2nd and 3rd Grade Social Emotional Learning Lesson Plans

In this lesson, students will hear the story Lovely and work in small groups to create a book or a symbol of appreciation for others' differences. Students will consider how appreciating differences supports community and relationships.

We all have our own home of feelings inside, like a shell that we can tuck into when needed. This we learn from turtles, and now your students can too. This lesson helps students access that place inside full of feelings, emotions, and thoughts.

Mindful movement can support calm and can also be fun! In this lesson, students will create their own animal pose to teach the class, then journal and draw a picture of themselves in their mindful movement animal pose.

In this lesson, students will read the story My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, and reflect on the many different feelings we may experience. They will use body maps to color in where they may feel different emotions in their body.

What makes an excellent leader? In this lesson, students will discuss leadership and design a video that informs others of what it means to be a positive leader.

What happens when students explore their senses on the inside? This lesson encourages students to look at, listen to, and feel what is happening on the inside through practicing mindfulness.

Owls hear so well that they can hunt in the dark. Have your students try on their owl ears! In this lesson, students open up their ears to all the sounds around them, close and far away, and go on a sound hunt.

Deep relaxation in school? Yes, it is possible! Through this process you will guide students to consciously focus on relaxing various body parts, leading to a visualization to help relax their full body mindfully.

Identifying and describing their feelings is an important part of the way children develop social skills. This lesson teaches your students how to identify feelings, and then elaborate on them by speaking and writing in complete sentences.

In this lesson, students will explore how sadness, loneliness, gratitude, connection, and love feel in their bodies. They will also learn about negativity bias and practice “soaking in the good” by savoring positive feelings.

Gabi Garcia's "Listening With My Heart" provides students with an opportunity to reflect on ways to extend themselves compassion all year long. This engaging lesson supports students in understanding what kindness is, as well as how to be kind to themselves and others in their daily lives.

On some level, all humans want to feel peace and to feel loved. In this lesson, students will practice sending peaceful thoughts to themselves and others and discuss how these practices can support peace in their lives and community.

Help your ELs practice identifying how their peers are feeling to develop emotions vocabulary and support comprehension. It can be used as a stand-alone lesson or a support lesson.

Performing acts of kindness and love can bring classrooms together! In this lesson, students will hear true stories of random acts of kindness and will perform kind deeds of their own in groups.

In this lesson, students will learn the importance of nonviolent communication and listening to others in order to have a more supportive community.

Words can uplift others, but they can also cause harm. In this lesson, students will hear the story Desmond and the Very Mean Word, and they'll discuss the power of positive and negative words in friendships, school, and community.

Are you a bucket filler? Children with good social skills lift each other up with compliments and praise, instead of put downs and negative comments. Use this lesson to teach your students about bucket filling and how to compliment others.

The recipe for friendship includes kindness, honesty, and understanding, among other things! In this lesson, students will discuss the recipe for friendship, make a perfect pot of tea, and reflect on how to make upset friends feel better.

Being able to step into another's shoes can support healthy relationships and compassionate young people! Students will be able to define the word "empathy." They will discuss different scenarios and perform skits that illustrate empathy.

Group work can build cooperation and problem-solving skills inside and outside of the classroom! In this lesson, students will discuss cooperation and practice using cooperative techniques in human knot and tower-building activities.

What if you imagine your lungs as wings? In this lesson, a butterfly helps teach students about mindful breathing. Learn to use the butterfly breath in three different ways!

Mindfulness 101! Students focus on the present moment using their senses to observe what is happening right now. They are introduced to the idea that mindfulness is about paying attention to the present.

Imagine wild animals teaching students to walk mindfully, and camoflauge teaching about stillness. This lesson takes a cue from animal adaptations as students practice walking and pausing mindfully.

In this lesson, students will work in groups and cut out pictures to make a collage that encapsulates their greatest strengths and talents. The class will compile all their collages to showcase their talents.

In this lesson, students will explore growth mindset and learn to shift from saying “This is too hard,” to “This may take time.” They will practice slowing down and building patience when things are challenging and require effort.

In this lesson, students will explore how art can be a tool to express or reflect on emotions.

In this lesson, students will hear the story Drawn Together and create a Diversity Board. They will consider how appreciating each other's differences in school supports relationships and community.

In this lesson, students will reflect on what they have learned, connected to mindfulness and living in a caring community, and will write a letter to a future student to encourage them in their learning, as well.

In this lesson, students will learn the term "restorative justice." They will discuss the role of restorative justice in the book What are you staring at?, and they will brainstorm ways they can bring these practices into the classroom.

In this lesson, students will explore phrases related to growth mindset through the eyes of basketball player Michael Jordan. They will hear a story about Jordan overcoming his self-doubts and reflect on ways they can approach challenges.