Lesson Plan
Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan
Students will explore and map their personal strengths aligned to CASEL’s five SEL competencies through interactive sorting and guided reflection.
Building self-awareness and social-emotional skills helps 4th graders recognize strengths, set growth goals, and foster a positive classroom community.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive activities and guided reflection.
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review Discover Your SEL Powers Slides to familiarize with CASEL’s five competencies.
- Print and cut cards for the Strengths Sorting Challenge.
- Make copies of the My SEL Superpower Reflection sheets.
- Print enough Power Pledge Exit Ticket for each student.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Greet students and explain today's focus on social-emotional learning.
- Introduce CASEL’s five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making.
- Ask students to think silently about areas where they feel strong.
Step 2
Slide Presentation
10 minutes
- Display Discover Your SEL Powers Slides.
- Define each competency with a kid-friendly example.
- After each slide, invite students to give a thumbs-up if they feel confident in that area.
Step 3
Strengths Sorting Challenge
12 minutes
- Hand out sets of cards from the Strengths Sorting Challenge.
- In small groups, students sort cards under labels "I’m a Superhero" (strength) or "I'm Growing".
- Circulate to prompt discussion: “Why did you place this here?” and highlight diverse strengths.
Step 4
Journal Reflection
10 minutes
- Distribute My SEL Superpower Reflection sheets.
- Students choose their top SEL superpower and write one example when they used it.
- Then they set a goal for improving another competency.
Step 5
Power Pledge Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Give each student a Power Pledge Exit Ticket.
- Students write one action they’ll take this week to use or grow their SEL superpower.
- Collect tickets to review understanding and set follow-up points.
Slide Deck
Discover Your SEL Superpowers!
Today’s mission: Find out your unique social-emotional strengths and how they help you shine in and out of school.
Welcome students! Introduce today’s adventure: we’re going to discover our SEL superpowers. Explain that SEL stands for social-emotional learning and helps us understand feelings, make good choices, and build strong friendships.
Point to the slide title and get them excited about finding their strengths.
Meet CASEL’s 5 SEL Superpowers
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making
Explain that CASEL is an organization that teaches five key SEL skills, or “superpowers.” Read each one aloud and invite a volunteer to restate it in their own words.
Tell students they’ll explore each superpower with fun examples.
1. Self-Awareness
Knowing what you’re feeling and why.
Superpower Example: “I notice I feel excited when I learn something new!”
Define Self-Awareness: knowing how you feel and why. Share the example: “I notice I feel excited when I learn something new!”
Ask: “Can anyone think of a time they noticed a feeling inside?”
2. Self-Management
Keeping your cool and staying focused.
Superpower Example: “I take deep breaths when I’m upset to calm down.”
Define Self-Management: using strategies to stay calm, focused, and in control.
Share the example: “When I feel frustrated, I take three deep breaths to help me calm down.”
Invite students to practice a deep breath together.
3. Social Awareness
Understanding how others feel and caring about them.
Superpower Example: “I see my friend is sad and ask if they’re okay.”
Explain Social Awareness: noticing how others feel and showing empathy.
Use the example: “I see my friend is sad at recess and ask if they’re okay.”
Ask: “Why is it important to understand how someone else feels?”
4. Relationship Skills
Working and playing nicely with others.
Superpower Example: “I share my toys and take turns.”
Define Relationship Skills: working and playing well with others.
Example: “I share my toys and take turns so everyone has fun.”
Ask students to give a thumbs-up if they’ve used this superpower on the playground.
5. Responsible Decision-Making
Making good choices and solving problems.
Superpower Example: “I finish my homework before watching TV.”
Describe Responsible Decision-Making: choosing safe and respectful actions and solving problems.
Share example: “I pick to finish my homework before playing video games.”
Discuss why it’s important to think before you act.
Thumbs-Up Check!
Give a thumbs-up for each SEL superpower you feel is your strength!
Invite students to look at the five superpowers and give a thumbs-up for each one they think is a personal strength. Encourage them to notice which superpowers get the most thumbs-ups and think about which they might want to grow.
Activity
Strengths Sorting Challenge
Overview:
Students work in small groups to sort behavior cards under two columns—“I’m a Superhero” (something they already do well) or “I’m Growing” (an area they want to improve). This hands-on activity helps them connect real-life actions to CASEL’s five SEL competencies.
Materials:
- Printable behavior cards (see Cards below)
- Sorting mats or chart paper labeled:
- I’m a Superhero
- I’m Growing
- Tape or clipboards for group work
## Cards
Prepare one set of cards per group. Each card shows a behavior and its related SEL competency.
1. Self-Awareness: “I can name my feelings when I’m upset.”
2. Self-Awareness: “I reflect on what makes me proud.”
3. Self-Management: “I take deep breaths when I feel frustrated.”
4. Self-Management: “I stick to a plan to finish my work on time.”
5. Social Awareness: “I notice when a friend looks sad.”
6. Social Awareness: “I listen carefully when someone is speaking.”
7. Relationship Skills: “I take turns during games at recess.”
8. Relationship Skills: “I share my supplies with classmates.”
9. Responsible Decision-Making: “I choose to ask for help when I’m unsure.”
10. Responsible Decision-Making: “I think about consequences before acting.”
## Instructions (12 minutes)
1. Divide the class into groups of 3–4. Give each group a full set of behavior cards and a sorting mat.
2. Explain the two columns: “I’m a Superhero” for strengths and “I’m Growing” for areas they’d like to improve.
3. In turns, students read one card aloud and place it under the column that best matches their self-perception.
4. Once all cards are sorted, groups discuss: - Why did you put this card here?
- What does seeing many cards in one column tell you about your SEL superpowers?
## Reflection Prompts
Have each group choose one card from the “I’m Growing” column and answer:
1. Which superpower is this behavior connected to?
2. What’s one small step you can take this week to move this behavior into your “Superhero” column?
Circulate the room to listen, ask guiding questions, and celebrate diverse strengths as groups share their ideas.
Journal
My SEL Superpower Reflection
1. My Top SEL Superpower
Think about CASEL’s five SEL superpowers: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.
Which one is your strongest? Why do you feel this is your top superpower?
2. Real-Life Example
Describe a time you used your SEL superpower.
What happened, and how did using this strength help you or someone else?
3. Growth Goal
Now choose one SEL superpower you’d like to improve.
What specific goal will you set to grow this skill?
4. Action Plan
List two small steps you can take this week to work toward your growth goal.
How will you know you’ve made progress?
Tip: When you’re ready, share one step from your plan on the Power Pledge Exit Ticket to commit to your goal!
Cool Down
Power Pledge Exit Ticket
Name: ____________________ Date: ________________
Think about your SEL superpower. Write one action you’ll take this week to use or grow it.
One action I will take this week is:
This action connects to which SEL superpower?
Keep this pledge somewhere you can see it and check back on your progress!