Social Emotional Learning Activities for Elementary School
Playing social emotional learning (SEL) activities with elementary schoolers can provide multiple developmental benefits.
According to a previous study, SEL programs might help address certain behavioral and emotional problems in students. These activities can also boost pupils’ self-esteem, raise their morale, and enhance social cohesion within the learning environment.
Besides, integrating social emotional learning activities into elementary schools can empower students with invaluable life skills like empathy and time management. Such qualities may come in handy later in life, helping to navigate social and workplace dynamics.
For many counselors and educators, the challenge is picking the best SEL games.
While options abound, it’s prudent to choose age-appropriate activities. You also want to select games that foster desirable qualities like teamwork and communication.
Fortunately for you, we’ve done the homework and compiled a list of the most interactive social emotional learning activities for elementary students.
Unpacking Social Emotional Learning
Social emotional learning is a structured learning program designed to enhance participants’ social and emotional skills. It enables students to build emotional resilience, a critical skill for elementary schoolers.
Furthermore, social emotional learning activities can teach pupils how to better manage their feelings. Participants acquire invaluable lessons on empathy, perspective taking, teamwork, problem solving, and communication.
But the impact of social emotional learning isn’t restricted to the school set-up. If properly administered, SEL games can help elementary pupils develop social and emotional resilience into their adulthood.
Top Elementary School Social Emotional Learning Activities
1. Simple Good Mornings
Good morning greetings are one of the simplest SEL techniques. They help establish an instant connection with each pupil.
Give a general shout-out the moment you walk into a classroom. Or, model the greeting according to each learner’s preferences.
Some pupils may prefer high fives or thumbs up. For others, a pat on the back can foster a deeper connection.
2. Emotions Check-In
Besides Good Morning greetings, take a few minutes to find out how each pupil is faring emotionally.
Ask the students how they’re feeling right now. Then, assess every response to establish learners who might require immediate assistance.
If a student is visibly upset, ask them what you can do to cheer them up.
3. Read-Alouds
Read-alouds are one of the most effective SEL lessons for elementary schools.
As the name implies, this activity involves reading out a story that addresses certain SEL themes.
Follow with an open discussion on the characters’ feelings. This encourages perspective taking, a critical socio-emotional skill.
4. Emotion Charades
Emotion charades is a popular social emotional learning activity that enables pupils to better understand and explore their feelings.
Have each pupil take turns wearing different emotions as the rest attempt to figure out their feelings.
Like most SEL activities for elementary students, emotional charades can be as dynamic as you desire. Experiment with different common feelings, such as happiness and sadness.
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5. Role Play
Role-playing games are not only fun. They can also help build character and foster perspective taking, making them an essential SEL activity.
Create a scenario and invite pupils to play different perspectives. Choose relatable situations, such as a pupil trying to exclude their classmate from a game.
Each student should alternatively play the role of a relational aggressor and victim. Then, ask how they feel about being victimized.
6. Compliment Circle
This is perhaps the most effective way to teach kindness in elementary schools.
To play the game, have your pupils sit in a circle and give a toy to one learner. The student must say a genuine compliment to the next person before passing the toy to them.
This continues until everyone has participated.
While the compliments can be general, you could pick specific SEL topics for elementary learners that emphasize gratitude. For instance, ask the pupils to assume they’re receiving actual gifts from their friends rather than a mere toy.
7. Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts encourage collaboration, organization, and decision-making.
Split pupils into small groups. Then, ask them to find hidden objects.
You can replace objects with simple tasks.
To spice up this social emotional learning activity, reward the winners with a little present. Remember to also keep the tasks age-appropriate, offering clues where necessary.
8. Positive Affirmations
The impact of self-talk is well-documented.
According to an early study, positive affirmations can enhance psychological resilience, nurture self-integrity, and promote overall well-being.
Line up a series of self-talk statements ahead of your SEL session. Common affirmations include:
- I can do all things.
- Yes, I can.
- I believe in myself.
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8. Would You Rather?
This classic game can promote quick decision-making.
While it presents a pupil with two often-imperfect hypothetical scenarios, they can quickly analyze both and pick the better option.
Needless to mention, adapt the questions for your pupils’ ages and intellectual abilities. Examples include;
- Would you rather miss the school bus or miss your school bag?
- Would you rather lose your teeth or go bald?
- Would you rather be able to fly like a bird or swim like a fish?
9. Puzzle Games
Puzzle games should be a top priority when planning SEL lesson plans for elementary students.
Besides promoting intellectual acuity, puzzles can also help pupils manage frustrations. Each failure sparks curiosity and encourages a learner to work their way through the game.
You can choose group puzzles to promote teamwork. Don’t forget to reward the winning teams for a job well done.
10. The Friendship Tree
Draw a tree on a classroom whiteboard or poster. Then, encourage students to perform random acts of kindness to their classmates.
Each time a pair builds a new friendship, they write their names on a paper leaf and add it to the tree.
As one of the most practical social emotional learning activities for elementary students, the friendship tree can ease tension amongst pupils and encourage a cohesive learning environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is social emotional learning?
Social emotional learning is a learning technique aimed at imparting valuable social and emotional skills to pupils, such as empathy and teamwork.
2. Do SEL activities provide meaningful benefits?
Multiple findings have shown that SEL can improve grades, foster emotional resilience, and promote overall good behavior.
3. How can I implement SEL in elementary schools?
For the best outcome, integrate social emotional learning activities into everyday classroom lessons.
4. Do teachers have a role to play in SEL?
Teachers should collaborate with counselors by providing administrative assistance and creating a secure learning environment.
5. How can I involve parents in SEL?
Send out questionnaires and survey forms to parents, inviting honest feedback on SEL's impact on their learners.
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Enrich Learning Environment
Incorporating social emotional learning activities into elementary schools can enhance the learning environment significantly.
SEL games may help nurture foundational life skills, such as effective communication, emotional intelligence, and teamwork.
To properly administer social emotional learning activities, you must work closely with various stakeholders.
Seek necessary administrative support. Besides, share questionnaires or survey forms with parents and invite them to evaluate the program’s impact on their children.
Also, remember there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to administering SEL training. Therefore, tailor the program to suit every school’s needs.
Sample our resources for the best games to line up on your next SEL program.
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