How to Manage Jealousy Through Positive Actions: An SEL Lesson

In the vast realm of human emotions, jealousy emerges as a turbulent force that often tests an individual’s emotional resilience. It sneaks into one’s life, fueled by comparison, insecurity, and fear, and can wreak havoc on one’s relationships and overall well-being. Even for first graders, jealousy presents a formidable challenge that demands introspection, understanding, and deliberate action.

This evidence-based SEL lesson aims to introduce first graders to the positive action of managing feelings of jealousy. It begins with a brief discussion of what jealousy means and acknowledges that, just like any other negative feelings, it can be managed with positive thoughts and actions.

The teacher shares three positive thoughts with the students that can help them manage feelings of jealousy effectively. The first positive thought revolves around caring for other people's happiness and being genuinely happy about their good fortune. By fostering a sense of empathy and genuine joy for others, first graders can learn to appreciate the success and happiness of those around them.

The second positive thought emphasizes the importance of being happy with oneself, irrespective of what others possess or achieve. Cultivating a positive self-concept helps diminish the impact of jealousy and empowers first graders to focus on their strengths and accomplishments.

The third positive thought validates the normalcy of feeling jealous at times but encourages students to view it as a negative emotion. By shifting their perspective, they can strive to replace jealousy with positive actions, such as sharing in others' successes and happiness.

To reinforce the lesson's key principles, the teacher uses Positive Pat and Negative Ned, two whimsical puppets embodying high and low emotional intelligence, respectively. The teacher reads out a series of statements and asks the students to point to Positive Pat when a statement is positive and to Negative Ned when it expresses jealousy or negativity. This engaging activity allows the students to discern positive and negative emotions. In the end, it is emphasized that managing feelings of jealousy is a positive action that makes one feel good about oneself.

Equipping first graders with the tools to manage jealousy is crucial for their social and emotional development. By introducing positive thoughts and actions, this SEL lesson provides a solid foundation for students to navigate the complexities of jealousy effectively. Through empathy, self-confidence, and recognition of jealousy as a negative feeling, first graders can take proactive steps to scare away the green-eyed monster and cultivate a positive and resilient mindset that will serve them well into the future.