Activities for Building Character and Social-Emotional Learning, Grades 6-8

Build attitudes of respect and caring, reduce problem behaviours, empower students to solve problems, and educate the whole child with the flexible, user-friendly activity guides in the Safe & Caring Schools® series. The lessons’ literature-based connections allow teachers to “build in” rather than “add on” social-emotional learning (SEL) throughout the day. Field-tested in classrooms, these activities when fully implemented have resulted in improved school climate, greater parent engagement, increased academic achievement, and reduction in discipline referrals.

Each book offers:

• 100+ easy-to-implement year-round activities that integrate into the daily curriculum in all subject areas
• Monthly themes focused on empathy, bullying prevention, teamwork, decision-making, and more
• Concise lesson formats (Read, Discuss, Do, Relate)
• Discussion and writing prompts
• Built-in assessment

The Grades 6–8 resource guide has been successfully used in the early high school years during advisory time and classroom meetings. The guide provides specific, easy-to-use activities that allow students to have conversations, learn through inquiry, and feel empowered to change through self-monitoring of their creative thinking. Students use creative ways, including art, drama, writing, music, and reading, to express themselves and reflect on their experiences. Key concepts:

• Me and my school community—what I need at school, cool rules, and respecting differences
• Discovering our feelings—character building, dealing with anger, stress, and attitude makes a difference
• My support system—friendship factors, stress stoppers, peer pressure, and people who care about me
• Respect yourself and others—the language of respect, blaming, compassion, and private space
• Bullying—being cool enough to care, bully survey, courage to be a positive bystander, and how to handle bullies
• Teaming up for success—accountability, leadership, verbal and non-verbal communication, and co-operation
• Conflict resolution—keeping my cool, problem solving steps, and team spirit
• The power to choose—targeting good choices, learning from my choices, thinking before acting, and making a difference at school
• Follow your dreams—positive role models, using my gifts and talents, self-discipline, and setting goals

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