Positive Steps to a Positive Self-Concept: Kindergarten SEL Activity

What makes kindergartners feel good about themselves? Positive actions!

Helping a friend, acing a test, improving a talent—all of these are positive behaviors that improve kindergartners’ feelings about themselves. In this SEL lesson, the young students learn that they can build a better self-concept by practicing positive actions. They deepen their understanding of the connection of the two with the help of all their animal friends. But first, Picks-It and Nix-It open this lesson with their puppet play which aims to review and engage the students.

Following the puppet play, the class participates in an SEL activity that reinforces the relationship between self-concept and positive actions. Each student is asked to create their "Self-Concept Signal" using the materials provided, which are “Happy/Sad Faces” attached to “tongue depressors.” The teacher explains that the “Happy Face” signals a positive feeling about themselves while the “Sad Face” signals a negative feeling.

Afterward, the students are asked to use their signals to identify how their animal friends feel about themselves in certain situations. For example, they identify how Abbott Rabbit feels when his forest friends praise him for saving the little robin. They also determine how Annie Owl feels when her forest friends notice that she has made her nest all wrong. This exercise emphasizes the relationship between behavior and feelings, while also cultivating empathy in the students.

At the end of the activity, the class participates in a reinforcing discussion. Kindergartners are growing more and more as they understand themselves and their behaviors!

Positive Action program believes that a positive self-concept is a product of positive behavior and thoughts. By engaging in this lesson, kindergartners learn effective strategies they can use to improve their understanding of themselves, while also recognizing their potential to make positive changes in the world.