SEL Lessons 1

An experienced classroom teacher offers two 10-minute activities she has found useful in building community in her classroom, particularly at the start of the school year.

Students explore anger using similes.

An 8-lesson activity helps students explore issues of work and workplace conflicts through reading, discussion, interviews, and investigation.

In a group and one-on-one, students consider their similarities and differences and see that it's okay to talk about diversity.

By spending a little informal time each week with a student not from their class, a teacher mentor can play an important role in a young person's life.

Students observe that even friends may disagree in their opinions. The lesson includes an "opinion continuum" exercise that encourages students to respectfully express and listen to different opinions.

Regularly instituting these two approaches in your classroom will build your students' problem-solving skills and create a more congenial classroom atmosphere.

Through an exercise and roleplays, students consider the importance of understanding another person's point of view in solving a conflict.

A series of classroom activities culminate in students interviewing a peacemaker in their school or community.

Well-structured small-group discussion can help students discuss issues of the day that concern them.