Your guide to Social-Emotional Learning resources to help you teach SEL with ease! Find book recommendations, tools, and resources to help you support your students’ social and emotional development in the elementary classroom.
SEL Resources for Teachers and Counselors
As teachers, we dedicate considerable time to developing strategies for teaching students about essential academic topics that are crucial for success. We teach them reading, math, science, and social studies skills. We continually learn about effective strategies and “best practices,” incorporating them into our school day.
However, if we focus ONLY on the essential academic subjects, we may be missing a crucial part of a well-rounded education: the social and emotional development of our students.
In fact, without healthy social-emotional skills in place, academic learning would likely be ineffective.
This is why teachers, counselors, and volunteers who work daily with students are tuned into the emotional health of students and can implement social-emotional learning (SEL) in the curriculum.
SEL Instruction is Critical.
We can help build these skills. We can help students develop character traits that will help them become productive members of the community. Not only will these traits help them down the road, but they will also help create a safe, productive environment for learning at school.
We, as teachers, have the opportunity and duty to foster social and emotional skills in our students.
Fortunately, there are many quality resources available to help! These tools will make planning and teaching easier. Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
SEL Books
Books are always an excellent way to teach SEL concepts to young children. They are relatable and provide a visual for abstract ideas.
Check out these:
- How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter – This book explores emotions, which we all experience, and how to manage them.
- Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Anne Miranda – A fun book about feelings. Kids will love it!
- Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis – This book helps kids identify and explore their moods.
- Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems – A favorite book of kids, this one explores patience and self-control.
- The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee – Great for helping kids who are dealing with extreme emotions.
- What Should Danny Do? The School Day by Adir Levy – This interactive book lets students help Danny make decisions! It is one in a series.
Discover a comprehensive list of books addressing social-emotional topics here.
Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Lessons
- Teacher Vision – Find printables, lesson plans, and discussion guides on SEL topics.
- Journals – Have students keep a feelings journal. This gives them a chance to write and reflect.
- Express Through Art – To build self-awareness, have students listen to a piece of music or a poem. Then, using art supplies, have them create something that shows how the music makes them feel. Ask, “Is this music happy or sad?” or “What colors does this music make you think of?”
- Emotions Activity Pack – Get a FREE set of activities designed to teach kids emotions.
- SEL Units – Find hands-on activities and printables for each of the following subjects: Responsibility, Emotions, Self-Regulation, Growth Mindset, Kindness, Friendship, Self-Awareness, Mindfulness, Social Awareness
SEL Websites
There are helpful websites that provide articles, activities, and resources for teaching SEL concepts. Bookmark the different topics or find creative ideas for incorporating SEL into your classroom.
- Edutopia – Get lots of resources about social-emotional learning.
- CASEL – This organization supports the teaching of SEL in schools—a good place to get information for the classroom.
- Common Sense Education – Provides an SEL educator toolkit, with many classroom-ready resources.
Printable Social-Emotional Learning Resources
Below are printable resources to use in your classroom. These activities will help you foster SEL in your classroom.
- Emotions Book Companions – Guide students through SEL activities based on five popular books that build emotional awareness.
- FREE Balloon Breathing Poster – Use this poster to help students learn self-regulation skills.
- Calm Classroom Tools – Create a calming space in your classroom using these recommendations. Grab the free Calm Corner Kit!
- SEL Curriculum for K-2 – Get a year’s worth of SEL lessons, including activities to print and use in your classroom.
- SEL Curriculum for 3-5 – Tons of helpful SEL lessons and printable resources for teaching older kids!
Digital Activities for Teaching SEL
In need of digital tools you can use in your classroom or online: Try these activities to make presenting SEL topics a breeze, no matter your teaching format!
- Digital SEL program for K-2 – This curriculum contains eight units, with detailed lesson plans, activities, and more. Make sure you are covering all of your bases with this program!
- Digital SEL program for 3-5 – Same as above, but for older kids.
- Morning Meeting Slides – Use the morning meeting slides to guide your classroom meetings and teach valuable skills, in-class or online!
Online Social-Emotional Learning Apps
There are apps out there that are designed to help kids learn critical SEL skills. Most are free or low-cost.
Check out these links and then find more ideas here!
- GoNoodle – This app offers a wide variety of fun and engaging videos. It includes movement and mindfulness-based videos.
- Smiling Mind – Helps kids with meditation.
Hands-On SEL Materials
Some products can help you teach SEL to children. Use these tools to reinforce important SEL concepts.
- Emotions Jenga – Write emotions on random Jenga blocks. Each child pulls out an emotion (for example, excitement). They must then define what that emotion means and what makes them feel that way.
- Gifted Learning Flashcards – These interactive flashcards help kids explore abstract concepts associated with SEL.
- Feelings Game – This board game helps kids to express their emotions and learn self-regulation.
Check out this list of calming tools to support your student’s self-management and social-emotional development.
Free Social-Emotional Learning Ebook
Learn nine ways to transform your classroom with social-emotional learning in the FREE Guide for teachers! It is filled with actionable tips and strategies, insightful ideas to get you started, and free printable templates and activities you can use in your classroom right away!
Click the image below to get your FREE copy.
More SEL Ideas
Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum
social-emotional learning activities
Digital Social-Emotional Learning
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I’m so glad I found this post! As a teacher, I’m always looking for new and creative ways to incorporate social-emotional learning into my classroom. These resources look like they will be absolutely essential for promoting my students’ well-being and academic success. Thank you for sharing!