This document outlines a social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for elementary school students. It introduces SEL and its five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The curriculum is implemented over six instructional periods throughout the school year. Each period focuses on one competency and associated skills, which are taught through lessons and literacy resources. A home/school connection activity also aims to involve parents each period. The goal is to help students develop social and emotional skills through multi-year integrated efforts using classroom instruction and engagement.

1. Welcome to Our Family

2. Core ethical and performance values are the
foundation of good character!
How we think. . . How we feel . . . How we do.
Character Education Partnership (2013))

3. Responsible
Respectful
Ready

4. •The processes of developing social and emotional competencies in children
• An understanding that the best learning emerges in the context of
supportive relationships
•Learning should be challenging, engaging, and meaningful
•Social and emotional skills are critical to being a good student, citizen, and
worker
•Multi-year, integrated efforts develop students’ social and emotional skills
•SEL occurs best through effective classroom instruction, student
engagement in positive activities in and out of the classroom, and broad
parent and community involvement in program
planning, implementation, and evaluation
•Effective SEL programming begins in preschool and continues through high
school.
Retrieved From: http://casel.org/why-it-matters/what-is-sel/ (2013)

6. Self-awareness: The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their
influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations and
possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.
Self-management: The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively
in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself,
and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.
Social awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from
diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to
recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships
with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively,
cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and
seeking and offering help when needed.
Responsible decision-making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about
personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety
concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the
well-being of self and others.
Retrieved From: http://casel.org/why-it-matters/what-is-sel/ (2013)

7. Instructional
Period
Competency
Skills/Objectives
Lessons & Tools
Literacy Resources
September/
October
(Instructional
Days - 37)
Self –Awareness:
Recognizing one’s
emotions and values as
well as one’s strengths
and limitations
Identifying and labeling
emotions in self and
others (verbally and nonverbally
Feelings Inventory
Second Step –
Lessons 6 & 7
Links to Lit. – Chapter 2
November/
December
(Instructional
Days - 31)
Self-Management:
Managing emotions and
behaviors to achieve
one’s goals
Regulating emotions.
Expressing self
appropriately.
Anger Thermometer
Second Step –
The Way I Feel – Janan Cain
Lessons 12, 14, & 16
How are You Peeling – Saxton Freymann
Connected and Respected – The Mitten Tree – Candace Christiansen
Lessons 6,7,& 8
January/
February
(Instructional
Days - 34)
Social-Awareness:
Showing understanding
and empathy for others
Demonstrating
understanding and
empathy for others;
Kindness;
Community building
Second Step – Lessons 11
Links to Literature –
Chapter 1
Connected and Respected –
Lesson 2
March/ April
(Instructional
Days - 36)
Relationship Skills:
Forming positive
relationships, working in
teams, dealing effectively
with conflict
Conflict resolution/deescalation skills;
Perspective taking
(understanding different
points of view);
Cultural sensitivity
One – Kathryn Otoshi
Second Step – Lesson 19
How to Lose All Your Friends –
Links to Literature –
Nancy Carlson
Chapter 3
King of the Playground –
Connected and Respected –
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Lessons 13 & 14
The Queen of Recess – Alexis O’neill
May/ June
(Instructional
Days – 35)
(ending June
20th)
Responsible Decision
Making:
Making good choices;
Making ethical,
Problem solving;
constructive choices
Assertiveness skills
about personal and social
behavior
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? – Carol
McCloud
Clifford’s Manners – Norman Birdwell
The Peace Book – Todd Parr
Because of You – B.G. Hennessy
Rainbow Fish – Marcus Pfister
Crayon Box That Talked – Shane Derolf
Second Step – Lesson 5
Links to Literature –
Chapter 5
Only One You – Linda Kranz
Connected and Respected –
Lessons 13,14, 15 & 16
Home/
School
Connection
Oh the Places
You Will Go!
(Getting to know
our building and
rules)
Warm Hands &
Warm hearts
(mitten and hat
drive)
Pennies for
Peace
Letters to
Soilders
Best Wishes for
Buddies