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What’s Your SEL Superpower?

S

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify and define the five CASEL SEL competencies and recognize their own strengths and areas for growth within these competencies.

Understanding SEL superpowers helps students navigate their emotions, build strong relationships, make responsible decisions, and achieve their goals, both in and out of the classroom.

Audience

4th Grade Class

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive introduction, self-reflection, and a fun sorting activity.

Materials

Discover Your SEL Powers Slides, Strengths Sorting Challenge, My SEL Superpower Reflection, and Power Pledge Exit Ticket

Prep

Lesson Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Discover Your SEL Powers Slides, Strengths Sorting Challenge, My SEL Superpower Reflection, and Power Pledge Exit Ticket.
  • Print copies of the Strengths Sorting Challenge cards (one set per small group).
  • Print copies of the My SEL Superpower Reflection journal (one per student).
  • Print copies of the Power Pledge Exit Ticket (one per student).
  • Ensure projector/smartboard is ready for the Discover Your SEL Powers Slides.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Superpower Brainstorm

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?" Allow a few students to share.
  • Introduce the idea that we all have 'inner superpowers' called Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills.

Step 2

Introduction to CASEL's 5 Competencies

10 minutes

  • Use the Discover Your SEL Powers Slides to introduce CASEL's five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.
  • For each competency, provide a simple definition and a 4th-grade appropriate example. Encourage brief student input for each competency.

Step 3

Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Distribute the Strengths Sorting Challenge cards to each group.
  • Explain that each card describes a scenario or a skill related to one of the SEL competencies. Groups will work together to sort the cards under the correct competency heading.
  • Circulate to assist groups and facilitate discussion. After sorting, review the answers as a class, discussing any discrepancies.

Step 4

My SEL Superpower Reflection

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My SEL Superpower Reflection journal to each student.
  • Instruct students to reflect on which SEL competency they feel is their strongest 'superpower' and which one they would like to develop further. They should also write about how they can use their strengths and improve their growth areas.
  • Provide quiet time for individual reflection and writing.

Step 5

Cool-Down: Power Pledge Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Power Pledge Exit Ticket to each student.
  • Ask students to complete the exit ticket by writing one specific way they will use one of their SEL superpowers today or tomorrow.
  • Collect exit tickets as students leave or transition to the next activity. This serves as a quick check for understanding and commitment.
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Slide Deck

What's Your SEL Superpower?

Welcome, Superheroes!
Today, we're going on an adventure to discover our amazing Social-Emotional Learning superpowers!

Greet students enthusiastically. Ask: "What do you think a superpower is?" Encourage a few responses.

What is SEL?

SEL stands for Social-Emotional Learning.
It's about understanding ourselves and others, managing feelings, and making good choices.

Explain SEL in simple terms. Connect it to everyday situations, like working with friends or knowing how you feel.

Meet the CASEL 5!

CASEL gives us 5 awesome areas to focus on for our SEL superpowers:

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

Briefly introduce each competency. You don't need to go into deep detail yet, just list them.

Self-Awareness: Know Thyself!

Understanding your feelings, thoughts, and what you're good at.
Example: Knowing you feel frustrated when you can't solve a math problem.

Discuss how knowing your feelings and strengths helps you. Ask students for examples of self-awareness.

Self-Management: Master Your Moves!

Managing your emotions, setting goals, and working towards them.
Example: Taking a deep breath when you're angry, or planning your homework.

Ask for strategies students use to manage themselves, like counting to ten or taking a break. Emphasize self-control.

Social Awareness: Empathy Eyes!

Understanding and feeling for others, even if they're different from you.
Example: Noticing a friend looks sad and asking if they're okay.

Discuss showing kindness, understanding, and putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Ask for examples.

Relationship Skills: Teamwork Titans!

Working well with others, communicating clearly, and solving disagreements peacefully.
Example: Sharing ideas in a group project or resolving a conflict with a classmate.

Emphasize the importance of good communication, listening, and sharing. Ask students how they work well with others.

Responsible Decision-Making: Super Choice Crew!

Making safe, ethical, and helpful choices for yourself and others.
Example: Thinking about consequences before acting, or choosing to help someone in need.

Discuss "think before you act" and how good choices impact everyone. Ask for examples of responsible decisions.

Which is YOUR Superpower?

Time to discover your personal SEL strengths!

Transition to the Strengths Sorting Challenge activity. Explain that they will now identify their own strengths.

Reflect and Grow!

How can you use your superpowers?
What areas can you make even stronger?

Lead into the My SEL Superpower Reflection journal activity. Explain that self-reflection is a powerful SEL tool.

Power Up Our Promise!

Let's make a pledge to use our SEL superpowers every day!

Introduce the Power Pledge Exit Ticket as a way to commit to using their new understanding.

lenny

Activity

Strengths Sorting Challenge

Objective: To identify and categorize various social-emotional skills and scenarios into CASEL's five competencies.

Materials:

  • Scenario Cards (cut out beforehand - provided below)
  • Five heading cards: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making

Instructions:

  1. Group Up! Get into your small groups (3-4 students per group).
  2. Spread 'Em Out! Lay out the five heading cards on your desk or table.
  3. Read and Discuss! Take turns picking a scenario card. Read it aloud to your group.
  4. Where Does It Go? As a group, discuss which of the five CASEL competencies the scenario best fits under. Explain why you think it belongs there.
  5. Sort It! Place the scenario card under the correct heading card.
  6. Repeat! Continue until all scenario cards have been sorted.
  7. Be Ready to Share! Be prepared to explain your group's choices to the class.

Scenario Cards (Cut along the dotted lines)

Card 1: You know you get nervous before a big presentation.




Competency: _______________________

Card 2: You decide to take a deep breath when you start to feel angry.




Competency: _______________________

Card 3: You notice your friend is sitting alone and looks sad, so you ask if they want to play.




Competency: _______________________

Card 4: You work together with classmates to finish a group project, making sure everyone gets a chance to share ideas.




Competency: _______________________

Card 5: You think about the rules before deciding whether to join a game that seems a little rough.




Competency: _______________________

Card 6: You understand that you are good at drawing.




Competency: _______________________

Card 7: You set a goal to read 20 minutes every night and stick to it.




Competency: _______________________

Card 8: You understand that people from different cultures might celebrate holidays differently.




Competency: _______________________

Card 9: You resolve an argument with a sibling by talking it through and finding a compromise.




Competency: _______________________

Card 10: You choose to clean up a spill you made, even if no one saw you do it.




Competency: _______________________

Card 11: You can accurately describe how you are feeling (e.g., happy, surprised, frustrated).




Competency: _______________________

Card 12: You wait your turn patiently when playing a game, even when you're excited.




Competency: _______________________

Card 13: You show compassion when someone makes a mistake.




Competency: _______________________

Card 14: You listen carefully when a teacher gives instructions.




Competency: _______________________

Card 15: You decide not to cheat on a test because you know it's not the right thing to do.




Competency: _______________________

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Journal

My SEL Superpower Reflection

Name: ____________________________

Today, we explored the five CASEL SEL competencies, which are like our inner superpowers! Now it's your turn to think about your amazing strengths.

Part 1: My Strongest Superpower

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


    My strongest SEL superpower is: ________________________________________________________________



  2. Why do you think this is your strongest superpower? Give an example of a time you used this superpower.













Part 2: My Growth Area

  1. Which of the five CASEL competencies would you like to make even stronger? This is a growth area for you!


    An SEL superpower I want to grow is: ______________________________________________________________



  2. What is one small step you can take this week to practice and strengthen this superpower?













Part 3: Superpower in Action

  1. How can using your SEL superpowers help you in school, with your friends, or at home?













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Cool Down

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

Name: ____________________________

My SEL Superpower Pledge!

I have amazing Social-Emotional Learning superpowers! Today, I learned about the five CASEL competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.

I pledge to use my SEL superpowers to make my day, my classroom, and my community better!

One way I will use one of my SEL superpowers today or tomorrow is:







Circle the superpower you are pledging to use:

  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Social Awareness
  • Relationship Skills
  • Responsible Decision-Making

Draw a quick picture of yourself using your chosen superpower!












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