Building Better Choices: Decision-Making SEL Strategies for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Lesson 1 – Making Choices: 

Students will learn about making choices and understanding the consequences of their decisions. Activities include:

• Choice and Consequence activity cards
• “Decision Tree” poster
• “My Choices Matter” wristband craft

Lesson 2 – Problem-Solving: Students will learn basic steps for effective problem-solving and practice applying them to various situations.

• “Solution Finder” Game
• “Problem-Solving Superthinker” crown craft for role play scenario
• “Puzzle Problem” solving boxes
• Problem Solving Poster

Lesson 3 – Evaluating Decisions: Young learners will assess how to reflect on past decisions and their outcomes, developing skills for better future decision-making.

• “Decision Detective” Activity with badges.
• Choices” Sorting Game
• “Decision Journal”

Lesson 4 – Safety and Responsibility:  Explore how to safe and responsible choices, understanding basic safety rules, and recognizing their role in maintaining a safe environment.

• “Safety Scout” Activity
• “Safe or Unsafe?” Game with scenario cards
• “Responsibility Rocks” labels

Lesson 5 – Peer Pressure:  Practice skills to recognize peer pressure, understand its effects, and practice strategies for resisting negative peer pressure.

• “Peer Pressure Scenario” Role-Play cards
• “Say No, Go, Tell” Strategy poster
• “Strong Self” Superhero craft

Inside the weekly SEL Unit you will find: 

• Objective, materials list, and suggested lesson duration
• Book suggestion
• Greeting & Warm Up: Welcome the new SEL lesson, review previous lessons, and share goal for new lesson.
• 4 different activities: Includes reading books, using different printables, journals, games, and more.
• Conclusion & Wrap Up: Summarize the different activities practiced and the emotions learned.
• Assessment: Observe students’ participation and engagement during activities.
• Extensions for Home Connection and Follow Up Activities:  Send a note home with a brief summary of the lesson and suggestions for parents to continue the topic covered.

Finally, in this Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) unit on relationship skills, preschool and kindergarten students will learn to recognize and respect personal boundaries, practice kind communication, and develop basic friendship skills through interactive storytelling, role-playing, and guided play.