A Collection of Social Emotional Learning Activities for PreK
Share this collection on:
Looking for fun ways to teach social emotional learning activities?
Our small learners need engaging, interactive, and hands-on activities to truly grasp these important concepts. From managing emotions to building friendships, these social and emotional development activities are perfect for kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classroom.
Emotion Charades (Group)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness
Write down different feelings on small pieces of paper. Put them all in a bowl. One person picks a paper. They act out the feeling. No talking! The others guess. When someone guesses right, talk about that feeling. What does it feel like? When do you feel it?
You need:
Paper
Pen/Pencil
Bowl
Write down different feelings on small pieces of paper. Put them all in a bowl. One person picks a paper. They act out the feeling. No talking! The others guess. When someone guesses right, talk about that feeling. What does it feel like? When do you feel it?
You need:
Interactive Reading with Magic Pags
Best for: Self-Awareness, Relationship Skills
Want to learn about feelings through stories? Magic Pags has read-aloud books with Emmy Award-winning voice artists. Stories like The Buffalo Who Wanted to Cuddle All the Time can help kids understand their feelings, especially missing someone.
Explore emotions in a fun & interactive way!
You need:
Magic Pags app free trial
Want to learn about feelings through stories? Magic Pags has read-aloud books with Emmy Award-winning voice artists. Stories like The Buffalo Who Wanted to Cuddle All the Time can help kids understand their feelings, especially missing someone.
Explore emotions in a fun & interactive way!
You need:
Feelings Collage (Individual/Group)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Expression
Find some magazines, newspapers, and colored paper. Grab your scissors and glue too. Now, look through the magazines and newspapers. Cut out pictures or words that show different feelings. Happy, sad, angry, surprised, anything goes! Glue your pictures and words onto the big construction paper. Make it a collage that shows how you feel. When everyone is done, you can talk about the different feelings in the collages. When have you felt those feelings?
You need:
Magazines Newspapers Colored paper Scissors Glue Large construction paper
Find some magazines, newspapers, and colored paper. Grab your scissors and glue too. Now, look through the magazines and newspapers. Cut out pictures or words that show different feelings. Happy, sad, angry, surprised, anything goes! Glue your pictures and words onto the big construction paper. Make it a collage that shows how you feel. When everyone is done, you can talk about the different feelings in the collages. When have you felt those feelings?
You need:
Gratitude Journals (Individual)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Management
Want to start a Gratitude Journal? Get a notebook. Every day, think about something that made you happy. Write it down. Or draw a picture about it. What are you thankful for? This helps you feel good!
You need:
A notebook or journal Pen, pencils, or crayons
Want to start a Gratitude Journal? Get a notebook. Every day, think about something that made you happy. Write it down. Or draw a picture about it. What are you thankful for? This helps you feel good!
You need:
Affirmations (Individual/Group)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Management
Want to try affirmations? It's simple! Find some positive things to say about yourself. "I am strong." "I am kind." "I am smart." Read them out loud. You can even make up your own! Read them every day to help you feel good.
You need:
List of affirmations (or use the free printable worksheets)
Want to try affirmations? It's simple! Find some positive things to say about yourself. "I am strong." "I am kind." "I am smart." Read them out loud. You can even make up your own! Read them every day to help you feel good.
You need:
Feelings Check-In (Group)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness
Want to check in with your feelings? It's easy! Look at the feelings chart. Talk about what each feeling looks like. How does it sound? How does it feel in your body? Then, stand in a circle. Take turns saying how you feel. "I am happy today." "I am frustrated." Everyone repeats the feeling. This helps everyone learn about emotions. You can also talk about what to do when you have big feelings.
You need:
Chart of different feelings (happy, sad, angry, etc.)
Want to check in with your feelings? It's easy! Look at the feelings chart. Talk about what each feeling looks like. How does it sound? How does it feel in your body? Then, stand in a circle. Take turns saying how you feel. "I am happy today." "I am frustrated." Everyone repeats the feeling. This helps everyone learn about emotions. You can also talk about what to do when you have big feelings.
You need:
Color and Draw (Individual)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Management
Draw three different feelings you know. You can color a picture with calming colors, like blues and greens. Draw your family! Or draw a picture of yourself using a calming strategy, like taking deep breaths. Let your art show how you feel! Kids can draw and color pictures about different feelings and SEL topics.
You need:
Paper
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Draw three different feelings you know. You can color a picture with calming colors, like blues and greens. Draw your family! Or draw a picture of yourself using a calming strategy, like taking deep breaths. Let your art show how you feel! Kids can draw and color pictures about different feelings and SEL topics.
You need:
Art Projects (Individual/Group)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness
Paint with calming colors like blues and greens. Or trace your hand and color it. Then put all the handprints together to show we're all connected. Art is a great way to express feelings! Hands-on art activities help kids learn and grow socially and emotionally.
You need:
Art supplies (paper, paint, glue, collage materials, etc.)
Paint with calming colors like blues and greens. Or trace your hand and color it. Then put all the handprints together to show we're all connected. Art is a great way to express feelings! Hands-on art activities help kids learn and grow socially and emotionally.
You need:
Feelings Thermometer (Individual)
Best for: Self-Awareness, Self-Management
Draw a line. At the bottom, write "very sad" or "very calm." At the top, write "very happy" or "very excited." Fill in the middle with other feelings. Point to where you are on the thermometer to show how you feel. This tool helps kids show how they're feeling, from "cool" to "hot"!
You need:
Paper (or you can draw one) Markers or crayons
Draw a line. At the bottom, write "very sad" or "very calm." At the top, write "very happy" or "very excited." Fill in the middle with other feelings. Point to where you are on the thermometer to show how you feel. This tool helps kids show how they're feeling, from "cool" to "hot"!
You need:
Focused Breathing (Individual/Group)
Best for: Self-Management
Try focused breathing with small learners! Choose a short routine. Maybe walk along a wall. Or trace your finger on a table. Take deep breaths as you do it. Repeat the routine to feel calmer. This activity helps kids relax and manage big feelings with deep breaths and a simple routine.
You need:
A quiet space A wall or table
Try focused breathing with small learners! Choose a short routine. Maybe walk along a wall. Or trace your finger on a table. Take deep breaths as you do it. Repeat the routine to feel calmer. This activity helps kids relax and manage big feelings with deep breaths and a simple routine.
You need:
