilities for sharing wellness tips with students and parents and share resources for obtaining help when needed. Find resources at the TeachersFirst Resources for Self-Identity Special Topics Page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Emotional ABC's Curriculum - Emotional ABC's
Grades
K to 5tag(s): preK (246), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Discover and use the many free materials included in this curriculum to support SEL lessons in your classroom. Use tools found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to reinforce the material learned during your lessons. For example, use the Image Reveal tool to upload images that show different emotions and ask students to guess the emotion by removing tiles. Extend learning further by using Flip, reviewed here, to record videos of students expressing different emotions. Then ask students to add comments on ways to respond in different situations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Along - Gradient Learning
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): classroom management (132), communication (136), social and emotional learning (72), Teacher Utilities (132)
In the Classroom
Along makes it easy for you to implement this tool into your classroom with their many free resources. Resources include guides to introducing Along to students and fellow educators. Share the privacy information guide with parents as you begin using this tool. Begin by using the customizable calendar as a method for planning to introduce and use Along. Consider using the information found on the site to create and share a presentation about this product using Google Slides, reviewed here, or by creating a short video using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker reviewed here. Be sure to show students how to prepare for their responses. If you find some students are reluctant to use one of the modes, for instance, the video, work with that student to help them feel comfortable. Uses for this tool are only limited by your imagination! Check-in with students during long projects or reports to see where they are in the process and if they have any frustrations, check-in after a science lab to see who has questions, ask students at the end of a project or lab what they would do differently next time. Check-in with Language arts book groups to see how students are doing with the novel, their group, the project at the end, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Change Begins at School - Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bullying (53), climate change (79), conflict resolution (9), disasters (36), diversity (34), elections (76), holidays (142), politics (107), racism (71), religions (69), social and emotional learning (72), women (108)
In the Classroom
Engage students in any of the provided lessons by starting with a simple poll using Slido, reviewed here. For example, ask students if they are familiar with the topic discussed, have experienced a similar emotion, or display an image on your whiteboard and ask students if they know what it represents. Enhance learning throughout any of the lessons by sharing additional resources using a curation tool such as Padlet, reviewed here. Add links to videos, articles, or online activities related to the lesson's content. As you complete lesson activities, extend learning by asking students to share their understanding by creating digital books using Book Creator, reviewed here, flyers made with Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, or infographics created with Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Discussing Tragic Events in the News - Morningside Center
Grades
K to 12tag(s): differentiation (69), disasters (36), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for fostering productive class conversations as needed when discussing difficult events. Be sure to share this site with parents who are also dealing with students that are dealing with tragic events at home. After allowing time to reflect upon the events and your classroom discussions, some students may need additional time to process the information. Provide an additional outlet using Google Jamboard, reviewed here. Create a Jamboard that allows students to add sticky notes anonymously that share their feelings or solutions to difficult problems. Curate resources for students (and parents) that include age-specific information such as news articles, videos, and background information using a curation tool such as Wakelet, reviewed here. Consider creating a Wakelet for parents and guardians with information to use at home to support students in meaningful ways. Provide students a creative outlet to share their emotions by suggesting they create short videos, flyers, or websites using the free tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Find more resources to help facilitate difficult conversations on this Special Topics Page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Rock Your World - Creative Visions
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civil rights (176), social and emotional learning (72), women (108)
In the Classroom
Include these free lessons in a variety of ways in your classroom. Use the content to help students understand social causes important to them and how to engage in their cause. This site offers various methods to create social issue campaigns, including music, film, and persuasive writing opportunities. Use this information to differentiate learning opportunities for students with activities that appeal to their interests. For students interested in coding, use Minecraft Education Edition, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Start Empathy Toolkit - Ashoka
Grades
K to 12tag(s): emotions (45), racism (71), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Include lessons and materials found on this site within your classroom to develop empathy and community. Engage students in your activities by creating word clouds of words that promote empathy and understanding using a word cloud creation tool such as WordClouds, reviewed here. Develop those words even further by using Answer Garden, reviewed here, as an anonymous answer response tool. For example, one activity focuses on Appreciating Those Behind the Scenes. Create an Answer Garden poll for students to share specific ideas on those that help behind the scenes and ways to express appreciation for their work. Extend student learning by asking them to create and share ways for others to demonstrate empathy. Provide options for students to create videos using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker, reviewed here, design digital books using Book Creator, reviewed here, or write a poem using the Poem Generator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SpeakUp! - Martie Gillin
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): bullying (53), cyberbullying (41), diseases (66), drugs and alcohol (26), eating disorders (7), sexuality (16), social and emotional learning (72), social media (46)
In the Classroom
Share the resource guides with parents and students on your class website to use when facing any of the covered topics. Use Padlet, reviewed here or Wakelet, reviewed here, to curate and share helpful guides for parents and students within one collection. As you and your class discuss problems that face teens, ask students to use Canva Edu, reviewed here, to share what they learn. For example, have students create posters to display in the classroom that include the dangers of drug abuse and include tips for helping someone that displays signs of drug abuse. Ask other students to design and share infographics that include facts and figures discussing cyberbullying, along with suggestions on how to respond to bullies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Activities for Teaching the 3 Kinds of Empathy - Samantha Du Preez
Grades
K to 12tag(s): character education (74), emotions (45), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Use this article to show students how to develop empathy for others and provide appropriate emotional support to those in need. Engage students in learning about the different forms of empathy by creating mind maps using a creation tool such as Whimsical Mind Maps, reviewed here, to provide a visual representation of how to support others in distress. If you teach younger students, help them understand emotions by creating word clouds at WordClouds, reviewed here, using words provided by students that describe feelings. Extend learning further by creating a Padlet, reviewed here, divided into three columns representing each form of empathy. Ask students to share ideas on recognizing the different forms and methods for showing compassion towards others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects - Caroline Knorr
Grades
K to 12tag(s): emotions (45), parents (60), preK (246), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Share this article with parents to use as a guide when talking to their child about any difficult topic. Consider creating a collection of articles using Wakelet, reviewed here, and share with parents to use at home. Be sure to keep the suggestions in mind for use in the classroom when addressing difficult subjects or as you address controversies that arise throughout the school year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ringbeller - Ringbeller Inc
Grades
K to 5tag(s): behavior (42), social and emotional learning (72), social skills (23)
In the Classroom
Include Ringbeller as part of a classroom center rotation during one semester of the school year; there are ten videos and activities that work well as a weekly social learning lesson. Share Ringbeller with your school's counselor to use with small groups. Ask students to reflect upon each activity by writing a blog using edublogs, reviewed here. Have them include personal goals based upon the content of each lesson. As a follow-up to Ringbeller activities, encourage students to be proactive and share behavior tips and ideas to promote positive attitudes using the audio podcasting tool PodcastGenerator, reviewed here. Consider creating a podcast for all school members to share and collaborate with positive ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CASEL Program Guide - Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
Grades
K to 12tag(s): professional development (319), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
The guide shared on this website provides a structured framework for evaluating any social/emotional learning program. Use the information to analyze any programs or tools being considered for use in your classroom. Share this guide with administrators in your district to use when considering implementing new learning programs. Create your own evaluation framework based on this information using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to serve as a useful look at the pros and cons of the resource being considered.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Developing Empathy - Equality and Human Rights Comission
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): character education (74), emotions (45), social and emotional learning (72)
In the Classroom
Include this lesson with others as part of character education and empathy activities. The starter activity includes students sharing a time they experienced different feelings. Use AnswerGarden, reviewed here, to post each question and ask students to share their response. This allows students to answer anonymously while still creating a visual word cloud with responses. Copy the embed code to include each of the word clouds on your class website or share using your AnswerGarden poll's link. Include all of the polls within one collaborative Wakelet collection, reviewed here, that includes students' responses to the other lesson activities including written reflections, analysis of your school's bullying policy, and discussions of how to recognize and encourage empathy in others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Be Fearless Be Kind - Hasbro Children's Fund
Grades
K to 5tag(s): bullying (53), conflict resolution (9), emotions (45), empathy (26), problem solving (214), school violence (10), social and emotional learning (72), social skills (23)
In the Classroom
Be sure to investigate the abundance of resources and information shared in this free toolkit for use in classroom lessons on social and leadership skills, empathy, and problem-solving. Several portions in the booklet include scenarios and questions for discussions. Extend student learning by challenging student groups to create weekly podcasts addressing common social issues along with suggestions for dealing with them. PodcastGenerator, reviewed here, offers free tools for podcasting. Use the resources and suggestions with character education activities throughout the year. Share ideas from this site with parents to use at home with their children. Create a class (or school) bulletin board with examples of students demonstrating empathy.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Education for the Real World - EVERFI
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (149), financial literacy (92), literacy (99), mental health (31), social and emotional learning (72), STEM (227), Teacher Utilities (132)
In the Classroom
Discover the many free resources on this site to provide individual lessons or complete learning units for your students. As students complete assignments, use the many offerings found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning through creating timelines, completing graphic organizers, and more. For activities that include new vocabulary, use a digital game creation site such as Baamboozle, reviewed here, to review and practice new words and terms. Have students show what they know upon completion of any of the activities using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, to create a collage, poster, flyer, or multimedia presentation sharing their knowledge of the subject.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Using Technology to Strengthen Social Emotional Learning - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): emotions (45), mental health (31), social and emotional learning (72), social skills (23), twitterchatarchive (151)
In the Classroom
Find resources and explore ways to build and strengthen social emotional learning (SEL) within the classroom. Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to social emotional learning (SEL).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroomscreen - Laurens Koppers
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (132), emotions (45), functions (50), iwb (31), social and emotional learning (72), Teacher Utilities (132), time (92)
In the Classroom
Use Classroomscreen on your interactive whiteboard for quick access to many commonly used tools. Add to student computers for access to a calculator and text box for notes. ENL/ESL teachers will enjoy the multi-language feature, set it up under Personalize. Use the different backgrounds as inspiration for creative writing projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Coaching Boys Into Men - Futures Without Violence
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): bullying (53), character education (74), difficult conversations (54), mental health (31), mentoring (6), school violence (10), social and emotional learning (72), social skills (23), sports (77)
In the Classroom
Share this program with your school's athletic coaches, physical education teachers, school counselors, and parents who coach athletic teams. Use the program locator to find nearby communities involved with the program. Invite a local coach to speak to young men in your school regarding healthy relationship skills. Extend technology use and student learning by having them create a newspaper featuring sports role models using a site such as Printing Press, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teach With Movies - TeachWithMovies.com, Inc.
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): difficult conversations (54), essays (20), movies (54), questioning (31), social and emotional learning (72), social skills (23), worksheets (68), writing (301)
In the Classroom
Movies offer an entertaining format for history and thematic studies. Use a video to add to the learning experience of students who are visual and auditory learners. Use this site to find videos in a wide range of topics to share on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector. Take advantage of the free lesson plans for classroom use. Preview the lessons before viewing and convert those that can be to a real-time discussion to engage students WHILE they watch a video! Enhance classroom learning and technology use and achieve this by setting up a backchannel chat using GoSoapBox, reviewed here. Alternatively, if you are distance or remote teaching or have a blended classroom, use VideoAnt, reviewed here, to ask questions and have students respond directly on the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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