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What’s Your SEL Superpower?

Christopher Shick

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify and describe the five CASEL SEL competencies and recognize their personal strengths and areas for growth within these competencies through self-discovery activities.

Understanding SEL competencies helps students navigate their emotions, build positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and achieve their goals in school and life. This lesson provides a foundation for self-awareness and social-emotional growth.

Audience

4th Grade Class

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discovery and reflection.

Materials

Discover Your SEL Powers Slides, Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity, My SEL Superpower Reflection Journal, and Power Pledge Exit Ticket Cool-Down

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Discover Your SEL Powers Slides, Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity, My SEL Superpower Reflection Journal, and Power Pledge Exit Ticket Cool-Down.
    - Print copies of the Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity (one per student).
    - Print copies of the My SEL Superpower Reflection Journal (one per student).
    - Print copies of the Power Pledge Exit Ticket Cool-Down (one per student).
    - Prepare a whiteboard or chart paper for a class discussion if not using slides.
    - Gather pencils, markers, or colored pencils for student activities.

Step 1

Introduction: What's Your Inner Superpower?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "If you had an invisible superpower that helped you understand yourself and get along with others, what would it be?"
    - Introduce the idea of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and the five CASEL competencies using the Discover Your SEL Powers Slides (Slide 1-3).
    - Briefly explain that these are like 'superpowers' we all have and can develop.

Step 2

Exploring SEL Superpowers

15 minutes

  • Go through each of the five CASEL competencies using the Discover Your SEL Powers Slides (Slide 4-8), providing simple definitions and examples relevant to 4th graders.
    - Self-Awareness: Knowing your feelings and strengths.
    - Self-Management: Controlling your feelings and actions.
    - Social Awareness: Understanding others' feelings.
    - Relationship Skills: Getting along with others.
    - Responsible Decision-Making: Making good choices.
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion after each competency, asking students for examples from their own lives or from stories/movies. Use the prompts on the slides.

Step 3

Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity worksheet.
    - Explain that students will categorize different 'superpower' statements into the five SEL competencies.
    - Encourage students to think about which superpowers they feel are strong in themselves and which they might want to grow.
    - Circulate and provide support as students work individually or in pairs. After 10 minutes, bring the class back together to briefly discuss some of their categorizations and observations.

Step 4

My SEL Superpower Reflection

7 minutes

  • Distribute the My SEL Superpower Reflection Journal for independent writing.
    - Instruct students to choose one SEL superpower they feel is their strongest and explain why. Then, choose one superpower they want to develop further and how they might do that.
    - Emphasize that it's okay to have areas for growth – that's how we get stronger!

Step 5

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

3 minutes

  • Hand out the Power Pledge Exit Ticket Cool-Down.
    - Ask students to write down one specific action they will take to practice one of their SEL superpowers. This serves as a commitment and a quick check for understanding.
    - Collect exit tickets as students leave or transition to the next activity.
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Slide Deck

What's Your SEL Superpower?

Ever wonder if you have special powers inside you? Today, we're going to discover them! These aren't flying powers, but powers that help you understand yourself and get along with others!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting concept of inner superpowers.

What is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)?

SEL is like a secret training program for your inner superhero! It helps you:

  • Understand your feelings
  • Manage your actions
  • Get along with friends
  • Make smart choices

These are your 'SEL Superpowers'!

Introduce CASEL and the idea of Social-Emotional Learning.

The 5 CASEL Superpowers!

There are 5 main SEL Superpowers we'll explore today:

  1. Self-Awareness
  2. Self-Management
  3. Social Awareness
  4. Relationship Skills
  5. Responsible Decision-Making

Think of them as different tools in your superhero belt!

Introduce the five CASEL competencies. Explain they are like different superhero abilities.

Superpower 1: Self-Awareness

Knowing Yourself!

  • Understanding your own feelings (happy, sad, excited, frustrated)
  • Knowing what you're good at (your strengths!)
  • Knowing what makes you feel proud or calm

Example: You feel nervous before a test, and you know you need to take a few deep breaths to calm down.

Discussion: When have you been really aware of your feelings or strengths?

Explain Self-Awareness with kid-friendly language and examples. Ask students for their own examples.

Superpower 2: Self-Management

Controlling Your Actions!

  • Managing your emotions (like calming down when you're angry)
  • Setting goals for yourself and working towards them
  • Staying focused, even when things are tough

Example: You want to play outside, but you know you need to finish your homework first, so you focus and get it done.

Discussion: What's a time you managed your feelings or actions really well?

Explain Self-Management. Connect it to taking control of one's actions and emotions.

Superpower 3: Social Awareness

Understanding Others!

  • Being able to tell how others are feeling by their faces or voices
  • Showing empathy (understanding and sharing feelings of another)
  • Knowing what's fair and respectful to others

Example: Your friend looks sad, so you ask them if they're okay and offer to help.

Discussion: How do you know when someone else is happy or upset?

Explain Social Awareness. Focus on empathy and understanding others.

Superpower 4: Relationship Skills

Working Together!

  • Communicating clearly and listening well
  • Cooperating with others in games or projects
  • Solving disagreements peacefully
  • Asking for help when you need it

Example: You and a classmate disagree on how to do a project, but you talk it out and find a solution together.

Discussion: What makes a good friend or teammate?

Explain Relationship Skills. Highlight teamwork and positive communication.

Superpower 5: Responsible Decision-Making

Making Smart Choices!

  • Thinking about what might happen before you act
  • Making choices that are safe and respectful
  • Learning from your mistakes
  • Choosing to do the right thing, even when it's hard

Example: You see litter on the playground. You decide to pick it up, even though no one is watching.

Discussion: What's the best decision you've made recently?

Explain Responsible Decision-Making. Emphasize thinking through consequences.

Your SEL Superpowers!

Remember, you have all 5 of these superpowers inside you!

  1. Self-Awareness: Know Yourself!
  2. Self-Management: Control Your Actions!
  3. Social Awareness: Understand Others!
  4. Relationship Skills: Work Together!
  5. Responsible Decision-Making: Make Smart Choices!

Now, let's put your superpower mapping skills to the test!

Summarize the 5 SEL superpowers and transition to the activity.

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Activity

Strengths Sorting Challenge: What's Your Superpower?

Instructions: Read each superpower statement below. Decide which of the 5 SEL Superpowers it best matches. Write the number of the SEL Superpower next to the statement. Some might fit more than one, but choose the BEST fit!

The 5 SEL Superpowers:

  1. Self-Awareness: Knowing your feelings and strengths.
  2. Self-Management: Controlling your feelings and actions.
  3. Social Awareness: Understanding others' feelings.
  4. Relationship Skills: Getting along with others.
  5. Responsible Decision-Making: Making good choices.

  1. I can tell when my friend is upset without them saying a word.

    Superpower:


  2. When I feel angry, I take a deep breath before I speak.

    Superpower:


  3. I know that I am really good at drawing.

    Superpower:


  4. I listen carefully when someone else is talking.

    Superpower:


  5. I thought about the rules before deciding which game to play at recess.

    Superpower:


  6. I can calm myself down when I get frustrated with a hard math problem.

    Superpower:


  7. I noticed that my classmate seemed left out, so I invited them to play.

    Superpower:


  8. I know when I need to ask for help from my teacher.

    Superpower:


  9. I work well with my group to finish our project.

    Superpower:


  10. I made sure my decision wouldn't hurt anyone else's feelings.

    Superpower:


  11. I recognize that I get excited when it's time for art class.

    Superpower:


  12. I can share my toys fairly with my siblings.

    Superpower:


Challenge Question: Which of these superpowers do you feel is your strongest? Why?




Teacher Note: Facilitate a brief class discussion after students complete the challenge, allowing them to share and justify their categorizations. This will reinforce understanding and provide an opportunity to clarify any misconceptions.

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Journal

My SEL Superpower Reflection

Instructions: Think about the 5 SEL Superpowers we discussed today. Answer the questions below in complete sentences. Remember, it's okay to have strengths and areas where you want to grow!

  1. Out of the five SEL Superpowers (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making), which one do you think is your strongest superpower? Why do you think this?











  2. Describe a time you used this strong superpower in real life. What happened?











  3. Which of the five SEL Superpowers would you like to make even stronger? Why is this superpower important to you?











  4. What is one small thing you can do this week to practice and grow the superpower you chose in question 3?











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Cool Down

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

Instructions: Before you leave, make a quick pledge to yourself! Fill in the blanks below.

I, (your name)


,

promise to use my SEL superpower of


by (one specific action)




.

This will help me be a better student and friend!

Example:
I, [Maya],
promise to use my SEL superpower of [Self-Management]
by [taking three deep breaths when I feel frustrated with my homework].
This will help me be a better student and friend!

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