Social Emotional Learning Thematic Unit Plans
18-Day Multimedia Anti-Bullying Thematic Unit for Grades 5-8 | SEL Humanities
By TooBookedUp
Engage your students in a powerful and comprehensive 18-day thematic unit on bullying designed for grades 5-8. This multimedia-rich resource explores the critical issue of bullying through a variety of formats, ensuring student engagement and fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. Perfect for humanities teachers, long-term substitute teachers, and SEL specialists, this unit is adaptable, rigorous, and impactful.
What's Inside:
Day-by-Day Lesson Plans: Detailed and easy-to-follow, these plans guide students through an exploration of bullying using films, short stories, political cartoons, informational texts, and poetry.
Multimedia Integration: Your students will analyze media such as:
Short films on bullying for visual storytelling.
Fiction texts like Pumpkin Head to explore bullying in literature.
Political cartoons to understand the societal impact of bullying.
Popular films like Matilda to discuss character responses to bullying.
Songs that discuss themes of bullying and resilience.
Socratic Seminars: Two thought-provoking Socratic seminars that allow students to dive deeper into themes of bullying, fostering critical thinking, discourse, and empathy.
Assessments: Include graded one-pager projects, Socratic seminar rubrics, and a STAAR-aligned extended constructive response essay on bullying prevention, ensuring students develop strong reading, writing, and analytical skills.
Capstone Project: Students will culminate their learning by creating an infographic on bullying, highlighting key facts such as types of bullying, its effects, and prevention strategies. This capstone promotes research, creativity, and advocacy.
Why You'll Love It:
- Flexible Use: Perfect for SEL lessons, English Language Arts, and humanities classes. This unit can also be used by long-term substitutes for a fully developed curriculum that's ready to go.
- Multimedia and Interdisciplinary: Engage students with a range of media, ensuring both visual and auditory learners are captivated. From analyzing cartoons to films, this unit provides cross-curricular opportunities.
- Builds SEL Skills: Through various activities, students learn empathy, kindness, and strategies to combat bullying. It’s not just an academic unit, but a character-building experience.
- Fully Scaffolds Learning: Differentiated activities, visual aids, and pre-made assessments make this unit accessible to a wide range of student abilities, including ELLs and students with IEPs.
Who It's For:
- Humanities Teachers: Add depth to your curriculum with an SEL-focused unit that fits seamlessly into English, history, or social studies classes.
- SEL Coordinators: This unit emphasizes empathy, communication, and kindness, key components of any social-emotional learning program.
- Long-Term Substitutes: Take the guesswork out of planning with a ready-to-use, high-quality unit that ensures continuity in learning while building essential skills.
Make bullying prevention and social-emotional learning an integral part of your classroom with this well-rounded, 18-day multimedia unit. Equip your students with the tools to recognize, stand up against, and prevent bullying in their school community.
Add to your cart now and inspire positive change in your students' lives!
Social and Emotional Learning Activities Being a Good Friend Lessons
By Kyla McHenry
What does it mean to be a friend? It's such an important life lesson for kids! Help teach your students about qualities of a good friend and how to make friends with other children.
This project based learning bundle includes:
Let's Be Friends Board Game
How to be a Friend Bingo
Friendship Book Suggestions
Friends are Fun Memory Game
Making Friends book
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There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom - Novel Study - Socio-Emotional Learning
By Mark Holmes
Dive deep into Louis Sachar's heartwarming novel "There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom" with this comprehensive 9-week novel study designed for grades 5-6. This unit plan goes beyond traditional comprehension questions to focus on socio-emotional learning and character education, making it perfect for teachers looking to foster empathy, self-awareness, and personal growth in their students.
Key Features:
9-week detailed plan with daily activities and homework assignments
Strong emphasis on socio-emotional learning and character development
Engaging activities that promote self-reflection, empathy, and critical thinking
Variety of learning formats including discussions, role-plays, creative writing, and art projects
Flexible design allowing for adaptation to different class schedules and needs
Weekly Themes:
- First Impressions
- Friendship & Social Connections
- Self-Esteem & Self-Talk
- Bullying & Its Effects
- The Power of Counseling & Support
- Personal Growth & Transformation
- Empathy & Understanding Others
- Making Positive Choices
- Reflection & Application
This novel study encourages students to:
- Analyze character development and motivations
- Reflect on their own experiences and growth
- Practice empathy and perspective-taking
- Develop strategies for building self-esteem and positive relationships
- Apply lessons from the book to real-life situations
Includes:
- Detailed daily lesson plans
- Learning objectives for each week
- Printable worksheets and activity templates
- Discussion prompts and reflection questions
- Ideas for extension activities and final projects
Perfect for:
- English Language Arts classes
- Character education programs
- Social-emotional learning curriculum
- Guidance counselor support materials
Help your students connect deeply with this powerful story while developing crucial life skills. This novel study not only enhances reading comprehension but also nurtures emotional intelligence and personal growth.
Download now and transform your classroom into a space of empathy, self-discovery, and positive change!
Friendship Week | Finder - Find a Friend | Book & Worksheet Friendship Craft
By Sean Alexander Dennison
Celebrate the importance of friendship and connection with our "Friendship Week | Finder - Find a Friend | Book & Worksheet Friendship Craft" resource! This heartwarming mini-book and accompanying worksheet are designed to help students explore the traits that make a great friend through a fun and engaging activity. Perfect for Friendship Week or buddy programs, this resource encourages students to reflect on and appreciate the qualities of friendship.
Product Highlights:
- Mini-Book: Finder - Find a Friend: The mini-book tells the story of "Finder," an anagram of "Friend," offering a creative and thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a good friend. Through the story, students learn about the key traits that build strong, supportive friendships.
- Interactive Worksheet: The accompanying worksheet invites students to draw and define the traits of their own friend, encouraging them to think about and appreciate the qualities that make their friendships special.
- Perfect for Friendship Week: This resource is an ideal activity for Friendship Week, providing a meaningful and reflective way for students to celebrate and strengthen their friendships.
- Buddy Program Tested: This resource is tried and tested in a buddy program, making it a reliable and effective tool for fostering connections between students in a structured setting.
- Creative and Reflective: Combines storytelling, art, and self-reflection to engage students in a comprehensive exploration of friendship.
Why This Resource Is Essential:
- Promotes Positive Relationships: Helps students understand and value the traits that make a good friend, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.
- Engages Students Creatively: The mini-book and worksheet allow students to express their understanding of friendship through both creative and reflective activities.
- Supports Social-Emotional Learning: Encourages students to think about their relationships and the qualities that make them meaningful, contributing to their social-emotional development.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for Friendship Week, buddy programs, or any time you want to focus on building and celebrating friendships in your classroom.
Ideal For:
- Teachers looking for engaging activities to celebrate Friendship Week.
- Educators involved in buddy programs who want to strengthen connections between students.
- Parents and caregivers seeking meaningful activities to help children reflect on and appreciate their friendships.
- Classrooms that value social-emotional learning and the development of positive relationships.
How to Use:
- Read the Mini-Book: Start by reading the "Finder - Find a Friend" mini-book with your students, discussing the story and the traits of friendship it highlights.
- Complete the Worksheet: Have students complete the accompanying worksheet by drawing and defining the traits of their own friend, encouraging them to reflect on what makes their friendships special.
- Use in Buddy Programs: Incorporate this resource into your school’s buddy program to help students connect with and learn more about their buddies.
- Celebrate Friendship Week: Make this activity a central part of your Friendship Week celebrations, using it to reinforce the importance of positive relationships and mutual support.
Strengthen the bonds of friendship in your classroom with our "Friendship Week | Finder - Find a Friend | Book & Worksheet Friendship Craft"! This tried-and-tested resource is perfect for celebrating Friendship Week, enhancing buddy programs, and promoting the values of kindness, support, and connection among students.
The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game Comprehension Questions
By Sign with me TOD
The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game comprehension questions product is useful for students that read the book. The questions are placed in order with the book. Students can answer these questions as the book is read or after they have finished reading the book or listening to the book. While reading this book and answering these questions, students will learn about blaming siblings/friends for something they didn't do, how they felt if they were blamed for something they didn't do before, feeling discouraged or miserable, the expression - peeling back the layers of an onion and what it means, sequencing events, solving problems instead of blaming, steps that can be followed to solve problems and working together to solve a problems. Students can answer these short answer questions, yes/no questions, multiple choice questions, fill in the blank questions, and vocabulary/picture labeling questions as the book is read to them, as they read the book independently or they can use the text for lookbacks once the book is finished. Vocabulary words, their meanings, and examples of the words used in sentences are presented. Students have the opportunity to use those words in sentences as well.
You may also be interested in the following:
The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat Comprehension Questions
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The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute Anymore Comprehension Questions
There Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Pressure Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute Anymore Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears go to the Doctor Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears Forget their Manners Comprehension Questions
The Berenstain Bears and the Bully Comprehension Questions https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Berenstain-Bears-and-the-Bully-Comprehension-Questions-9221698
The Berenstain Bears and the In-Crowd Comprehension Questions https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Berenstain-Bears-and-the-In-Crowd-Comprehension-Questions-9410670
The Berenstain Bears Learn about Strangers Comprehension Questions
Robots | Emotion Flashcards | English & Spanish
By Ash Askelson
Robot Emotion Flashcards!
Emotions are in English & Spanish
Title cards included - "Today I Feel" & "Emotions"
Color and black and white included.
Out of My Mind Sharon Draper Movie Guide and Activities Grades 5+
By TooBookedUp
Bring the heartwarming and inspiring Disney+ adaptation of Out of My Mind into your classroom with this comprehensive movie guide and activity bundle. Perfect for grades 5-8, this resource engages students in thoughtful discussion, critical analysis, and creative reflection while exploring key themes of inclusion, perseverance, and advocacy.
What’s Included:
Pre-Watching Activities:
- Agree/Disagree/Justify Statements: Students reflect on key themes like inclusion, disability, and perseverance before viewing the movie.
- Author Investigation: Research questions about Sharon M. Draper’s life, career, and motivations for writing Out of My Mind.
During-Watching Questions:
- 3 Open-Ended Discussion Questions: Encourage critical thinking and active viewing, focusing on the film’s characters, themes, and key moments.
Post-Watching Reflection:
Creative Reflection Choices: Students choose from a variety of activities, including:
A personal essay exploring connections to Melody’s story.
A diary entry written from the perspective of a character.
A 6-panel brochure highlighting the movie’s plot, characters, and themes.
Skills Covered:
- Critical Thinking: Through open-ended questions and reflection activities.
- Research Skills: Investigating Sharon M. Draper’s life and work.
- Creative Expression: Writing diary entries, essays, or designing brochures.
- Empathy and Inclusion: Exploring themes that challenge perspectives and foster understanding.
Why Teachers Love It:
Engaging & Flexible: Perfect for a wide range of learners with multiple activity options.
Low Prep: Ready-to-use activities designed for easy implementation.
Standards-Aligned: Meets objectives in reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
Perfect For:
- Movie Companion Activities
- SEL Lessons on Inclusion and Perseverance
- Sub Plans or Flexible Learning Days
- Cross-Curricular Connections in ELA and Social Studies
This complete guide offers everything you need to turn Out of My Mind into a powerful teaching moment. Inspire your students to think deeply, reflect creatively, and grow in understanding with this must-have resource. Grab it today!
Additional resources with similar themes: 18-Day Disabilities & Equity Unit Grades 6+ Project, Essay, Assessments, Seminar
Mental Health Curriculum 4th - 7th Grade Activities and Tips
By Sign with me TOD
This product focuses on the following areas:
This mental health curriculum includes suggested activities and tips to support mental health education and instruction for students in 4th through 7th Grade. Depending on students ability levels, this product could be used in 3rd - 9th grade as well.
Self Management - This product includes a teacher guide for self-management, promote self-care for mental and emotional health, identify what emotionally and mentally healthy means, self-management ideas and activities, creating a mindful classroom, mindful moments, identifying your feelings, experiencing feelings in our bodies, identify how we felt in the past when we were stressed, angry, frustrated, etc., a teacher guide for resiliency - learn ways to manage stress, improve self-esteem, and recognize failures and non-successes, listening to my negative voice, listening to my positive voice, discussing negative and positive voice scenarios, resiliency building amongst the group, a teacher guide for feelings - discuss 30 feelings cards, write in the learning journal - feelings, emotional, and mental health that include positive and negative feelings and when they were felt in the past.
Relationships - This product includes a teacher guide for communication in relationships - communication skills - verbally or nonverbally, communicating effectively, teacher guide for assertive statements activities, assertive statements notebook for students to fill out, answer questions regarding aggression, examples of aggression, how students handled aggression in the past is asked and discussed, being assertive instead of aggressive, examples of being passive, assertive, and aggressive, how to communicate assertively - eye contact, clear conversation, facial expression, etc., examples of aggressive and assertive responses to show students the difference, students will play charades that focuses on feelings - students can play in a small group or a large group, feeling cards are included in this product, empathy, compassion, and acceptance are included in this product as well, students will learn about personal space and boundaries, they can fill in the packet called, My Personal Space Bubble, students will act out and write out how close is too close to have a conversation, how they felt when they were too close to a friend, the importance of staying in your own personal space bubble, how you could make others feel if you do not stay in your own personal space bubble, reading body language, what someone's body language is telling you and why that is important, the 4 zones of space are discussed - intimate - hugging and whispering, personal - with close friends and family, social space - conversations with acquaintances, and public space - public speaking space, students will answer questions about their personal space bubble, students will learn about compassion and can fill out the Compassion Journal included in the product, students will learn what compassion is, students are provided with examples of how they can show compassion, students will learn about gratitude and forgiveness and how they benefit one's mental health and relationship building, students can complete a 7 day I'm Grateful Because journal that includes prompts to answer as to why they are grateful, students can participate in the Grateful Scavenger Hunt and answer questions aloud or write their answers down to 14 different things they could be grateful for, and students will learn about the four part apology in this product - apologize, take responsibility, how will this be resolved, and ask for forgiveness. Teachers can use this packet as a guide while have conversations with students or teachers can have students fill out the packets that are included.
Resource Management - This product includes a teacher guide for resource management to help students identify and express a variety of feelings by rating their feelings on a scale of 0 - 10, students will identify very strong feelings and how they may feel a feeling a little bit or not at all, when students feel angry what they can do, sharing with students that it is okay to feel angry, upset, etc., but what it is not okay to do, coping with upsetting feelings, when to ask for help, recognize when a situation needs help, filling out a feelings survival kit (tips are included), where to ask for help, who in your school you can talk to and trust, understanding what trusting someone means, trust activities that help studies build trust, questions for social workers, counselors, or psychologists, how to ask for help from people that students trust, how people you trust can help you when you feel angry or upset, and when should students ask for help.
You may be interested in the following individual products:
Self-Management Activities and Tips:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Self-Management-Activities-and-Tips-9508834
Mental Health Communication in Relationships Activities and Tips:
Mental Health Expressing Feelings Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Mental-Health-Expressing-Feelings-Activities-9576695
Gratitude Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Gratitude-Activities-9753926
Woodland Animals | Emotions | Flashcards | English & Spanish
By Ash Askelson
Woodland Animal Emotion Flashcards!
Emotions are in English & Spanish
Title cards included - "Today I Feel" & "Emotions"
Color and black and white included.
Equity and Resilience Thematic Bundle: Disabilities Unit & Out of My Mind Movie
By TooBookedUp
Explore themes of equity, disabilities, and resilience with this dynamic resource bundle designed for grades 5-8!
- 18-Day Disabilities & Equity Unit (Grades 6+): This comprehensive unit includes engaging projects, thought-provoking essays, rigorous assessments, and Socratic seminars to help students explore visible and invisible disabilities, equity in schools, and societal challenges. Perfect for deepening understanding and fostering empathy in your classroom.
- Out of My Mind Movie Guide and Activities (Grades 5+): Dive deeper into Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind with this movie guide and activity pack! Students will analyze characters, themes, and key scenes while practicing critical thinking and reflection skills.
This bundle is ideal for educators looking to combine standards-aligned instruction with meaningful, real-world themes. Save time and inspire your students with these ready-to-use resources!
Mental Health Curriculum Pre K - 3rd Grade Activities and Tips
By Sign with me TOD
This product focuses on the following areas:
This mental health curriculum includes suggested activities and tips to support mental health education and instruction for students in Pre-K through 3rd Grade. Depending on students ability levels, this product could be used in 4th - 6th grade as well.
Self Management - Tips for self care to promote mental health and overall well being/feelings and resiliency. This product includes a teacher guide with tips and tricks when teaching mental health and mindfulness - focusing on feelings. Students will learn what feelings are, why it is important to talk about feelings, who to talk to about feelings, a list of feelings, situations that require students to identify the kinds of feelings that may be felt - students can write their response or circle the feeling picture provided on each page, students will also be provided with 5 picture of girls and boys showing different feelings. Students will be required to identify how these children are feelings. This product includes a blank human body image, where students can draw how they are feeling. Students will also be given an opportunity to draw a face to show how they are feeling today or felt yesterday. A teacher guide with tips and tricks when teaching resiliency, coping skills, and setting goals is included in this product. Students will learn what resilience and coping mean, the different meanings of resiliency, what to do when we experience a tough time, examples of resilience that students can relate with and how they can improve next time or bounce back, steps that help build resilience, examples of healthy coping skills, how to include healthy coping skills into your daily routine, and setting goals.
Relationships - communication skills, empathy, compassion, and acceptance, and gratitude and forgiveness. This product includes a teacher guide with tips and tricks when teaching the skill - listening, understanding body language, and giving and receiving information. Students will identify different facial expressions and discuss how they are feeling when presented with different images, students can also play a variety of games such as telephone, 20 questions, and a body language game. Students will learn about empathy, compassion, and acceptance which will help identify the characteristics of different types of relationships, personal space and boundaries of others, students will look at a variety of pictures to determine healthy/unhealthy relationships between families and friends, learn about the circles program - different relationships we have with people we know, invading personal space and how to avoid doing that, interview a friend and ask them questions using turn taking strategies to develop healthy peer relationships. Students will also learn about gratitude and forgiveness for so they understand the meaning of gratitude and forgiveness along with a variety of ideas to carry this out, and students can answer questions/circle images presented in the product showing what they are grateful for.
Resource Management - what, when, and where to ask for help for self and others, and how to ask for help for self and others. Students will identify and express a variety of feelings, demonstrate the use of I-messages to express feelings honestly and effectively, and identify the words that are commonly used in I-messages. an I-message/statements sheet for students to fill out is included in this product, and a list of coping skills is provided to share with students. Students are also able to add onto the list provided. A coping skill bookmark template is included for students to draw/write down coping skills on a bookmark that they can look at in times of feeling stressed/upset. Building trust activity ideas are provided in this product for students to build trust with others they know well, tips for students to interact with school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists are also included in this product. Students will learn who to trust and how they can trust them. Students are also provided with the opportunity to draw who they trust or write down their names as well
You may like these products as well:
Mental Health Curriculum Pre K - 3rd Grade Activities and Tips:
Mental Health and Mindfulness Notes and Review:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Mental-Health-and-Mindfulness-Notes-and-Review-9324564
Resiliency Skills Notes and Review:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Resiliency-Skills-Notes-and-Review-9330748
Healthy Relationships Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Healthy-Relationships-Activities-9848613
Mental Health Empathy, Compassion, and Acceptance Activities and Tips
Mental Health Coping Activities and Tips:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Coping-Activities-and-Tips-9476664
Dinosaur Emotions Flashcards | English & Spanish | Black & White
By Ash Askelson
Dinosaur Emotions Flashcards!
Emotions are in English & Spanish
Title cards included - "Today I Feel" & "Emotions"
All cards are in color and black and white.
7-Unit Humanities & SEL Bundle for Grades 5-8 | Social Justice, Equity, SEL
By TooBookedUp
1. 18-Day Disabilities & Equity Unit Grades 6+ | Project, Essay, Assessments, Seminar
Description:
Explore the theme of equity and disabilities in schools and society with this 18-day unit designed for grades 6+. Students will engage with informational texts, videos, and case studies, leading to a STAAR-aligned extended essay and research project. This resource includes Socratic seminars, assessments, and creative projects to promote critical thinking and empathy. Perfect for SEL, humanities, and cross-curricular classrooms.
2. 18-Day Human Migration & Immigration Unit Grades 7+ | Project, Poetry, Assessments
Description:
Dive into the global topic of migration and immigration with this 18-day thematic unit for grades 7+. Through poetry, short stories, and informational texts, students will explore the historical and contemporary experiences of immigrants. Includes project-based assessments, writing tasks, and creative multimedia projects to foster understanding and empathy. A great resource for ELA, social studies, and SEL instruction.
3. 18-Day Multimedia Anti-Bullying Thematic Unit for Grades 5-8 | SEL Humanities
Description:
This 18-day multimedia unit on anti-bullying for grades 5-8 engages students with a range of media—films, political cartoons, short stories, and songs—to understand the impact of bullying in schools and society. Includes two Socratic seminars, a STAAR-aligned extended essay, and a creative capstone project. Ideal for SEL-focused classrooms and humanities teachers.
4. 19-Day Social Identity Unit | Low Prep | Grades 6-8 | Texts, Videos, and Project
Description:
Help students explore their own social identity and the factors that shape it in this 19-day unit for grades 6-8. The unit includes videos, readings, and group projects focused on themes like identity, community, and belonging. A low-prep, high-impact resource that encourages self-reflection and empathy through engaging multimedia activities and a culminating project.
5. 20-Day Social Media Mental Health Unit Grades 7+ | Project, Essay, Assessments
Description:
Explore the intersection of social media and mental health in this 20-day unit for grades 7+. Students will examine the effects of social media on well-being through informational texts, videos, and podcasts. Includes a STAAR-aligned essay, Socratic seminar, and multimedia project, making it an essential resource for teaching critical thinking and digital literacy.
6. 7-Day World Religions Research & Presentation Unit: Interdisciplinary Grades 6-8
Description:
This 7-day research and presentation unit allows students to explore major world religions through research-based learning. Perfect for grades 6-8, students will develop presentations on various religions, fostering understanding and global awareness. Includes guided research templates, presentation rubrics, and cross-curricular connections.
7. Human Rights 5-Day Research and Writing Unit | Middle School Social Essay Project
Description:
Introduce your middle school students to the concept of human rights in this 5-day research and writing unit. Students will engage with informational texts to explore human rights issues globally and locally, culminating in a social justice essay project. This unit is ideal for quick yet impactful lessons that combine research, writing, and advocacy.