Subject: SEL (Social-Emotional Learning)

Lesson Length: 45 mins - 1 hour

Topic: Flexibility, Perseverance, Growth Mindset

Grade Level: 1, 2

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will illustrate how they did or could play a game that they did not know before. 

Know Before You Start: Students should be prepared to explain the rules and/or objectives of the game they'll write about.

Hook:

  • Ask students:
    • “Has anyone ever played _______ before?”
    • “How can you show good sportsmanship when playing a game?”
    • “What emotions might you feel when trying something new?”
    • “What does it mean to be open-minded?”

Activity:

  • Teach students how to play a game that has not been played in class before, e.g., Minefield, Minute to Win It, Flashcard Duel, Heads Up- Seven Up.
  • Give students time to play the game.
  • Have students reflect in a whole group discussion about what it was like to learn and play a new game.
  • Ask the class:
    • How did you feel when I said we were going to learn something new today?
    • What emotions did you feel when you started to play? 
    • Did your emotions change as we continued to play? 
    • What strategies did you use when the game became more difficult?
    • Were you open-minded today? How do you know?
  • Have students create a comic that illustrates how they did or could play the game.

Closure:

  • Have students teach their chosen game to one another in small groups.
  • Have students reflect on how they felt when first learning, compared to how they feel when teaching the game to others.
  • Students will share their comics with a partner.
  • Share with the class that being open-minded helps your brain grow because you are willing to do something new and be flexible in your thinking. When you are open-minded, you practice curiosity and risk-taking.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
  • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
  • Allow students to use the voiceover to read their comics aloud.
  • Provide students with a graphic organizer to plan or map out their experience playing the game. (Draw/Plan then Write, Sequence Chart, or Stop and Think)

Resources:

Suggested Story Starters: