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What’s Your SEL Superpower?

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Lesson Plan

Superpower Mapping Lesson Plan

Students will explore CASEL’s five social-emotional competencies and identify their personal SEL strengths and growth areas by mapping their “SEL superpowers” through interactive group sorting and individual reflection.

Building self-awareness and social skills empowers students to form positive relationships, manage emotions, and set personal growth goals, supporting both academic success and well-being.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive self-discovery and group activities

Materials

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

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Display the opening slide from the Discover Your SEL Powers Slides.
  • Briefly define social-emotional learning and introduce CASEL’s five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
  • Explain that today each student will discover their unique SEL superpowers.

Step 2

Superpower Mapping Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 3–4 and give each group a set of Strengths Sorting Challenge cards.
  • Ask groups to sort the cards into the five competency categories, discussing real-life examples for each.
  • Circulate and prompt reflection: “Which SEL skill feels like your superpower? Which is your challenge?”

Step 3

Individual Reflection

10 minutes

  • Have students return to their seats with their My SEL Superpower Reflection.
  • Instruct them to choose one competency they feel strongest in and illustrate or describe it in their journal.
  • Then select one competency they’d like to grow and write one action step to practice it this week.

Step 4

Share Out

10 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share their identified SEL superpower and growth plan using slide prompts.
  • Encourage classmates to give positive feedback and suggestions for practicing pledged skills.

Step 5

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Power Pledge Exit Ticket to each student.
  • Ask students to write one SEL superpower pledge they commit to practicing over the next week.
  • Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding and inform future support.
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Slide Deck

What’s Your SEL Superpower?

Welcome, 4th graders! Today we’re exploring Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and discovering our own unique strengths. By the end, each of you will know your SEL superpowers and plan how to grow even more powerful.

Welcome students. Introduce yourself and set a positive tone. Explain that today they will learn about their SEL superpowers.

What Is Social-Emotional Learning?

• Social-Emotional Learning helps us understand and manage feelings.
• It teaches us to set goals, show empathy, build relationships, and make responsible choices.
• SEL skills support success in school, friendships, and life.

Define SEL in simple terms. Reinforce that emotions and relationships matter for school success.

CASEL’s Five Competencies

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) identifies five key skills:
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making

Introduce the five competencies at a high level before diving into each one.

Competency 1: Self-Awareness

• Understanding your own emotions
• Recognizing your strengths and interests
• Building confidence by knowing what matters to you

Discuss what self-awareness means: knowing your feelings and strengths.

Competency 2: Self-Management

• Regulating your feelings and behaviors
• Setting and working toward goals
• Handling stress and staying motivated

Explain self-management: controlling impulses and staying focused.

Competency 3: Social Awareness

• Showing empathy and understanding others’ perspectives
• Recognizing and respecting differences
• Appreciating diverse backgrounds and cultures

Highlight social awareness: empathizing and respecting others.

Competency 4: Relationship Skills

• Communicating clearly and listening actively
• Building healthy friendships and teamwork
• Resolving conflicts respectfully

Define relationship skills: cooperating and communicating effectively.

Competency 5: Responsible Decision-Making

• Making ethical, constructive choices
• Considering safety, social norms, and consequences
• Reflecting on the outcomes of your actions

Cover responsible decision-making: thinking through choices and consequences.

Superpower Mapping Activity

  1. Form groups of 3–4.
  2. Each group receives a set of Strengths Sorting Challenge cards.
  3. Sort each card under the five competencies and discuss examples.

Introduce the Superpower Mapping Activity and explain group setup.

Discuss and Reflect

• Which skill feels like your SEL superpower?
• Which skill would you like to practice more?
• Share quick examples from your life.

Encourage students to think about which competency is easiest and which is hardest for them.

Individual Reflection

• Take your My SEL Superpower Reflection.
• Draw or describe your strongest competency and why it’s your superpower.
• Choose one competency to grow and write one action step for this week.

Guide students through the individual reflection step.

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

• Complete the Power Pledge Exit Ticket.
• Write one SEL skill pledge you’ll practice over the next week.
• Hand in your ticket so we can celebrate your growth.

Explain the exit ticket step and gather commitments.

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Activity

Strengths Sorting Challenge Activity Overview

In this group-based card-sorting activity, students will sort real-life scenarios and statements into the five CASEL competencies. This helps them deepen their understanding of each SEL skill and reflect on personal strengths and growth areas.

Group Size: 3–4 students per set of cards
Time: 15 minutes

Instructions for Teachers

  1. Give each group a full set of cards (25 total).
  2. Ask students to sort each card under one of CASEL’s five competencies:
    • Self-Awareness
    • Self-Management
    • Social Awareness
    • Relationship Skills
    • Responsible Decision-Making
  3. Encourage groups to discuss why each card belongs in its category and share real-life examples.
  4. After sorting, have each group choose one card from their strongest competency and one from a skill they’d like to grow. Be prepared to share with the class.

Card Set (25 Cards)

Self-Awareness

  1. "I know I get nervous when speaking in front of the class."
  2. "I understand that I am good at drawing."
  3. "I can name three feelings I had today."
  4. "I know I enjoy helping others."
  5. "I recognize that I get frustrated when I can't solve a math problem."

Self-Management
6. "I take deep breaths when I'm angry."
7. "I set a goal to finish my homework before playing."
8. "I stay calm when a friend disagrees with me."
9. "I resist the urge to shout when I'm upset."
10. "I work steadily on a task even when it's hard."

Social Awareness
11. "I notice when a classmate looks sad and ask if they're okay."
12. "I respect and learn about different cultures in our class."
13. "I stand up for someone being teased."
14. "I consider how my words might make others feel."
15. "I listen quietly when others share their ideas."

Relationship Skills
16. "I work with my partner to complete a project."
17. "I apologize when I accidentally hurt someone's feelings."
18. "I take turns when playing a game."
19. "I ask for clarification when I don't understand instructions."
20. "I help my teammate when they make a mistake."

Responsible Decision-Making
21. "I choose to stay on the sidewalk instead of running into the street."
22. "I think about how my actions affect animals and the environment."
23. "I decide to ask for help instead of guessing the answer."
24. "I consider the consequences before making a choice."
25. "I choose a healthy snack instead of candy."

Return to Lesson Plan to see where this fits into your 45-minute session.

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Journal

My SEL Superpower Reflection

Use this page to capture your thoughts, illustrations, and plans for growing your social-emotional learning (SEL) skills.

1. My SEL Superpower

Which of CASEL’s five competencies feels like your unique strength? Write the name of the competency and explain why it’s your superpower.







2. Show It in Action

Draw or describe a real moment when you used this SEL superpower. How did it help you or others?












3. Growth Competency

Choose one competency you’d like to practice more. Write down the name and one specific action step you will take this week to get better at it.







4. Success Checkpoint

How will you know you’ve improved? Describe what success will look like and how you’ll celebrate your progress.







Great work! Keep this reflection in your journal and revisit it at the end of the week to see how far you’ve come.

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Cool Down

Power Pledge Exit Ticket

Name: ____________________ Date: _______________

Today I’m making a pledge to practice one SEL skill. Use the prompts below to guide your plan.

1. My SEL Power Pledge
Which CASEL skill will I practice this week?






2. Why I Chose This Skill
How will this skill help me or others?






3. How I Will Practice
One specific action I will take each day:






4. Success Checkpoint
How will I know I’ve improved by the end of the week?






Great work making your pledge! Keep this ticket and check back to celebrate your growth.

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What’s Your SEL Superpower? • Lenny Learning