SEL mini lessons library
Social emotional learning lessons, activities, and a free scope and sequence for preschool through middle school.
Featured lessons
Naming feelings
Students identify and label emotions using age-appropriate vocabulary.
Feelings thermometer
Students rate the intensity of an emotion on a 1–5 scale and name one thing that changes the number.
Waiting my turn
Students practice one concrete strategy for waiting (hands busy, count silently, watch the speaker) and name which works for them.
Active listening circle
Students practice listening without interrupting and paraphrasing a peer's idea.
Gratitude share
Students express specific gratitude to strengthen classroom community.
Reading the room
Students infer how someone might feel from posture, expression, and context, and check the inference instead of assuming it.
Common questions
What is a SEL mini lesson?
A short, structured classroom activity—usually 15–25 minutes—focused on one social-emotional skill like naming feelings, listening, or managing conflict. Each of ours lists objective, materials, numbered steps, debrief questions, variations, and a note on what tends to go wrong.
Which grades are these lessons for?
The library spans K–2, 3–5, and 6–8, with each lesson tagged by band. The same skill is taught differently across bands: naming feelings uses emotion cards in K–2, while the 6–8 strengths inventory works through structured peer nomination.
Can I print these for subs?
Yes. Each lesson includes objective, time, and numbered steps designed to read clearly on paper.