Social Emotional Learning Art Activities and Lessons

Use art techniques to teach social emotional skills with kids and young adults. Activities focus on building confidence, self-awareness, relationship skills, managing emotions, coping strategies, social skills, collaboration, mental flexibility, and problem-solving skills. Use these 45 lessons to teach critical SEL lessons in a fun and hands-on way for kids and young adults!

Why Use Art

Art is the perfect window to help kids and young adults work on critical skills. Art is motivating, hands-on, fun, creative, and for all ages and abilities. Some students may struggle to learn social emotional skills, but art can be the pathway to help them learn as they are having fun. Art also helps to build confidence, strengthens empathy, and can be a calming coping strategy.

How to Use

These lessons and activities would be an asset to educators who want to teach and practice social-emotional skills to kids and young adults. These lessons could also be used as part of advisory lessons. You can choose which materials to use to best meet the needs of your students, though recommended materials are included in each lesson.

Note that you do not need to be an artist to teach and practice these lessons! An educator guide includes step-by-step directions, student objectives, materials, and discussion questions after the artwork is made. Also, you can choose whether to teach every single lesson or select the best art activities and lessons for your individual students.

Table of Contents

Educator & Parent Resources

• Educator Guide

• Benefits to Using Art

Self-Awareness

• Lesson 1: Becoming an Artist

• Lesson 2: What SEL Means to Me

• Lesson 3: My Feelings

• Lesson 4: My World

• Lesson 5: Self-Collage

• Lesson 6: My Wishes

• Lesson 7: Selfie Portrait

• Lesson 8: Who I Am

• Lesson 9: Proudest Moment

• Lesson 10: Self-Love

• Lesson 11: The Power of Yet

• Lesson 12: My Values

Relationships & Social Awareness

• Lesson 13: My Family

• Lesson 14: Friendship High Five

• Lesson 15: Growing Relationships

• Lesson 16: Important to Me

• Lesson 17: Teamwork Drawing

• Lesson 18: Kindness Share

• Lesson 19: My Community

• Lesson 20: Empathy In My Heart

Managing Emotions

• Lesson 21: Thought Flow

• Lesson 22: Gratitude Box

• Lesson 23: Working Through

• Lesson 24: Self-Talk Spiral

• Lesson 25: My Worry Catcher

• Lesson 26: Positive Thoughts

• Lesson 27: Smell the Flowers

• Lesson 28: Relaxing Colors

• Lesson 29: Cooking Breathing

• Lesson 30: Squish the Stress Away

• Lesson 31: Calm Down Jar

• Lesson 32: Mindful Coloring

• Lesson 33: Stress Ball

• Lesson 34: Cool as an Ice Cube

Problem-Solving Skills

• Lesson 35: Be Flexible

• Lesson 36: Secret Drawing

• Lesson 37: Let's Build Together

• Lesson 38: Accepting the Challenge

• Lesson 39: Make a Superhero

• Lesson 40: Outside the Box

• Lesson 41: Problem Solver Toolbox

• Lesson 42: My Good Choice

• Lesson 43: Mind Master

• Lesson 44: My Hands Make a Difference

• Lesson 45: Being a Leader

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— { Social Emotional MEGA BUNDLE }

This is a huge mega bundle with over 470 pages focusing on critical social and emotional skills, including emotional management, coping with anger and anxiety, perspective-taking skills, developing smart goals, improving confidence, executive functioning skills, self-regulation, positive thinking, and more.

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Terms of Use:

© Pathway 2 Success. One license is for the classroom/personal use for one educator and their students. Materials may not be shared with other educators without the purchase of extra licenses. Materials may not be posted on the Internet where they can be publicly accessed. Personal and classroom use only. Please see full terms of use for more information.

Disclaimer: These resources are for supplementary support/education purposes and are not a replacement for education or other necessary supports. Educators, parents, and others who utilize these materials are encouraged to seek out additional support, as needed.