Second - Third Grade
Developmental Characteristics
Physical
Enthusiastic about games
Experiencing improvement in both gross and fine motor skills
Possess a high activity level
Practice to master variations of movement for physical activities
Enjoy games that allow for comparison of skills
Enjoy games that allow for self-f-improvement
Social Emotional
Have a strong drive toward independence
Develop a strong sense of loyalty to friends
Need to belong to a group
Play with and are friends with same-sex peers
Like to take on responsibility
Live in a world of games, rituals and humor inhabited only by children
Like to have a best friend
Have a rigid sense of right and wrong
Need help accepting peers who are different or left out of a group
Cognitive
Like to talk; use language to express feelings/tell stories
Developing a sense of time
Enjoy collecting things
Enjoy problem-solving games like treasure hunts
Can plan and carry out projects with adult support
Becoming more self-directed in activities
Better able to understand and appreciate differences of opinion
Among Us: Teacher is the Imposter
Students design their own Among Us/Roblox character, then work together to solve a mystery — figuring out how a teacher's character broke their leg when the lights went out, questioning the "victim" rather than blaming peers.
Week 6: Reflection and celebration (3-5)
Students play SEL-Style Musical Chairs — walking around chairs to music, but instead of eliminating anyone, everyone works together to find a spot when the music stops — then rotate through the SEL Scenario Celebration, where the teacher reads real-life scenarios (a friend crying, wanting to yell, fighting over a toy) and students respond or act out the best SEL solution.
Week 6: Reflection and celebration (TK-2)
Students play SEL-Style Musical Chairs — walking around chairs to music, but instead of eliminating anyone, everyone works together to find a spot when the music stops — then rotate through the SEL Scenario Celebration, where the teacher reads real-life scenarios (a friend crying, wanting to yell, fighting over a toy) and students respond or act out the best SEL solution.
Week 5: Conflict Resolution (3-5)
Students watch a movement brain break video about solving problems, then play the Scenario Challenge — the teacher dramatically acts out wrong choices (grabbing, interrupting, yelling) while students call out "NOT A GOOD CHOICE!" and shout Fix-It responses like using words, taking a breath, or walking away.
Week 5: Conflict Resolution (TK-2)
Students watch a movement brain break video about solving problems, then play the Scenario Challenge — the teacher dramatically acts out wrong choices (grabbing, interrupting, yelling) while students call out "NOT A GOOD CHOICE!" and shout Fix-It responses like using words, taking a breath, or walking away.
Week 4: Decision making steps (3-5)
Students play Zoo — competing to pick a different animal body pose than the leader on the count of three — then practice the Stop, Think, Choose strategy through a movement game (TK–K) where they freeze, point to their head, and move on cue between different locomotor actions, or act out scenarios applying the three steps (1st–2nd).
Week 4: Decision making steps (TK-2)
Students play Zoo — competing to pick a different animal body pose than the leader on the count of three — then practice the Stop, Think, Choose strategy through a movement game (TK–K) where they freeze, point to their head, and move on cue between different locomotor actions, or act out scenarios applying the three steps (1st–2nd).
Week 3: Team Problem-Solving Games (3-5)
Students play Team Freeze Challenge — moving around the room and freezing on cue to solve a quick group challenge together — then play "What Would You Do?", turning and talking with a partner about how to handle each school problem scenario before sharing or acting it out for the class.
Week 3: Team Problem-Solving Games (TK-2)
Students play Team Freeze Challenge — moving around the room and stopping like statues on "Freeze!" to solve a quick group challenge together — then play the Human Shape Challenge, using only their bodies to form shapes or objects called out by the teacher, working in partners, small groups, or as a whole class.
Week 2: Tattling vs Reporting (3-5)
Students improv scenarios where they must come up with a solution on their own before involving an adult — acting out responses like taking a deep breath, asking politely, or using words — then play the Tattling vs. Reporting Scenario Game, moving to a red (tattling) or green (reporting) side of the room for each scenario and discussing how to handle the tattling situations independently.
Week 2: Tattling vs Reporting (TK-2)
Students watch and discuss a live skit where a student immediately tattles on the teacher for accidentally taking the wrong backpack, then play the Tattling vs. Reporting Scenario Game — moving to a red (tattling) or green (reporting) side of the room for each scenario and brainstorming how to solve the tattling situations independently.
Week 1: What is a problem? (3-5)
Students play the Problem Traffic Light — moving fast for green (small) problems, slowly for yellow (medium) problems, and freezing for red (big/emergency) problems as scenarios are called out — then play Problem War, flipping scenario cards head-to-head and competing to identify who has the bigger problem while the class confirms each answer.
Week 1: What is a problem? (TK-2)
Students take turns playing an online memory matching game as a class (practicing patience and silent helping), then color Bluey character puppets while watching a Bluey clip paused at key moments to discuss the problem and feelings, before a group of students reenacts the scene using their finished puppets.
Brown Bag Theater
To develop short skits about the community values, and for participants to produce their own theater festival.
Creative Coloring
Students each receive one color and must collaborate to create a single picture together, using only their assigned color with no trading allowed, then reflect on what they learned about teamwork.
Balls and Hoops:Musical Islands
Students move around hula hoop "islands" to music and must work together to fit everyone onto fewer and fewer hoops each round, with the goal of including every student rather than eliminating anyone.
Overcoming Obstacles
Children will develop problem-solving skills by moving through an interesting obstacle course.
Pineapple Investigations
Through investigating a pineapple, students will engage in sensory exploration, problem solving, creative thinking, language development, and beginning science concepts.
Puppet Pets
Students will reflect on ethical responsibility through learning about pets and performing in a puppet show activity.
Putting Things Together
Children build social, creative-thinking, and problem-solving skills as they work in small groups to create open-ended constructions using a variety of materials — without relying on tape or glue.