Every Child is Special - Social and Emotional Learning

This unit teaches early friendship and cooperation skills through structured, hands-on learning experiences. Students practise kindness, respect and teamwork while learning how to include others and build positive relationships. The unit supports a strong, inclusive classroom culture. 

• Learn how to show respect and keep yourself and others safe. 
• Practise taking turns and waiting without interrupting, so games feel fun and fair for everyone. 
• Share items or space to include others in your play. 
• Learn how sharing items or space can include others in play. 
• Listen carefully to your classmates. 
• Learn that offering help and working together make it easier to finish a task or game. 
• Think about what it means to be a good friend. 
• Practise asking someone to join your game. 
• Think back on what you learned about being kind and working together. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons 

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Posters/Resources: 
  • My Gauge Poster: Helps students understand that their feelings can change 
  • Student Reflections: Optional activity that can be used to have students reflect on certain emotions 
  • Calm Down Poster: Displays a number of calming strategy examples to support students to manage strong feelings 
  • Respect Flower craft cut-out: In Lesson 1, students draw a way they can show respect towards others 
  • Being a Good Friend craft cut-out: In Lesson 9, students draw one way they can be a good friend. 

Lesson 9 Personal Reflection – Completed by students 

Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 

The Personal Reflection and Teacher Observation are used to capture meaningful insights into each student’s growth. 

Lesson 10 Optional Summative Assessment

This unit develops students’ ability to work and play positively with others through explicit teaching of social skills. Through games, role-play and reflection, students practise cooperation, fairness and respectful communication. The structured approach helps turn social skills into everyday habits. 

• Learn what fairness means and how to include others equally. 
• Practise taking turns and sharing during group play. 
• Explore what good teammates do to help their team. 
• Think of how you can offer help to classmates in small ways. 
• Use polite words and actions to show respect. 
• Practise listening to others with your whole body. 
• Use words that make others feel good. 
• Practise being a good friend through words and actions. 
• Think about how your actions help you work and play well with others. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Posters/Resources:  
  • My Gauge Poster: Helps students understand that their feelings can change 
  • Student Reflections: Optional activity that can be used to have students reflect on certain emotions 
  • Calm Down Poster: Displays a number of calming strategy examples to support students to manage strong feelings 
  • Helping Hearts craft cut-out: In Lesson 4, students write a sentence describing how they can help others in a heart. Teacher can hang the hearts in the classroom. 
  • Friendship Skill Leaf and Tree craft cut-out: In Lesson 9, students write about a friendship skill they have learned on a leaf. Teacher can add the leaves to the tree trunk to create a classroom community tree. 

Lesson 9 Personal Reflection – Completed by students 

Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 

The Personal Reflection and Teacher Observation are used to capture meaningful insights into each student’s growth. 

Lesson 10 Optional Summative Assessment

This unit strengthens students’ relationship skills by explicitly teaching fairness, inclusion and effective communication. Through structured lessons and guided practice, students learn how to work collaboratively, manage conflict and respond with empathy in social situations. The consistent approach supports respectful relationships and a positive, cooperative classroom environment.

• Identify what fairness looks and sounds like in a game setting. 
• Understand what good teamwork really means and how each member can play a role. 
• Practise how to speak and listen kindly, so everyone feels included. 
• Demonstrate how to listen carefully and respond in a way that shows care. 
• Explore how people can be different and why it’s important to respect these differences. 
• Explain how to include others, so they feel valued and welcomed. 
• Practise handling conflicts with friends in a kind and fair way. 
• Demonstrate how to make things right after a disagreement. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Assessments/Progression Indicators  
• Whole Body Listening Poster 
• Instruction Posters 
• Professional Learning Modules 

Personal Reflection – Completed by students 

Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 

The Personal Reflection and Teacher Observation are used to capture meaningful insights into each student’s growth. 

Optional Summative Assessment 

This unit deepens students’ understanding of relationships by explicitly teaching empathy, boundaries and responsible decision-making. Through structured lessons and guided practice, students learn to manage conflict, respond to peer pressure and navigate both in-person and online interactions with integrity. The consistent approach supports respectful relationships and positive, inclusive communities.

• Learn how to build healthy friendships by recognising your needs and setting boundaries. 
• Practise listening to and respecting opinions that are different from your own. 
• Learn how to resolve conflict in a mature and respectful way. 
• Learn how to notice when peer pressure is happening and how to respond. 
• Practise assertive ways to say no and stand up for what’s right. 
• Explore safe and respectful online behaviour and how it reflects your values. 
• Learn what it means to stand up for others in a kind and safe way. 
• Learn how to make things right after a disagreement. 
• Reflect on how your words and actions affect your friendships and community. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Assessments/Progression Indicators  
• Instruction Posters 
• Professional Learning Modules 

Personal Reflection – Completed by students 

Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 

The Personal Reflection and Teacher Observation are used to capture meaningful insights into each student’s growth. 

Optional Summative Assessment