SEL Activities for Primary Schools

Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Australian Classrooms

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a priority in Australian schools as educators recognise that academic success depends on students' ability to manage emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL activities — from feelings check-ins and mindfulness exercises to conflict resolution lessons and resilience programs — give teachers practical tools to support student wellbeing alongside academic learning.

TeachBuySell offers a growing collection of teacher-created SEL resources designed for Australian primary classrooms, including morning routine activities, dedicated SEL lessons, classroom display materials, and whole-school wellbeing programs.

Research consistently demonstrates that SEL programs improve not only student wellbeing but also academic outcomes. A landmark meta-analysis of 213 studies found that students who participated in SEL programs showed an 11-percentile-point gain in academic achievement compared to those who did not.

The Five Core SEL Competencies

The CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) framework identifies five interconnected competencies that form the foundation of SEL:

1. Self-Awareness — Recognising one's emotions, strengths, and limitations. Activities include feelings check-ins, emotion identification, and personal reflection.

2. Self-Management — Regulating emotions, setting goals, and managing stress. Activities include mindfulness, breathing exercises, goal-setting, and coping strategy discussions.

3. Social Awareness — Understanding others' perspectives and showing empathy. Activities include perspective-taking exercises, community discussions, and cultural awareness lessons.

4. Relationship Skills — Communicating effectively, cooperating, and resolving conflicts. Activities include teamwork challenges, communication games, and conflict resolution role-plays.

5. Responsible Decision-Making — Making constructive choices about behaviour and social interactions. Activities include ethical dilemma discussions, consequence mapping, and problem-solving scenarios.

Learn more about the framework at CASEL's Fundamentals of SEL.

The Australian Context

In Australia, SEL aligns with the Australian Curriculum's General Capability of Personal and Social Capability, which is embedded across all learning areas. Many states also have specific wellbeing frameworks — such as NSW's Wellbeing Framework for Schools — that support SEL integration.

Morning Check-Ins

Start each day with a brief emotional check-in. This might be a feelings chart where students move their name to match their mood, a simple "rate your day 1–5" activity, or a partner share. Morning check-ins normalise talking about emotions and give teachers a quick pulse on student wellbeing.

Dedicated SEL Lessons

Schedule 20–30 minutes per week for explicit SEL instruction. Use picture books, discussion scenarios, role-plays, and structured activities to teach specific skills like identifying emotions, using calming strategies, or resolving disagreements.

Embed SEL Across the Curriculum

SEL doesn't have to be a separate lesson. Integrate it into:

• English — Discuss characters' emotions, motivations, and relationship dynamics
• HSIE/HASS — Explore community, belonging, and diverse perspectives
• Health and PE — Connect to personal health, safety, and wellbeing outcomes
• The Arts — Use drama, visual arts, and music for emotional expression

Create a Safe, Supportive Classroom Culture

SEL works best when the classroom environment supports it. Establish clear expectations, model emotional regulation yourself, use restorative approaches to behaviour management, and create physical spaces (calm corners, reflection areas) where students can self-regulate.

Use Visual Supports

Feelings posters, emotion wheels, calming strategy cards, and social story displays give students concrete tools they can reference independently. These are especially important for younger students and those who need additional support.

Involve Families

Share SEL strategies with families so students can practise at home. Simple newsletters explaining the emotion vocabulary or calming techniques you're teaching help create consistency between school and home.

Foundation & Year 1

Focus on basic emotion identification, naming feelings, and simple calming strategies (deep breathing, counting to ten). Use picture books about emotions, feelings faces activities, and "how would you feel if..." scenarios. Keep activities concrete and visual.

Year 2 & Year 3

Expand to understanding that people can feel different emotions about the same situation. Introduce empathy, friendship skills, and basic conflict resolution. Students can begin keeping reflection journals and participating in class meetings or circle time discussions.

Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6

Upper primary students can engage with more complex SEL concepts: managing peer pressure, understanding diverse perspectives, setting personal goals, developing growth mindset, and building resilience. Discussion-based activities, ethical dilemma scenarios, and student-led initiatives work well at this level.

SEL is particularly important for students with learning difficulties, who often experience frustration, anxiety, and low self-esteem in academic settings. Students with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) may also need additional SEL support, as difficulties with spoken language can affect social communication and peer relationships.

Whole-School Approaches

The most effective SEL programs are consistent across the whole school. Look for resources that support school-wide themes or programs like Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) or Be You (formerly KidsMatter).