Free SEL Resources for Elementary Teachers, Counselors, and Parents

Ray's Grandma Leila opens a drawer and pulls out a faded photograph of a young man in uniform. Thomas Burtt. A real person. He grew up in Botany, survived Gallipoli, lost two toes to frostbite, came home, and chose to go back. His last diary entry was written three days before he died.

Atlas escapes through the back gate and Ray panics. Grandma Leila calls after him: stay calm and think. What follows teaches Ray; and your students; that frustration handled well is its own kind of strength.

Ray draws a picture of Tammy the cockatiel, goes back to Mrs Baker's porch, and sits with her in silence. He doesn't fix anything. He just stays. Students practice the lost art of simply being there for someone.

Ray comes home with a ruined painting and thinks it's worthless. Grandma Leila holds it up to the light and finds a shadow, a storm, a story hiding inside the mistake. Students do the same with their own.

Ray marches over to stop Sam bullying Gertie — then does something nobody expected. He goes and sits with Sam. Students explore what's really underneath difficult behaviour, and what one small step toward understanding can change.

Students learn the flower and candle breathing technique Ray taught his classmate Nicholas — and design their own classroom calm corner. No prep. Ready for the week ahead.

Children rarely grieve the way adults expect them to. This article explores why stories help children process grief and loss, how grief can appear through behavior, and how trusted adults can support grieving children with honesty and emotional safety.

Some children carry worries everywhere they go. This article explores books for kids who worry about everything, including emotionally supportive stories that help anxious children feel understood, emotionally safe, and less alone.

There’s usually a moment when it begins. A teacher asks a child to calm down. A classmate rolls their eyes. Someone says, “You’re being dramatic,” or “You’re too sensitive.” Sometimes it’s said harshly and sometimes it’s said casually, almost without thinking. Still, for certain children, especially emotionally sensitive kids, those moments don’t just pass by. They settle somewhere deep. Over time, a child who naturally feels things intensely can start believing their feeling

Students design their own boomerang of love and discover how kindness multiplies when you send it out. No prep. Ready for Monday. Free from Radical Ray.

A ready-to-use SEL self-awareness activity for grades 2–5. Students discover their inner guide through journaling and reflection. No prep. Free from Radical Ray.

If you've ever watched a child fall apart over something that looked small from the outside, you already understand why social emotional learning matters. Here's what the research says, and why the elementary years are the most important window for building these skills.

Students discover what they have in common with people who seem completely different — through curiosity and conversation. No prep. Ready for Monday.

Students experience what it feels like to be left out — and what it takes to be the one who crosses the room. A 20-minute no-prep role play that changes how kids see each other.

Students secretly perform one act of kindness for a classmate — then on Friday, the whole class reveals who did what for whom. Simple, powerful, and guaranteed to change the room.