Games can be the perfect tool to introduce and teach social emotional learning skills to kids and young adults. These are the skills that help kids become more self-aware, develop positive relationships, show empathy towards others, manage emotions, use self-control, resolve conflicts, and make posi
Social Skills activities for kids are easy to implement and can help almost every child when it comes to social interactions and situations!
Teletherapy social skills activities for kids and teens! Discover favorite websites, apps, and activities that can be used digitally.
Social emotional learning is the foundation of a successful classroom by creating an environment of inclusion and respect.
31 Evidence-based (and FUN!) SOCIAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES for KIDS + 🎁 FREE PDF activity. Explore: starting conversations, respecting personal space, expressing emotions
Community outings can help teach students in a natural environment. Grab your free printables for high school students today and start practicing...
Self-contained teacher Michelle teaches her students social skills with the use of the social skills curriculum and whole-group activities.
Think it or say it? If you're looking for social filter activities for kids that help them learn how to think before they speak, this post is for you!
31 Evidence-based (and FUN!) SOCIAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES for KIDS + 🎁 FREE PDF activity. Explore: starting conversations, respecting personal space, expressing emotions
Are you a School Counselor, Psychologist, or Speech Pathologist who has a “LUNCH BUNCH” or...
Social skills activities for preschoolers help improve social skills. With 20 different activities, you have plenty of ways to practice.
Discover the benefits of Lunch Bunch: A social skills group for students. Learn how to set up and run a successful lunch bunch with engaging activities.
(Printable) Question Dice for Kids: 5 Conversation Cubes (Friendship, About Me, Would you Rather, Self-Esteem, Gratitude) + Blank template
These empathy puzzles are an engaging and hands on way to help your students understand the feelings of others and learn to respond empathetically. Students will look at each of the 12 feelings covered and match it to the correct situation and response. This resource is part of an empathy activities bundle! Click here to save 20%! ****************************************************************************************************************************** What's Included: 24 puzzles the cover the following feelings: anger, anxiety, confusion, disappointment, embarrassment, frustration, hurt, loneliness, proud, sadness, sickness and fear. 2 worksheets All materials are also included in Google Slides format! For more information, please see the preview! ****************************************************************************************************************************** Ideas For Use: Empathy lessons or small groups Social skills lessons or small groups Friendship lessons or small groups With students who could benefit from considering how others feel. With students who could benefit from responding appropriately to others. ****************************************************************************************************************************** What People Are Saying About This Resource: Taylor said "These were perfect as part of an empathy unit I was doing with third graders. Thank you!" Whitney said "I love that this is a quick and fun way to talk about empathy with kiddos! I love that it brings it all together - not just knowing how someone feels, but also how you can help!" ****************************************************************************************************************************** If you are satisfied with this resource, please leave feedback. If there is something I can improve upon, please e-mail me at [email protected] and I will do my best to accommodate you. Be sure to check out other resources you are sure to love: Identifying Feelings/Emotions Scoot Game Empathy Task Cards For more updates on my new products: Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Instagram! To read the terms of use and copyright information for this resource, please click here.
Ok, so we need to talk about coping skills, specifically teaching coping skills SEL lessons at the middle school level. For a number of reasons, in the last
Are you on the lookout for engaging and fun ways to foster social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in your students? Well, you're in the right place! Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a fresh-faced educator, I've included a treasure trove of games that will transform your classroom into a hub of self-awareness, self-management, relationship building, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. These games are not only a breeze to implement, but are sure to have your students begging for more. These activities aren't just about learning; they're about making SEL skills an integral part of your classroom culture. So, let the games begin! Self-Awareness: Game 1: Empathy Chairs This game is similar to musical chairs, but it has a social-emotional learning twist. Start the music as students rotate around a circle of chairs with emotion cards on the seats. When the music stops, they'll need to grab a seat. Based on the card at their seats, students will share experiences that they have had related to that emotion. For ready-made cards and detailed directions, click here. Game 2: Feelings Charades Get ready to break the ice with a classic game of charades, but with a twist! Instead of acting out movie titles or animals, students will express various emotions using only their facial expressions and body language. This not only hones their emotional awareness but also creates a safe space for open communication about feelings. Game 3: Emotion Journaling Equip your students with journals and encourage them to express their daily emotions through words, drawings, or a combination of both. This simple yet effective exercise fosters self-awareness by helping students identify and reflect on their emotions. Bonus: It's a fantastic tool for tracking emotional trends over time. Find my favorite journal prompts for building self-awareness here. Self-Management: Game 4: Mindful Minute Challenge Kick off each class or session with a mindful minute challenge. Set a timer for 60 seconds and guide students through a brief mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing or visualization. This routine cultivates self-management skills by teaching students to center themselves, promoting focus and emotional regulation. You can also practice mindfulness with these FREE finger labyrinths. Game 5: Goal-Setting Bingo Turn goal-setting into a game! Create bingo cards with various self-management goals (e.g., completing homework on time, staying organized, managing time effectively). As students achieve each goal, they mark it off their bingo card. The first to get a bingo enjoys a small reward. It's a playful way to instill discipline and responsibility. Or turn goal-setting into a group bulletin board. Grab the FREE goal-setting materials here. Game 6: Popcorn Game Play a game called "Popcorn." Have students get into a circle. Explain that the goal is for them to each take a turn popping into the air and clapping at the same time. The only catch is that they must go in a random order. If they "pop" up at the same time as a classmate, they should all start again. This is great way to promote impulse control. Grab detailed directions to play this game and four others here. Relationship Skills: Game 7: Collaborative Storytelling Fuel creativity and teamwork by having students work together to create a story. Each student contributes a sentence, building on the narrative created by their peers. This not only strengthens relationships but also enhances communication and cooperation skills. Plus, it's a blast to see where the story takes unexpected twists and turns! (These reading passages based on SEL learning skills are fun, too!) Game 8: Group Challenges Help students develop their relationship skills as they complete a series of fun challenges as a team. Have teams of students work together to solve 5 different challenges that focus on teamwork, collaboration, and leveraging individual strengths to emphasize the power of working together. Make planning these challenges easy with these ready-made stations. Game 9: Peer Appreciation Circle Form a circle and have students take turns expressing appreciation for the person on their right. This simple yet powerful exercise builds positive relationships within the class and reinforces the importance of acknowledging each other's strengths and contributions. Social Awareness: Game 10: Perspective Puzzles Print or draw pictures of various situations and scenarios. Have students work in pairs to discuss and understand the emotions and perspectives of the people in the pictures. This game sharpens social awareness by encouraging students to consider different viewpoints and practice empathy. I've created a set of cards for this game here. Game 11: Community Connections Scavenger Hunt Create a list of community-related items or tasks that students can complete outside of the classroom, fostering a sense of connection to the broader community. This activity enhances social awareness by encouraging students to explore and appreciate the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Responsible Decision-Making: Game 12: Decision Dilemmas Present students with real-life scenarios that require responsible decision-making. Engage them in thoughtful discussions about the potential outcomes of each choice. This game equips students with the skills to analyze situations, consider consequences, and make informed decisions—a crucial aspect of responsible decision-making. Need some scenario cards to share with students? Grab them here. Game 13: Consequence Connect Four Create a Connect Four game board with spaces featuring different consequences of actions. As students play, discuss the potential outcomes associated with each move. This visually engaging activity reinforces the concept that every decision has consequences and helps students develop a sense of responsibility. Game 14: Decision Making Prompts Get students thinking about how they might respond to situations with targeted writing prompts. Share prompts that challenges students to make a decision. Then, give them opportunity to write how they might respond. Let students share their responses with peers or small groups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- And there you have it, a bunch of games designed to infuse your classroom with social-emotional learning! These activities are not just about learning; they're about creating an environment where students flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. So, why wait? Dive into the world of SEL games and watch your students grow into self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and socially adept individuals. Your classroom is about to become the epicenter of SEL success—game on! Wishing you lots of fun in your classroom, Mary Beth P.S. Find 15 MORE social-emotional learning activities HERE.
I've been having a hard time lately with some of the older kids I see. They don't see the point or the importance of what we are working on. I have been very frustrated, and our sessions have been less than productive. In desperation, I turned to Pinterest, and came across some UNO activities. I figured - what could it hurt? We aren't getting anything done anyway! Well, it was no less than MAGICAL!!! My most difficult student didn't want to come see me, but I asked him to give me just 10 min. We played the game, and he was happy about it. I started to pick up the cards, and he grabbed the UNO cards and starting dealing out the cards. We ended working for 30 minutes with smiles all around. Below is the activity I did today. Click on the picture for activity details. After the session, my mind was buzzing. Although the student did well, and shared, he didn't really listen to my comments. So I came up with this idea. This student needs to work on writing, so I made a handout so that he has to write down the other participant's comments. Click on the picture for activity details. There is just something about UNO that everyone loves. Here is another great idea showing how to use UNO cards in a session. Click on the picture for activity details. Thank you Pinterest for such great ideas and breaking my therapy block with my older students. I look forward to coming up with some more ideas. I'll let you know how it goes.
Teach friendship activities and improve social skills in the classroom with these ideas, such as sharing, taking turns, listening, teamwork, & cooperation.
Social Skills activities for kids are easy to implement and can help almost every child when it comes to social interactions and situations!
I am always looking for social skills activities for my kids and when I came across this clip art I knew I had to do something with it. Introducing Build-a-Burger Social Skills! This packet has activities for problem solving, expected and unexpected behaviors, and perspective taking. In this packet there are some very tasty looking burgers that are bare! As students read/listen to the situations on the cards they may add them to their burgers. Each card has a burger topping such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, and some crazy ones like sardines, peanut butter, and ice cream! Get ready for
