#15 SEL RECIPE - PEACE FLOWER AND TELL THE MIRROR

The "peace flower" is the perfect way to empower two children to work out their own problems

Peace Flower
Take a fake flower and have the children hold the flower with both hands. Next, tell them to look at each other and discuss their issue. Explain that when they work out their problem and have “peace” they can hug and go back and play.
          

Tell the Mirror
When a child says something unkind to a friend tell them to go look in a mirror and say that to themselves. How did it make them feel?

                                                          

Put Ups
Write "Put Ups" on a notebook.  If a child says something unkind or tires to put someone down hand them the book and ask them to write something positive about that person.
                                      

Book Boxes (Writing Center)

  

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#14 SEL RECIPE - SELF REGULATOIN TOOLS

A "sitter spot" and "brain toys" are tangible tools to help children self-regulate.

Sitter Spot
Cut 8” circles out of fun foam or felt and write the children’s names on them. Arrange for circle time to give children a special place to sit.  Arrange spots to disperse problems and encourage social interactions.
                        
*Children can also use these for their “special spot” for doing quiet activities like independent reading.

Brain Toys
Fill a shoebox or basket with stress balls or knotted socks. Suggest children get a "brain toy" when they can’t keep their hands to themselves.  You'll be surprised how a knotted sock can keep little hands still and help them focus.

                                                       

Stress Button
Glue the hook side of Velcro to a poker chip to make a “stress button.”
                               

Fiddlesticks
Wrap a 20” piece of string around a jumbo craft sticks. Children keep these in their desk and get them out when their hands need to fiddle.
                                                        

Favorite Songs (Listening Center)

  

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#13 SEL RECIPE - SELF REGULATION HUG

Self-regulation is a key ingredient in SEL. These chants will help "center" children and remind them that they are the "boss" of themselves.

Brain Hug
Children repeat each line after the teacher demonstrates.

Thumbs up. (Extend arms and stick up thumbs.)

Thumbs down. (Thumbs down.)

Cross your arms. (Cross right fist over left.)

Clasp your fingers. (Clasp fingers.)

Give yourself a brain hug. (Bring clasped fingers down and up as you hug your chest.)

                                                  
Criss Cross
Children say this with the teacher as they do the movements.

Criss Cross (Demonstrate how to cross legs and sit quietly.)

Be your own boss!! (Cross arms over chest.)


Secret Hands (Melinda Ainslie)
Several years ago at a workshop Melinda shared this idea.  She said that when her daughter started kindergarten she came home from school and asked, “Mama, can you keep a secret? When you put your hands together like this (cross your fingers), it’s MAGIC because you can see better and hear better!”

Lotty Dotty (Pre-Writing Center)
       

  

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#12 SEL RECIPE - HEART OF GOLD

There is a song of mine that you are probably familiar with called "Katalina Matalina." It's a silly song that the kids love, but there is also a special SEL lesson in her heart of gold.
                                     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OvNvMdz7BU

Katalina Matalina
Chorus:    Katalina Matalina Upsadina Walkadina
               Hoca Poca Loca was her name.

Her head was shaped like a baseball bat. (Point to head.)
And right on top was a funny, old hat. (Chorus)

She had two hairs in her head. (Point to hair.)
One was alive and the other was dead. (Chorus)

She had two eyes in her head. (Point to eyes.)
One was purple and the other was red. (Chorus)

She had two teeth in her mouth. (Point to mouth.)
One pointed north and the other pointed south. (Chorus)

Her neck was as long as a ten foot pole. (Point to neck.)
And right in the middle was a big, black bow. (Chorus)

Her hips were like two ships in port. (Wiggle hips.)
One headed south and the other headed north. (Chorus)

Her feet were as flat as a bathroom mat. (Point to feet.)
How did they ever get like that? (Chorus)

But she had a heart, so I’m told. (Put hands over heart.)
That was made of purest gold. (Chorus)
                                                                                
*Have children discuss what it means to have a “heart of gold.” Make paper hearts from gold paper and attach a piece of string so it can be worn around the neck. When you see children being kind let them wear the heart of gold for the day.

Kindness Club
Make a poster that says "Kindness Club."  When friends do a kind deed ask children to write their name on the poster.  You could also run off "Kindness Tickets" that children to give to friends to thank them. 
              
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljaHRsT05ZYmxPZlE/view?usp=sharing


Rainbow Writing Book (Writing)

           

  

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#11 SEL RECIPE - FEELINGS

It's important for children to learn how to identify feelings and how to deal with them in appropriate ways.  This is a familiar song where you can change the words to act out different emotions.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.(Clap twice.)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.(Clap twice.)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.(Clap twice.)

If you’re happy and you know it, hug yourself… (Hug self.)

If you’re happy and you know it, kiss your brain… (Kiss fingers & touch head.)

If you’re happy and you know it, wiggle all over… (Wiggle.)

If you’re happy and you know it, shout, “Hoorah!”.. (Put hand in air & shout.)

If you’re happy and you know it, do them all… (Do all 5 motions.)
      

*Make puppets to hold up as you sing.  Aren't emoji perfect for this?

*Make “Feeling Faces” by cutting 7” circles out of the middle of card stock. Write a different emotion on each page, such as “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “proud,” Children take turns putting their face in a circle and making appropriate facial expressions. Remind the children that it’s O.K. to have different feelings.
                                 
*As you read books, invite children to relate when they’ve felt like the characters in the story.

Pre-Writing Tub (Writing Center)
        

  

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#10 SEL RECIPE - PICTURE ME

Children LOVE pictures of themselves, don't they?  Take photos of children and make multiple copies to use in these activities to nurture self esteem as well as social relationships.

Lookin’ Good Lotto!
You will need two copies of each child’s photo. Mount photos on 3” squares of construction paper. Shuffle squares and have children match up the ones that belong together.

*Put a photo on one square and a name on one square.

Puppet People 

Glue photos to craft sticks and use for working out problems or making up original stories.
                     
Block Friends  

Glue photos to square blocks and use in the block center.
                                      
Felt Board Friends 

Attach a small piece of Velcro to the back of each photo and use with a flannel board.

*Be sure to include a picture of the teacher!

                                                                   

Class Directory (Writing Center)

  

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#9 SEL RECIPE - I AM SPECIAL!

Here's the video of the Facebook Live I did yesterday on social emotional learning:
http://bit.ly/drjeanSEL

And, you can also listen to a podcast I did on using music with young children.  I'm not a musician and I don't think I did a very good job speaking off the cuff, but the message is clear...SING AND HAVE FUN WITH CHILDREN EVERY DAY!
https://www.himama.com/blog/turn-it-off-and-turn-on-the-music-song-and-dance-with-dr-jean


Place a hand mirror in the bottom of a shoebox and put the lid on top. Explain that the most wonderful thing in the whole world is in the box. “It’s so special there’s only one like it in the world!” Watch children’s smiles as they open the box and see their faces! End by singing this song.

                                

I Am Special  (Tune:  "Frere Jacques" - Children repeat each line.)
I am special. I am special.
Take a look. You will see.
Someone very special. Someone very special.
And it’s me! And it’s me!

*Do a language experience activity where each child completes this sentence:

I am special because ____________.

Special Me  (Tune:  "Twinkle Little Star")
Special, special, special me    (Point to self.)
I'm as special as can be.          (Open and close fingers.)
There is no one quite like me.  (Shake head.)
I'm as good as I can be.
Special, special, special me,  (Point to self.)
I'm as I can be.                      (Hug self.)



I CAN DO SOMETHING SPECIAL DAY! Plan a special day where each child is invited to sing, dance, tell a joke, make something, share a hobby, etc. Emphasize that there are many ways to be wonderful!!


Card Center
A card center will encourage children to think about how they can help other people feel special.  Ask if they've ever received a card in the mail.  "How did it make you feel?  You can make someone feel special, too, by making them a card." 

You'll need paper (white and construction), pencils, pens, markers, crayons, stickers, etc.  Teach children how to fold a sheet of paper in fourths to make a simple card. Brainstorm some of the different reasons you could make a card for someone.  Write words they might want to use like:  happy, birthday, get, well, good luck, love, you, I, and so forth on a file folder.  Put all the materials in a tub in the writing center. 
                                                                    

                                                                   


Q-tip painting is one of the easy ideas for your art center.

     

  

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