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Every Child is Special - Social and Emotional Learning - Unit 4

Let’s Put It Into Action

Foundation – Year 6

Social and Emotional Learning focuses on developing essential social and emotional skills for healthy interactions and personal growth. Students learn to recognise, express and manage their emotions while practising calming techniques and self-awareness.

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Starter Lessons

Year Overview

Foundation Year

Year F, Lesson 1

Year F, Lesson 2

Unit Overview

In this unit, students will deepen their understanding of self-awareness, emotional regulation, and social connection. They will explore techniques to manage and express emotions appropriately, utilise calming strategies, and practise respectful communication.  

The unit emphasises inclusivity, the value of belonging, and appreciation for diverse emotional responses through meaningful discussions and collaborative activities. Students will also develop conflict resolution skills, teamwork, and respectful interactions, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment. 

Student Activities

Emotional Regulation Activities

  • Box Breathing
  • Calming Toolbox 

Student Activities

  • Feelings Freeze Game 
  • Box Breathing Activity 
  • Feel it. Show it. Fix it. Activity 
  • Using Three Steps For a Good Sorry 
  • Inclusion Detective Mission 
  • Choose Your Favourite Calming Tool 
  • Class Puzzle Piece to Belong 
  • ‘Belonging’ Olympic Games 

Features

  • Animations 
  • Paired Activities 
  • Interactive Digital Illustrations 

Lessons and Resources

Lessons

    • 9 Week Unit 
    • Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks. 
    • Week 1Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 
    • Week 9Personal Reflection – Completed by students 
    • Optional Summative Assessment – The assessment will cover HPE content (weeks 1–8).   

    Resources

    • Lessons x8 
    • Instructional Teaching Guide 
    • Unit Overview 
    • Assessments/Progression Indicators  
    • Professional Learning Modules 

    Year 1 – Year 2

    Years 1-2, Lesson 1

    Years 1-2, Lesson 2

    Unit Overview

    In this unit, students deepen their understanding of themselves and others by exploring the people who matter most in their lives. They reflect on the special connections they share with family, friends, and caregivers, and learn how these relationships influence their emotions. Building on their empathy skills, students practise recognising when someone may feel left out and take kind, respectful action to help them feel included. Through role-play, storytelling, and group discussions, they learn how to create a sense of belonging for others and themselves. Students strengthen their emotional regulation strategies by using Memory Marbles to process big emotions and choosing their favourite calming tools for different situations. They practise using kind and respectful language to solve everyday problems and develop the ability to recognise the size of a problem, knowing when they have the power to fix it on their own or when to seek help. Through this journey, students refine their empathy, emotional awareness, and respectful communication to help create a classroom community where everyone feels valued, connected, and included. 

    Student Activities

    Emotional Regulation Activities

    • Happy Memory Marbles 
    • Calming Toolbox 

    Student Activities

    • Unique Connections Sentences 
    • Using Happy Memory Marbles 
    • Fix Small Problem Scenarios 
    • Paired Whole Body Listening 
    • Problem Power 
    • Top Two Calming Tools 
    • Empathy Detective Ideas 
    • Class Community Kindness Calendar 

    Features

    • Animations
    • Small Group Activities
    • Interactive Digital Illustrations

    Lessons and Resources

    Lessons

    • 9 Week Unit
    • Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks.
    • Week 1 – Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers.
    • Week 9 – Personal Reflection – Completed by students.
    • Optional Summative Assessment – The assessment will cover HPE content (weeks 1–8).

    Resources

    • Lessons x8
    • Instructional Teaching GuideUnit Overview
    • Assessments/Progression Indicators
    • Professional Learning Modules

     

    Year 3 – Year 4

    Years 3-4, Lesson 1

    Years 3-4, Lesson 2

    Unit Overview

    In Unit 4, students will integrate the skills they have developed throughout the course to build confidence in communication and collaborative problem-solving. They will deepen their self-awareness by exploring their unique communication styles and learning to express their thoughts and stories effectively. Through practising techniques for managing stress and remaining calm in challenging conversations, students will strengthen their emotional regulation. 

    Student Activities

    Emotional Regulation Activities

    • 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique 
    • Assertive Communication 

    Student Activities

    • Major Moment Reflection 
    • 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding 
    • Empathy Roleplay 
    • Calm Talk Roleplay 
    • What’s My Style? 
    • What Triggers Me? 
    • Modelling Active Listening 
    • Team Tower Challenge 

    Features

    • Animations
    • Small Group Activities
    • Interactive Digital Illustrations

    Lessons and Resources

    Lessons

    • 9 Week Unit
    • Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks.
    • Week 1 – Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers.
    • Week 9 – Personal Reflection – Completed by students.
    • Optional Summative Assessment – The assessment will cover HPE content (weeks 1–8).

    Resources

    • Lessons x8
    • Instructional Teaching Guide
    • Unit Overview
    • Assessments/Progression Indicators
    • Professional Learning Modules

    Year 5 – Year 6

    Years 5-6, Lesson 1

    Years 5-6, Lesson 2

    Unit Overview

    Unit 4 focuses on the essential skills needed for effective collaboration, conflict resolution and emotional regulation. Students will explore self-awareness and emotional management techniques, learning how to balance their feelings and communicate respectfully. The unit encourages students to practice calming strategies, develop empathy, and appreciate diverse perspectives. Through group activities and discussions, they will refine their ability to work together, manage disagreements, and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. By mastering the four keys—self-awareness, emotional regulation, respect, and teamwork—students will enhance their social skills and contribute positively to the classroom community. 

    Student Activities

    Emotional Regulation Activities

    • Mixing Calming Techniques 

    Student Activities

    • Help or Handle? 
    • Calm Combo 
    • Team Drawing Challenge 
    • Handling ‘No’ 
    • Reflecting on My Choices 
    • Calm Choices Chart 
    • CARE to Solve Conflicts 
    • Team Challenge 

    Features

    • Animations
    • Charades
    • Instruction Posters
    • Small Group Activities

    Lessons and Resources

    Lessons

    • 9 Week Unit
    • Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks.
    • Week 1 – Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers.
    • Week 9 – Personal Reflection – Completed by students.
    • Optional Summative Assessment – The assessment will cover HPE content (weeks 1–8).

    Resources

    • Lessons x8
    • Instructional Teaching Guide
    • Student Workbook
    • Unit Overview
    • Assessments/Progression Indicators
    • Poster
    • Feeling Flash Cards
    • Professional Learning Modules

    Other Units

    Lesson Design

    Lesson Objective

    Success Criteria

    Activating Prior Knowledge

    I Do

    We Do

    Apple Question

    You Do

    Revise

    Professional Learning