Lesson Plan
Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan
Students will explore CASEL’s five social-emotional competencies and identify their personal SEL strengths through a guided mapping activity, reflection, and group challenge.
Building self-awareness of SEL strengths fosters confidence, goal-setting skills, and a supportive classroom culture for 4th graders.
Audience
4th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive slides, hands-on sorting, and personal reflection
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with each CASEL competency and the flow of the lesson
- Open Discover Your SEL Powers Slides in presentation mode
- Print or prepare materials for the Strengths Sorting Challenge
- Ensure each student has a copy of My SEL Superpower Reflection and Power Pledge Exit Ticket
Step 1
Introduction & SEL Superpower Hook
5 minutes
- Welcome students and explain that everyone has an SEL “superpower.”
- Show cover slide from Discover Your SEL Powers Slides.
- Ask: “What are some strengths you have that help you in school or with friends?”
- Record a few responses on the board, linking them to SEL skills.
Step 2
Overview of CASEL Competencies
10 minutes
- Present the five competencies using Discover Your SEL Powers Slides: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making.
- For each competency, read the definition and show one real-life example.
- Check for understanding by asking quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down questions.
Step 3
Strengths Sorting Challenge
15 minutes
- Divide class into small groups (3–4 students).
- Give each group a set of Strengths Sorting Challenge cards.
- Instruct groups to sort cards by which CASEL competency matches each strength statement.
- Circulate to support and prompt discussion: “Why did you choose that category?”
- After 10 minutes, have groups share one card and explain their choice.
Step 4
My SEL Superpower Reflection
10 minutes
- Distribute My SEL Superpower Reflection.
- Ask students to write about which competency aligns with their top strength and why.
- Encourage them to set one personal goal to grow another SEL skill.
Step 5
Power Pledge Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Hand out the Power Pledge Exit Ticket.
- Ask students to complete the sentence: “My SEL superpower is ___, and I will use it this week by ___.”
- Collect exit tickets as they leave and display a few examples (with permission).
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Slide Deck
Discover Your SEL Powers
Let’s explore the five SEL superpowers that help us learn, play, and grow together!
Welcome students and introduce today’s adventure: discovering your SEL superpowers! Invite excitement and ask them to think about what makes them strong in school or with friends.
What Is SEL?
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is how we understand and manage our feelings, make good choices, and build positive relationships with others.
Ask: “Has anyone heard the term SEL before? What do you think it means?” Listen to answers before revealing the definition.
CASEL’s Five Competencies
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making
Show the list and explain we’ll dive into each one. Keep this slide visible as a roadmap.
1. Self-Awareness
Definition: Knowing your own strengths, emotions, and values.
Example: Realizing you’re feeling nervous before a test and naming that feeling.
Define self-awareness and share the example. Then ask students to give one example of a time they noticed their own feelings.
2. Self-Management
Definition: Managing your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in healthy ways.
Example: Taking deep breaths or counting to five when you’re frustrated.
Explain how controlling our reactions helps us succeed. Invite one student to share a strategy they use when they feel upset.
3. Social Awareness
Definition: Understanding and empathizing with others from different backgrounds.
Example: Noticing a friend looks lonely and asking if they want to play.
Discuss why noticing others’ feelings matters. Ask students to think of a time they helped someone who was sad or upset.
4. Relationship Skills
Definition: Building and maintaining healthy relationships through communication and cooperation.
Example: Listening carefully and taking turns when working on a group project.
Highlight teamwork skills. Prompt: “What makes a good team member?” Write responses on board.
5. Responsible Decision-Making
Definition: Making constructive choices about personal and social behavior.
Example: Deciding to finish homework before playing video games.
Emphasize making choices that are fair and safe. Ask students for examples of good decisions they’ve made recently.
Find Your Strengths
Think about which of these five competencies feels like your strongest superpower.
Turn & share with a partner: Which one is it and why?
Explain the activity: they’ll sort strength cards by which competency they match. Use this to see which superpowers shine in your class.
Strengths Sorting Challenge
In groups of 3–4, sort your SEL superpower cards under the five competencies.
Be ready to explain one of your choices to the class.
Transition to the group sorting challenge. Remind students to discuss why each card belongs in a category.
Activity
Strengths Sorting Challenge
In this activity, you’ll work in small groups to sort strength statements under the five CASEL competencies.
Instructions:
- Divide into groups of 3–4 students.
- Spread out the strength cards face up.
- Read each statement and decide which SEL competency it best matches.
- Place the card under one of these headings:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision-Making
- Discuss why you chose each category.
- Be ready to share one of your cards and explain your choice to the class!
Strength Cards:
- "I know when I’m feeling proud of myself."
- "I can name my emotions clearly."
- "I recognize what I’m good at in school."
- "I take deep breaths when I’m stressed."
- "I make a plan to finish my homework on time."
- "I control my reactions when someone makes me angry."
- "I notice when a friend feels left out."
- "I can understand how someone else feels when they’re sad."
- "I appreciate traditions from other cultures."
- "I listen carefully when someone is speaking to me."
- "I help my classmates work together on projects."
- "I say thank you and please politely."
- "I choose healthy snacks during lunch."
- "I tell the truth even when it’s hard."
- "I think about consequences before I act."
Journal
My SEL Superpower Reflection
Use this journal to explore and celebrate your unique SEL strengths, and to set goals for growth.
1. Which of CASEL’s five competencies feels like your SEL superpower? Why?
(Choose one: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making)
2. Describe a specific time when you used this SEL superpower to handle a challenge or help someone else. What happened?
3. In what ways does this superpower help you learn in class or connect with friends?
4. Which of the remaining SEL competencies would you like to develop next? Explain your choice.
5. Create an action plan with at least two steps you will take this week to strengthen that competency. Be specific!
6. Bonus: Write your personal SEL superhero motto or catchphrase.
(My motto is: “__________________________.”)
Cool Down
Power Pledge Exit Ticket
Complete the sentence below to make your pledge:
My SEL superpower is ________________, and I will use it this week by ________________.