The world could always use imaginative, intelligent, and empathic adults—adults who think about how their actions, words, and ideas affect others. The model of education that aims to inspire students to become caring and thoughtful citizens is called Social Emotional Learning (SEL), which we introduced in an earlier blog. At STEMscopes, we believe in helping teachers develop students into socially and emotionally mature adults as well as sophisticated thinkers. Here are five activities from our curriculum that promote SEL values.
- During one of our Explain activities, 6th graders are divided into two teams to debate whether the gravitational rainbow theory disproves the Big Bang. Students spend a class period researching theories, collecting evidence, and writing their opening statements. During the debate, one student from each team presents an opening statement, while students on the opposing team take notes for the rebuttal. The debate ends with closing remarks from both teams. Students learn how to articulate their ideas and disagree maturely in this activity. Even though the debate is theoretical and academic, it helps them understand that people can have conflicting opinions but still treat each other with dignity and respect.
- Communication skills are important in both personal and professional life. An effective communicator can explain to a client how their company’s product can improve business and camly express their frustrations in a disagreement with their significant other. We dedicated an entire section to instilling solid communication skills in students: The Communication Development section in our Middle School Toolbox in the science curriculum. It includes several tips for promoting healthy communication practices, such as how to develop body-language awareness, how to be an active listener, and how to speak respectfully to peers.
- Well-adjusted adults are always self aware—that is, they understand their strengths, weaknesses, and how they handle various situations, according to the SEL philsosophy. But to be self aware, a student must first develop reflexive thinking skills, or the ability to introspect. My math thoughts in our math curriculum gives students the opportunity to practice reflexive thinking. Students reflect on their questions, concerns, and opinions regarding their math lessons and then express them in writing. This exercise teaches students to analyze their thoughts and organize them in a coherent way.
- Our curriculum offers several activities (such as small-group activities and communication exercises) that allow students the time to develop healthy relationship skills, a critical component of SEL. One of our favorites is the parent letter in the k-3 math curriculum. The parent letter not only informs parents about what students are learning in class, it also includes a topical activity over which parents and children can bond. Moreover, children practice math under the guidance of their most influential instructors, who will get a chance to teach their children how to problem solve and process their frustrations when they struggle in their math lessons.
- To be a caring citizen, students need to know what to care about. Our curriculum includes several lessons and activities that teach children about some of the critical issues of today. Students, for example, will learn about the devastating effects of climate change on communities around the world. They will also develop solutions to such pressing problems.
Conclusion
SEL is all about facilitating the education of the entire child, not just their minds. It is rooted in the belief that people are more than minds. Although our curriculum is not solely based on the SEL philosophy, it does complement it and provide countless activities that encourage social and emotional development. Our curriculum is more than academically comprehensive—it is also socially and emotionally comprehensive.
