6 SEL Activities for the First Week of School

The first week of school can be exciting and overwhelming for students, especially autistic students and those with ADHD. Social and emotional learning (SEL) activities can set a positive tone for the school year and give students valuable tools they can use for emotional regulation, relationship-building, and more. These five SEL activities for the first week of school can be used any time during the school year. To access the lesson plans, click the title of each section.

Back-to-School Classroom Procedures

Routines and procedures provide predictability, which can reduce the anxiety students may feel at the beginning of the school year. This lesson plan can be used to teach classroom procedures and give students the opportunity to practice procedures in a fun and engaging way.

SMART Goals

Goal-setting is an important skill for students and adults. However, it can be overwhelming. By teaching students how to create SMART goals, they can learn how to set attainable goals and how to break them into smaller tasks, increasing their chance of achieving the goal.

Trust and Online Safety

Autistic children are more likely to be cyberbullied or exploited online. This lesson plan and activity teaches students how to navigate online interactions safely and responsibly. By exploring topics like digital footprints, privacy, and how to recognize online threats, students learn how to identify who to trust and how to protect themselves online. 

Developing Self-Awareness through Peer Interviews

This activity gives students the opportunity to learn more about their peers and share information about themselves. This is especially helpful for students who may struggle with starting conversations.

Understanding Stress

Middle school can be challenging and stressful for all students. However, autistic students often face additional stress when it comes to the social and emotional aspects of navigating middle school. In this lesson, students will learn how to recognize and manage stress in a healthy way.

Coping Strategies 

While this coping strategies poster is meant to be displayed in the classroom, it is a valuable resource to use to teach students different ways to regulate their emotions when they feel overwhelmed. To turn this into a lesson, review the coping strategies and allow students to practice each one, identifying which one(s) appeal the most to them.

Our SEL curriculum and online game Ava are full of SEL lessons to use year-round. Learn more about the SEL program that has impact 240+ schools and therapy centers throughout the country.