Social and Emotional Development

KDI:

7. Self-Identity: Children have a positive self-identity.

8. Sense of competence: Children feel they are competent.

9. Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings. 

10. Empathy: Children demonstrate empathy toward others.

11. Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom.

12. Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults. 

13. Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play.

14. Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.

15. Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts. 

ALL MATERIALS:

  • Emotion picture cards (happy, sad, mad, excited)
  • Mirror
  • Books about feelings
  • Blocks
  • Dramatic play toys
  • Shared art materials
  • Name cards
  • Ball or a soft toy for the passing game
  • Books about friendship

ALL LESSON PLANS CAN BE COMPLETED IN THE CLASSROOM: NO ROOM CHANGES

Name of Activity: Sharing Feelings

Originating Idea: The children have been showing different emotions during play however they are not always able to express how they feel.

Curriculum Area: 9. Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings.

Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies

Materials

  • Emotion picture cards (happy, sad, mad, excited)
  • Mirror
  • Books about feelings

Appropriate Age Group: Pre-K

Beginning of Activity

Today, we are going to talk about our feelings. I will show the children different emotion cards and say, this is a happy face. This is a sad face. I will ask the children if they have ever felt this way.

Middle of Activity

Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels

Now I am going to ask you to look at the emotion cards and talk about how you feel. You can point to a feeling or tell me about a time you felt that way.

Early:
 A child is unable to label feelings. I will name emotions for them and encourage them to point to how they feel.

Middle:
 A child can identify basic emotions. I will ask, “What makes you feel happy?” or “What makes you feel sad?”

Later:
 A child can describe emotions and situations. I will ask, “What can you do when you feel mad?” and encourage problem-solving strategies.

End of Activity

Today we talked about our feelings. You learned how to name emotions and share how you feel. Tell a friend one feeling you had today.

Follow-up Ideas (2)

  • Create a daily feelings chart for check-in
  • Read stories and discuss characters’ emotions

Assessment

Children were able to recognize and express emotions at their developmental level.

Name of Activity: Playing Together

Originating Idea: The children are beginning to play near each other but need support with cooperative play.

Curriculum Area: 13. Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play.

Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies

Materials

  • Blocks
  • Dramatic play toys
  • Shared art materials

Appropriate Age Group: Pre-K

Beginning of Activity

Today we are going to practice playing together. I will say, we can share and work together while we play. I will model sharing and taking turns during class.

Middle of Activity

Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels

Now I am going to ask you to play together using the materials and practice sharing and taking turns.

Early:
 A child plays alone or grabs toys. I will model sharing and use simple language like “My turn, your turn.”

Middle:
 A child begins to interact with others. I will encourage turn-taking and prompt with, “Can you share with your friend?”

Later:
 A child plays cooperatively. I will encourage teamwork by suggesting group play ideas and group roles.

End of Activity

Today we practiced playing together. You shared and worked with your friends. Tell a friend something you played together.

Follow-up Ideas (2)

  • Partner activities that require sharing
  • Group games with simple rules

Assessment

Children were able to engage in cooperative play at their developmental level.

Name of Activity: Making Friends and Building Relationships

Originating Idea: The children have begun to form friendships, but need support with building positive relationships.

Curriculum Area: 12. Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults.

Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies

Materials

  • Name cards
  • Ball or a soft toy for the passing game
  • Books about friendship

Appropriate Age Group: Pre-K

Beginning of Activity

Today we are going to talk about the ways to be a friend. I will say, Friends are kind and help each other. We will practice saying each other’s names.

Middle of Activity

Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels

Now I am going to ask you to practice ways we can be good friends with each other. We will use our names and take turns during a group activity.

Early:
 A child is hesitant to interact. I will encourage simple interactions like saying hello or passing a toy.

Middle:
 A child interacts with peers. I will prompt kind behaviors like sharing and helping.

Later:
A child builds friendships. I will encourage them to express kindness and include others in play.

End of Activity

Today we practiced being good friends. You talked and played with others. Tell a friend something kind you can do.

Follow-up Ideas (2)

  • Create a “kindness” activity chart
  • Role-play friendship scenarios

Assessment

Children were able to interact and build relationships with peers at their developmental level.