SEL AT HOME: WEEKS 2-3

MANAGING EMOTIONS

Grade Levels: Pre-K – 4th grade

Social Emotional Learning focus: Self Management

Supplies Needed:

5 Steps: paint, markers or crayons and paper of any kind

Angry Tornado: Water bottle, food coloring, dish soap, glitter

Activity/Lesson Steps:

Try out these two activities to learn strategies for learning the SEL Competency, Self-Management, at home!

5 Steps to Managing Big Emotions:

1. Start off by watching the audiobook Howard Wigglebottom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxSKKtUdAjU

2. Have students paint, draw, or trace their hands on paper to make a handprint. On each Finger have the students write 5 ways they can manage big emotions.

3. Brainstorm together with your student. Examples may be:

   1. Deep Breathing

   2. Take a Break

   3. Ask for Help

   4. Exercise

   5. Listen to music

   6. Dance

   7. Draw

Angry Tornado:

1. Take any water bottle: ¾ full of water, few drops of dish soap, add a drop or two of food coloring if available, and some glitter.

2. Make sure the lid is twisted tightly. (You can even put glue underneath the lid to help it stay shut!)

3. Talk to students about the emotions we feel (Grief, Stress, Anger, Frustration, Etc)

4. Explain how all these emotions can make it feel like a tornado inside of us, shake the bottle.

5. Discuss how the bottle represents our brain if we are experiencing these emotions we cannot learn or think clearly.

6. Ask students what we can do to ‘calm’ the tornado.

7. As students discuss how to calm a tornado or as they take deep breaths, allow the bottle to stay still and watch the glitter float to the bottom (‘calming’)

ACTIVITY 2

Grade Levels: Pre-K – 4th grade

Social Emotional Learning focus: Social Awareness, Self Management Relationship Skills

Supplies Needed: Envelopes and paper. Printing question prompts is optional

During this difficult time our children can really struggle due to so many of their routines and daily life being upended. In this lesson talk about expected behaviors and unexpected behaviors and how to appropriately handle those situations.

Show Elf video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6yYd6Pq7Ic&feature=emb_title

There are a lot of great movies about unexpected behavior. This video clip from the movie Elf, is a great introduction. Buddy the Elf is from the North Pole, and when he comes to New York City he does things that are quite unusual. Notice how this makes the people around him feel very uncomfortable and uneasy. It affects how others treat him - people give him weird looks, etc. However, in the North Pole, his behavior is completely expected and he is well liked! This video is a perfect demonstration of his unexpected behaviors!

Discuss:

- Why is it important to have expectations?

-What would happen if you did something unexpected?

-How do others feel when you do things that are expected?

-How do others feel when you do things that are unexpected?

-Discuss expected behaviors to various situations at home or in daily life.

CoronaVirus add ins- Great time to explain situations like:

• It’s a beautiful day outside and your child wants to go to the park; but too many kids are there. (Social distancing) We will have to wait.

• Usually, when mom and dad are home kids have their full attention- with parents currently working from home- discuss with your children expectations about interrupting and waiting for parents to finish their work. Noise level when on conference calls, etc.

• The grocery store is out of their favorite food- explain to your child what is happening and why we must be patient as our society deals with the current limitations.

-Discuss a time someone did something unexpected around you. How did it make you feel? And explain why.

Sample answers:

-Expected for family: calling each other by first name, giving hugs, sharing clothes

-Unexpected for family: asking if you can go to the bathroom, avoiding each other, raising your hand to talk at the dinner table

-Expected for friends: calling each other by first name, giving hugs or fist bumps (currently not a good choice and discuss why)

-Unexpected for friends: eating their food from their plate, falling asleep when hanging out, walking into house without knocking

-Expected for strangers: Introduce self, (current condition- no handshake or fist bump), share only basic information about yourself, be polite

-Unexpected for strangers: Standing too close to them, giving out personal information, inviting them into your home.

• Add your own scenarios to further discussion and add in changes that have come up due to the CoronaVirus

Activity: Place envelopes on the fridge –Expected at home- Expected in public -Expected with friends

create paper strips or cards from your discussion and place them in the appropriate envelopes as situations come up and discuss them.

For Example: Expected Behaviors while watching a movie or TV: Sitting still, Whispering, Laughing and joking, On your cell phone/tablet

Unexpected Behaviors while watching a movie or TV: Running, Yelling, Giving a high five, Sleeping, Singing, Raising your hand to talk