Ten SEL Activities for Learning During a Pandemic

Many of the resources on today's list directly link the experience of living through a pandemic to our social and emotional well-being. Others focus on emotions, mindfulness, and happiness in general, but you could use them in combination with other COVID-19 resources to make the link explicit. Here is my Epic book collection on COVID-19 if you are looking to discuss the topic directly.

The first six items on this week’s list integrate current events, literacy learning, and social and emotional learning (SEL). With limited student contact time I find it even more important to make use of cross-curricular resources. The first three are a part of Newsela + Pear Deck’s Daily Decks. Learn how to use this resource and sign up here to have more lessons like this delivered to your inbox weekly. 

1.  Newsela Article: Songwriting will help us through the pandemic, Louis York says

Summary

This Newsela article is a PBS NewsHour interview with Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of the band Louis York. It discusses how COVID-19 has affected people’s ability to enjoy live music shows. They share the idea that writing songs can be a source of comfort and way to cope during this time. Get the Pear Deck slides here.

Reading Levels

Newsela offers their articles at multiple reading levels. This article is available in the following Lexile levels:

530L - 3rd grade

800L - 5th grade

930L - 6th grade

1060L - 7th grade

Recommended Level

Newsela's Recommended Level: Middle School - High School. I recommend it for the Upper Elementary School level as well.

Lesson Extension

Write a poem or a song that expresses your feelings or brings happiness to others.

2. Newsela Article: “Friluftsliv”: How an idea of outdoor living could help us this pandemic winter

Summary

This Newsela article encourages students to bundle up this winter and continue to be active outdoors. The power of a positive mindset can change how you experience the winter. Get the Pear Deck slides here.

Reading Levels

Newsela offers their articles at multiple reading levels. This article is available in the following Lexile levels:

550L - 3rd grade

700L - 4th grade

820L - 5th grade

950L - 6th grade

Newsela’s Recommended Level

Upper Elementary School - Middle School

Lesson Extensions 

1. Dive deeper into the concept of mindset. 

2. Plan outdoor activities and post photos on your favorite sharing app like Seesaw.

3. Hold a clothing drive to provide warm clothes to students and community members in need.

3. Newsela Article: How bored families are getting through the coronavirus lockdown

Summary

This Newsela article gives families ideas of fun activities they can do together based on viral TikTok trends. It is also available in Spanish. Get the Pear Deck slides here.

Reading Levels

Newsela offers their articles at multiple reading levels. This article is available in the following Lexile levels:

590L - 3rd grade

860L - 5th grade

1060L - 7th grade

1220L - 9th grade

Newsela’s Recommended Level

Upper Elementary School - Middle School

Lesson Extensions

1. Discuss viral challenges in the context of digital citizenship, personal safety, and the concept of a digital footprint.

2. Create and share new ideas for fun activities families can do at home.

4. News-o-Matic Article: How to Use Your Resources

Summary

This article from News-o-Matic helps kids identify resources they can use to get help. It includes a Fact/Act feature that highlights a detail from the article and helps students take action. There is also a related slide show that uses images to emphasize important information from the article. It is also available in Spanish, French, and Arabic. 

Reading Level

This article is only available in one reading level, however, you can have students listen to it by clicking the Read to Me link.

Recommended Level

Upper Elementary School - Middle School

Lesson Extension

Have students make a list of resources. They may start with the ones the article supplies. Then help them identify situations they may encounter where they should seek help from their resources.

5. TIME for Kids Article: The Key to Happiness

Summary

This free TIME for Kids article promotes practicing gratitude, self-reflection, and helping others as a way to feel happy. It is also available in Spanish. A great follow-up article called Get Happy Now is also available for free from TIME for Kids.

Reading Levels

TIME for Kids offers their articles at multiple reading levels. This article is available in the following Lexile levels and can also be read to students by clicking the Read Aloud link:

350L

500L

670L

TIME for Kids' Recommended Level

2nd Grade

Lesson Extensions

1. Use along with your favorite gratitude resources I shared on my Thanksgiving list.

2. Create happiness and gratitude lists.

3. Engage in a community service project together.

6. TIME for Kids Article: Let's Feel Good

Summary

This free TIME for Kids article focuses on taking care of yourself with simple ideas to practice daily. It is also available in Spanish.

Reading Level

This article is only available in one reading level, however, you can have students listen to it by clicking the Read Aloud link.

TIME for Kids' Recommended Level

Kindergarten - 1st Grade

Lesson Extension

Post photos showing how you exercise on your favorite sharing app like Seesaw.

7. My Big World: All Kinds of Feelings

Summary

This free sample of Scholastic's My Big World magazine is all about feelings. It includes a video, emotion-themed dance break, and a feelings game to go along with the article. Look for the button that says "Explore a Sample Issue" like the one above to open the free sample.

Resource Level

My Big World is made for Pre-K students with emergent literacy skills. They will listen to the article using the Read Aloud button. I recommend it for Pre-K-1st grade.

Lesson Extension

Use the camera on your device to make your face show the different emotions.

8. Epic: Taking Time by Jo Loring-Fisher

Summary

This picture book is written in poetic verse and reminds the reader to take time to enjoy the beautiful things around them.

Reading Level

Guided Reading: K

Epic's Recommended Level

Age Range: 3-7

Lesson Extensions

1. Take photos to illustrate one or more of the lines in the book.

2. Make lists of things in your life you want to take the time to appreciate.

9. Epic: Breathe with Me: Using Breath to Feel Strong, Calm, and Happy by Mariam Gates

Summary

This animated storybook provides information on breathing before beginning a guided meditation that teaches five breathing techniques to use in different situations. The video is about 15 minutes long.

Epic's Recommended Level

Age Range: 4-8

Lesson Extensions

1. Integrate the breathing techniques into your daily schedule as brain breaks.

2. Have students reflect on their emotions after using the breathing techniques. Use your favorite sharing app like Flipgrid or Seesaw.

10. Epic: My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith

Summary

This picture book focuses on the things that create a feeling of happiness. The author and illustrator beautifully weave together ideas and images from their heritage throughout the book.

Reading Level

Guided Reading K

Recommended Level

Epic's Age Range: 1-5. Although it is a simple text, I recommend it for all students up to 3rd grade.

Lesson Extension:

I was introduced to this book as a part of the 2018 Global Read Aloud author study. Download my free lesson plan from the 2018 Global Read Aloud. Although the Global Read Aloud is over, you can still use this lesson plan to collaborate with other classrooms near and far.

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