Learning to navigate upper elementary can be tricky for students. Kids are trying to figure out how to be cool, make friends, and do schoolwork simultaneously! Well, guess what? Learning how to handle your feelings and get along with others can really help! That’s where social emotional learning, or SEL, comes in. SEL can help train the brain to be a better friend, student, and person. Plus, social emotional learning in upper elementary can make your classroom an awesome place to learn and grow!

Why is SEL important?

Upper elementary is a time of big changes. Kids are figuring out who they are, making new friends, and dealing with more responsibilities. Social emotional learning helps kids handle these challenges. It teaches them how to understand their feelings, solve problems, and work well with others. When students have strong SEL skills, they’re better at school, make better choices, and overall feel happier. It’s like giving them a superpower to navigate life! Luckily, here are some ready-to-go SEL resources to kickstart social emotional learning in your classroom. 

Mindfulness Drawing

Not only do adults feel stress, but students can experience stress too—especially at school. When students feel super stressed they may just need a quick break from the “school stuff”. Drawing can be a cool way to chill out and clear your head. Thankfully, the Directed Drawing Brain Breaks are the perfect mindfulness activity to support social emotional learning. 

Directed drawing is perfect for upper elementary. It helps students relax and be creative at the same time. Plus, it guides them through the entire drawing process, so they don’t have to even think about what to draw or how to draw. Students can truly relax while doing mindfulness drawing. 

Specifically, there are 22 mindfulness directed drawing pages. Each page has a cool picture with step-by-step examples to guide student drawing, and a fun story to go with it. After students draw, they can write about how they feel. 

These drawings aren’t just fun, they incorporate social emotional learning as well. Students develop essential skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy.

Social Emotional Learning Coloring Pages

There are countless ways to encourage social-emotional learning in upper elementary. One way is to incorporate time for students to relax and recharge. Luckily, Mindfulness Coloring Pages are the perfect solution for a short brain break. 

This resource includes 20 mandala coloring pages of intricate designs to promote a peaceful escape for students. As students focus on coloring, they make time to unwind and refocus their thoughts and energy. Coloring is a powerful tool that can help students build self-awareness and regulate their emotions. 

Incorporating mindfulness coloring into morning work, classroom transitions, or an after-lunch activity will create a more peaceful and focused learning environment. 

Social Emotional Learning Yoga Poses

The older students get, the more emotional challenges they will have. Social emotional learning in upper elementary helps build the skills they need to overcome social situations. Yoga is a fantastic SEL tool!

Yoga is a great way for students to get their bodies moving—but in a calm, cool, and collected way. For upper elementary students, incorporating yoga into the classroom can be a game-changer. Yoga teaches students how to breathe deeply, focus their attention, and manage their emotions.

Thankfully, bringing yoga into the classroom is super easy with the Mindfulness Yoga Pose Cards. Included are 30 yoga pose cards teachers can display using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or simply by printing. Each card features an elementary-friendly graphic of the pose and a fun explanation of how to pose.

Specifically, there are age-appropriate poses such as tree pose, starfish pose, and goodbye pose. Anytime you feel the class needs to redirect their energy or get their wiggles out, simply click on a calming playlist, and display the Yoga Pose Cards! 

Social Emotional Learning Brain Breaks

Brain breaks are super important throughout the day! Allowing brain breaks in the classroom help student brains stay focused and fresh.  Even teachers need brain breaks! Brain breaks are even better when they support social emotional learning, like this SEL Brain Break Bundle!

This resource has everything the upper elementary classroom needs for social emotional learning. Between coloring, drawing, or soothing yoga poses, your students can chill out and have fun!

Younger students might need brain breaks every 10 minutes, while older kids can go for 20 or 30 minutes. Teachers know it all depends on how your class is feeling. If everyone’s starting to get fidgety or bored, throw in an SEL activity to maintain a positive classroom environment. 

The SEL Brain Break Bundle works in many formats to fit all classrooms. For instance, the activities are great for early finishers, independent desk work , calming corners, and more. 

On top of multiple implementation options, the activities are simple to prepare. These activities are ready to go and will make a lasting impact on students’ social emotional development. 

Students also develop strong character in upper elementary. The Character Education SEL Bundle can help teach important life skills, build character, and create upstanding citizens.

Does SEL make a difference?

Truly, social emotional learning in upper elementary is a must! It helps students navigate the ups and downs of this age and be better prepared for the future. There are so many fun ways to teach SEL, from coloring and drawing to yoga. These resources can help create a positive and supportive learning environment where students thrive.

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Save these resources!

Make sure to save these impactful social emotional learning resources to your favorite classroom management Pinterest board! You will be able to come back to them when you are ready to incorporate character-building, relaxation, and brain breaks into your classroom.