Peer relationship navigation, conversational turn-taking, and stress management strategies within supportive group settings. Develops communal belonging through shared mental health education and collaborative skill practice.
Students synthesize their learning by creating a personal coping plan and reflecting on their growth throughout the group.
Introduces physical and environmental coping strategies, including deep breathing, grounding techniques, and healthy lifestyle habits.
Focuses on the connection between thoughts and feelings, teaching students how to challenge negative self-talk and reframe stressful situations.
Students will define stress, identify their personal 'stress triggers', and learn how their bodies react to pressure.
A game-based social-emotional learning lesson using UNO cards to help students navigate the transition to high school, focusing on friendships, academic stress, peer pressure, and balance.
Introduces the Social Intelligence Academy and explores "Vibe Checks"—the criteria for healthy, high-functioning middle school friendships.
Final reflection, celebration of growth, and planning for the journey ahead.
Reviewing various coping skills and creating a personalized 'Survival Kit' for future use.
Focusing on the power of breath and mindfulness as internal tools for regulation.
Identifying cognitive distortions or 'tricky trails' and learning to reframe thoughts using a 'Thought Compass'.
Understanding the physical 'alarm system' of the body and learning grounding techniques to stay present during 'storms'.
Introduction to the group, establishing norms, and identifying individual stress triggers using the 'Stress Landscape' metaphor.
A lesson focused on understanding emotional contagion—how our moods affect others—and developing emotional boundaries to protect our own energy from the moods of others. Students will explore the "ripple effect" through visual metaphors and interactive role-play.
An overview of body diversity, neutrality, and media literacy, shifting focus from ornaments to instruments.
Focusing on interpersonal communication, the THINK rule, setting boundaries, and positive social interactions.
Focusing on building a kinder inner dialogue, transitioning from a self-critical voice to a self-compassionate one, and developing resilience through positive self-talk.
Exploring the world of social media, filters, and algorithms to understand how digital spaces influence our self-perception and how to navigate them authentically.
Celebrating the group's journey and individual growth with a final collaborative art piece and reflection.
Goal setting and visioning for the future using a 'Letter to My 9th Grade Self' activity.
A 25-minute Tier 2 group lesson for 8th-grade boys focusing on understanding others' perspectives and building strong relationships through empathy.
A 30-minute Tier 2 small-group workshop for 8th graders aimed at strengthening peer support through interactive activities like giving compliments and expressing gratitude.
A 20-minute Tier 2 social skills lesson for 8th-grade girls focused on identifying personal interests, practicing conversation starters, and building positive social connections through guided discussion and activities.
A 30-minute Tier 2 group support session for 8th graders focused on navigating the emotional and practical transition from middle school to high school.
The class collaborates to create a set of norms and agreements for daily check-ins, defining safety, respect, and honesty in their shared space.
Students learn protocols for when a peer shares concerning information, distinguishing between being a supportive friend and involving an adult.
Through role-play, students explore how one person's mood can influence the energy of the entire group and discuss strategies for maintaining personal boundaries.
Students examine body language and facial expressions to understand unvoiced feelings during a check-in, practicing matching non-verbal cues to emotional states.
Students practice techniques for listening to peers during check-ins without judgment or immediate interruption, learning the value of validation over unsolicited advice.
Students step into leadership roles to facilitate mock check-in circles. They practice time management, ensuring equitable participation, and smooth transitions from check-in to academic tasks.
Teaches students how to offer constructive support using specific sentence stems. The focus is on validation and empathy rather than trying to immediately 'fix' a peer's problem or feelings.
Students collaborate to establish 'rules of engagement' for sharing. They learn to distinguish between 'public' shares for the group and 'private' shares that require one-on-one teacher support.
Focuses on developing active listening skills specifically for peer check-ins. Students practice non-verbal validation and 'mirroring' techniques to ensure their peers feel heard and understood without judgment.
Students explore how individual moods and behaviors create a 'ripple effect' that impacts the entire classroom community. Through a domino simulation, they learn that checking in is a collective responsibility for the team's success.
Students participate in a structured community circle to synthesize skills, listening without interruption and offering group support.
The class learns to use I-statements to express feelings without blame, transforming accusatory language into constructive dialogue.
Students analyze case studies to understand multiple viewpoints and practice empathy by 'stepping into the shoes' of others.
Learners explore how body language and tone impact belonging, practicing 'open' postures that invite connection.
Students distinguish between hearing and active listening, practicing techniques like eye contact and summarizing to validate peers.
The capstone lesson where students synthesize their learning to draft, negotiate, and finalize a comprehensive support group contract for a hypothetical peer group.
A single-session group activity for eighth-grade boys focused on building respectful communication skills and the art of the weekly check-in. This lesson uses a sports-inspired theme to make social-emotional learning accessible and engaging.
Addressing the practical and emotional aspects of transitioning to high school through a creative survival guide.
Navigating the changing landscape of middle-to-high school friendships and practicing empathy.
An 8th-grade Tier 2 group lesson focused on building a personalized mental health toolkit to help students manage stress and regulate emotions.
Exploring and practicing practical coping strategies and self-care techniques to manage stress and difficult emotions.
Identifying and expressing complex emotions related to parental incarceration through guided discussion and somatic mapping.
Establishing a safe, supportive environment by building rapport, setting clear expectations, and co-creating group norms.
A 30-minute Tier 2 group lesson for middle schoolers focusing on emotional intelligence, identifying feelings, and practicing self-compassion through validation.
A Tier 2 small group lesson for middle schoolers to identify personal impulse triggers and develop 'pause button' strategies for better self-regulation.
A 45-minute social-emotional learning lesson for grades 5-8 focused on developing adaptability and resilience through seasonal transitions and life changes. Students will identify emotions linked to change, build a personalized 'Change Toolkit' of coping strategies, and discuss ways to embrace new routines with confidence.
A Tier 2 small group lesson for middle schoolers to build a personal resilience toolkit, focusing on coping mechanisms and positive self-talk strategies through the metaphor of an architect building a blueprint.
A 30-minute Tier 2 group intervention lesson for middle schoolers using movement to explore and regulate emotions through mindfulness.
Focusing on self-worth beyond performance and athletic identity.
Identifying and understanding overwhelming emotions.
Reviewing key concepts and building a team-wide culture of support.
Building resilience through learning from mistakes on and off the court.
Exploring positive body image and celebrating what bodies can do.
This lesson helps 6th-8th grade students smoothly transition back to the school routine after winter break. It focuses on acknowledging feelings, re-establishing routines, and building collective support to ease back into academics and social life.
A Tier 2 group lesson introducing simple mindfulness techniques like mindful breathing and listening to help students reduce stress and improve focus.
This small group session provides a safe space for 8th-grade students to explore healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with loss and grief, helping them build a personalized 'toolkit' for emotional resilience.
A functional skills lesson focused on navigating a restaurant experience on a budget, covering menu reading, budget planning, social etiquette, and group check splitting.
This lesson teaches students the importance of respecting personal space and how to contribute positively to group work. It uses social story modeling to show clear examples of 'expected' behaviors in various classroom scenarios.
The final three weeks focus on making amends, setting future goals, and celebrating the progress made throughout the Social Detective program.
Weeks 7-9 address physical aggression, understanding consequences, and deep-diving into reading social clues to build empathy.
Weeks 4-6 of the intervention, focusing on practical impulse control strategies like the 'Pause Button' and addressing specific behaviors like lying and respecting property.
The first three weeks focus on building high-level self-awareness and understanding the core concepts of social perspective-taking and physiological self-monitoring.
Final review of core concepts, post-test administration, and a group celebration of social growth.
Applying social thinking to problem-solving, focusing on the 'Size of the Problem' and matching reactions accordingly.
Practicing appropriate peer socialization skills, including starting conversations, maintaining topics, and recognizing social boundaries.
Focusing on impulse control, teaching students to identify 'spark' moments and use strategies to pause before acting.
Developing social awareness by learning how to 'read the room' and interpret non-verbal cues like body language and tone of voice.
Introduction to the group, pre-test administration, and exploring the concept of social thinking—thinking about what others are thinking and feeling.
A small group social skills lesson focused on reciprocal conversation, specifically sharing opinions and asking follow-up questions during lunch or social gatherings.
Reflecting on the 10-week journey and creating a personal communication contract for the future.
How to define, communicate, and maintain personal boundaries in a healthy way.
The framework for offering and accepting genuine apologies to repair damaged relationships.
A collection of appreciation-themed resources for school staff and students to express gratitude through creative, pun-based shoutout cards.
