SEL Spotlight

The lessons on this page are connected through a theme of SEL. As you review, please check to see if the lessons are standalone or connected to a video found elsewhere on the website. Many focus on the executive function skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond, and most include one or more articles to analyze and use as the basis for original projects and/or presentations. Check back often, as this page will be updated on a regular basis.

• Communication:
  Top Skill Wanted
  Lesson 1 of 4

  
  Students analyze communication skills through a partner work in an art activity and in discussing an article.

• Communication:
  Active Listener
  Lesson 2 of 4

  
  Students participate in active listening exercises and observations.

• Communication:
  Body Language and Tone
  Lesson 3 of 4

  
  Students participate in body language and vocal tone exercises.

• Communication:
  Trio Drawing
  Lesson 4 of 4

  
  Students put their communications skills to the test in teams of three to draw a picture based on a famous work of art.

• Being Cool, Part 1

  
  Students analyze the criteria for being “cool.”

• Being Cool, Part 2

  
  Students analyze the criteria for being “cool.”

• Calming Through Guided
  Imagery

  
  Students practice calming their bodies and minds through a guided imagery exercise and then create their own scripts.

• Finishing the Year Strong

  
  Students analyze advice for teachers to finish the school year on a strong note and create a list for themselves and their peers.

• Good Questions, Part 1

  
  In small groups, students analyze portions of Dean James Ryan’s 2016 commencement speech to the Harvard Graduate School of Education and teach their findings to the full group.

• Good Questions, Part 2

  
  Students either act out a scene or draw a comic strip that applies one of the questions from Dean James Ryan’s 2016 Harvard Graduate School of Education commencement speech to a real life challenge.

• Life “Mulligan”

  
  How do we learn and move on from setbacks?

• Mnemonics Teach One

  
  Students analyze an article about mnemonics and create 3-5 original mnemonics.

• Monitoring Your Time

  
  What are some strategies you can use to improve your time monitoring skills?

• Motivation: Pain and Gain,
  Part 1

  
  Students read an article and interview their teacher about how they think about motivation.

• Motivation: Pain and Gain,
  Part 2

  
  Students determine pain and gain motivations in their own lives and write a personal motivating value statement.

• On Glasses, Fullness, and
  Emptiness

  
  Students try to convince their peers of the best way to develop a strong sense of optimism.

• Organizing: Design the System

  
  Why is it important to be and stay organized and how do we do it?

• Perfectionism Games

  
  Students participate in improvisation games that teach strategies for dealing with perfectionism.

• Relational Aggression:
  Mean Girls/Mean Boys

  
  Why do people participate in relational aggression and what can we do to change it?

• Social Awareness: The Art of
  Courtesy

  
  What does courtesy look like in different situations?

• Talk to Your Folks

  
  In groups, students analyze portions of an article and demonstrate using frameworks for talking with parents and adults.

• Task Initiation

  
  What are some strategies you can use to improve your task initiation skills?

Marriage and Relationships

Click the button below for the suggested sequence for the Marriage and Relationships curriculum. If this sequence is followed, every few lessons there will be a lesson on communication and conflict resolution within an intimate relationship. Please be aware that subjects involving intimate partner violence and other mature situations are included in the curriculum. Facilitators should prepare accordingly. Some lessons reference other sessions in the “SEL Spotlight” section and where noted were designed as follow up lessons to another “SEL Spotlight” lesson.