How A Blank Piece of Paper Can Help Students Understand Emotional Resilience

It's the beginning of the year, so I thought I would share one of my favorite lessons. It's quick, easy, and powerful. You can leverage SEL learning in your room with nothing more than a piece of

image origin


Social Emotional Learning (SEL) plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded individuals, equipping them with essential skills to navigate life's challenges. How can such a complex idea be easily surmised in a quick and nearly cost-free activity? With a blank piece of paper.


LESSON: APOLOGY EXPERIMENT

Lesson Objectives:

  • Give students a metaphor to explore the profound impact of words and actions on others
  •  Foster the development of empathy and emotional resilience within themselves.

Lesson Overview:

The lesson is designed to be engaging and suitable for various age groups, providing educators with a flexible framework that can be adapted to different settings.

Materials Needed:
To begin the activity, each student requires a blank piece of paper.
If you don't want to do this activity individually, you can still demonstrate it with a single piece of paper in front of the class.

Warm-up Activity:

The lesson starts with a discussion on emotions, establishing a safe environment for students to share and express their feelings openly.

(You can tie art in by showing portrait paintings, or gifs, or memes, and asking students "What is this person feeling? Why?")

Main Activity: Emotional Experiment with Paper

Step 1: Say Something Mean

Students are NEVER told to be mean on purpose, so it's always fun to watch the confusion (and sometimes human sadistic joy at being mean,) spread through the room. 
I tell the students to think of something mean, that is ALSO school appropriate. I might even collect the ideas on a graphic organizer, ect.) After we've collected some mean comments, the students decide which one they are going to use.

Here are some examples:

- You smell bad.
- I don't like you.

Students finish this step by saying something mean to their paper.

Step 2: Crumble It Up 
Following their negative remarks, students visualize the consequences of their words as they physically crumple up their papers. This step prompts a powerful reflection on the lasting impact of hurtful actions. 


Step 3: Say Sorry & Try to Smooth It Out

Next, students are encouraged to apologize to their paper and attempt to smooth out the wrinkles. 
The point is that, although apologizing is the right thing to do, it doesn't always undo the damaged caused by the hurtful words.

Reflection Questions:

 Did Apology Smooth Paper?

Students are prompted to share their observations and discuss whether the apology was enough to completely erase the paper's wrinkles, drawing parallels to real-life scenarios.

Will Wrinkles Ever Go Away?

Through a group discussion, students explore the idea that some consequences of hurtful actions may be irreversible, fostering empathy and understanding.

Debrief and Group Discussion:

The class processes their emotions, discussing their experiences during the activity. Educators encourage empathy and compassion, reinforcing the importance of kindness.

Final Thoughts:

Being human is hard. As adults, we forget that the littles in our lives have feelings just as big as we do. They just don't know how to manage all of them yet. This activity helps them understand that what they say to each other, and to THEMSELVES, matters. 

Please share your favorite lessons in the comments below because we are all #BETTERTOGETHER 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fun, Effortless Phonics Reinforcement Flex Games

Image
Phonics is the foundation of reading and writing, and reinforcing phonics concepts doesn't have to be a daunting task. In fact, it can be loads of fun with minimal preparation and materials. Today, I'm sharing five engaging phonics activities that require very little prep and few materials.  These games can be played as an entire class, a small group, or individually. Some of these games include elements of art and design, and others can be played with the whole class, making learning phonics easy and breezy! 1. Word Wall Art Materials Needed: sticky notes markers blank wall/poster board. How to Play:  Write a variety of words on sticky notes, each highlighting a different phonics concept (e.g., CVC words, words with silent 'e,' or words with consonant blends.) I also use word lists that you can generate by using AI tools like ChatGTP, or you can find free lists on TeachersPayTeachers, or Google. Stick these notes to the wall or poster board.  Ask the kids to choose a w...
Read more

Fun and Active Phonics Games - Integrated and Standards-Based

Image
Teaching phonics to elementary school students is a crucial part of developing their reading and language skills.  I love to integrate different elements of the standards. Overlapping PE and Art standards makes learning fun and more engaging. By integrating physical education standards and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for reading foundational skills, teachers can make learning phonics an active and engaging experience. I especially enjoy connecting PE and phonics because brain science tells us that movement increases the retention of information. Before I get into the games, here are the standards that they meet: PE Standards: Standard 1: Motor Skills and Movement Patterns    - Develop fundamental motor skills like running, jumping, and skipping.    - Engage in activities that promote coordination and balance. CCSS Reading Foundational Standards: RF.K.1: Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.    - Recognize and...
Read more

Art, PE, Multi-Modality Phonics, Oh, my!

Image
Enhancing Phonics Skills: Five Interactive Strategies for Students Phonics is a fundamental aspect of early language development, serving as the cornerstone for proficient reading and writing skills. Integrating engaging activities into phonics practice can make learning enjoyable and effective. Here are a few more games that require very few materials and even less prep! 1. Partner Back-Writing  One creative way to engage students in phonics practice is to pair them up for partner back-writing with a whiteboard twist. This activity incorporates both kinesthetic and visual learning styles and aligns with California's PE standards and ELA standards. - Provide each pair of students with a word list. - One student writes a phonics word from the list on their partner's back using their finger. The tactile sensation helps reinforce word recognition. - The partner receiving the message writes the word on a whiteboard as accurately as possible. - Encourage students to switch roles for...
Read more