Movement-Based Social-Emotional Learning Activities
“Social-emotional learning is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
Social-Emotional Learning
Incorporating SEL in schools has long-lasting and global results. Teaching students at a young age how to manage their emotions, resolve issues, and work together, can positively impact their academic performance, and ability to thrive in their future careers and communities.
SEL also fits into trauma-informed instruction by helping students reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Movement-Based Learning’s Role in SEL
Movement is an amazing vehicle for students to learn social-emotional skills. Our program offers engaging learning opportunities for students that aid in developing their emotional intelligence and social skills. SEL programs are instrumental in addressing the impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by fostering an environment where students can learn and grow.
Healing ACEs with Social Emotional Learning
Including social-emotional learning in your classroom can help students reduce toxic stress and increase self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, social, and self-awareness, all core principles of CASEL’s core competence areas.
Click to download a free emotional check-in worksheet to use with your students!
How Does Movement Alleviate the Impact of ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can limit small proteins called “growth factors,” from being secreted in the brain. These growth factors help maintain plasticity and repair neurons in the developing brain.
The release of one growth factor called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is enhanced by movement!
Increased BDNF levels make our brains less vulnerable to stress. (Notaras & van de Buuse, 2020)
Strengthening neural connections through play and movement is extremely important! The rapidly developing brain is forming one million new neural connections a second during this crucial development period (Harris, 2019).
Learn strategies for including social-emotional learning in your classroom at a Virtual PD for K-5th grade teachers: Trauma and Learning
Math & Movement SEL Curriculum Project
Explore our program options that integrate social-emotional learning with movement-based learning activities.
Join a Training
All teachers receive 10 hours of professional development in movement-based learning with a 6-part virtual training on Trauma and Learning. These sessions equip educators with the tools to implement SEL resources effectively in their classrooms.
Implement Math, Literacy, and SEL concepts
Include custom-designed sensory hallways with literacy, math, and positive affirmations at your school.
Incorporate Daily Lesson Plans and Activities
Introduce games and activities for teaching core math and literacy concepts. Our activities are designed to enhance social-emotional learning and are aligned to most K-5 classroom state standards. Our activities are also adaptable for special education and English language learners.