Social Emotional Learning Activities K-2 | Emotions, Empathy & Perspective Taking
Looking for engaging social emotional learning activities for K-2? This 31-page SEL Activity Pack includes four ready-to-teach lessons that help children identify emotions, recognise feelings, understand different perspectives and practise responding with kindness and empathy.
Designed for classroom teachers, learning support teachers and school counsellors, this printable SEL resource combines structured lesson plans with hands-on activities, emotion cards, worksheets, games and crafts.
Perfect for teaching emotional awareness, social skills, perspective taking and empathy in a practical, age-appropriate way.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
4 complete SEL lessons with printable activities:
Lesson 1: Emotional Identification
Feelings and emotions picture cards
Emotion sorting activity
Five-level feelings scale
Personal feelings reflection worksheets
Students learn to recognise, name and describe different emotions and explore how feelings can change in intensity.
Lesson 2: Finding the Clues – Character Detectives
Feelings matching activity
Character detective picture cards
Magnifying glass craft templates
Character Detective Recording Sheet
Students become emotion detectives, using facial expressions, actions and story clues to consider how characters might be feeling.
Lesson 3: Perspective Taking
This or That? preference activity
Same Event, Different Feelings worksheet
Feelings Flip Craft
Goldilocks Story Feelings Hunt
Two Sides of the Same Story scenarios
These perspective taking activities help children understand that people can experience the same situation differently.
Lesson 4: Responding with Empathy
Helpful, Not Helpful or It Depends? sorting activity
Response and social script cards
Real-life social scenario cards
Roll and Respond board game
My Empathy Response reflection worksheets
Students explore helpful responses, practise respectful communication and learn that showing empathy can involve listening, offering help or giving someone space.
SKILLS COVERED
This social emotional learning unit supports:
Identifying and naming emotions
Emotional awareness and vocabulary
Recognising feelings in others
Understanding emotional intensity
Using clues to consider how someone might feel
Perspective taking and social awareness
Empathy and kindness
Friendship and positive relationships
Respectful communication
Problem-solving in everyday social situations
PERFECT FOR
Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade
SEL and wellbeing lessons
Morning meetings and classroom discussions
Social skills groups
Learning support and special education
School counselling sessions
Friendship and empathy lessons
Small-group intervention
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RESOURCE
Ready-to-teach lessons: Each lesson includes learning intentions, success criteria, required materials, a teaching sequence, discussion prompts and support options.
Engaging activities: Children explore important social and emotional skills through games, crafts, picture cards, sorting tasks and reflection activities.
Inclusive and flexible: Students can respond through speaking, drawing, pointing or writing. Activities recognise that people experience and express emotions differently.
Classroom-friendly printables: Includes colourful activities and selected black-and-white versions to support printing.
Flexible lesson delivery: Teach the complete four-lesson unit or use individual activities during social skills, wellbeing and learning support sessions.
RESOURCE DETAILS
31-page downloadable PDF
4 structured SEL lessons
Approximately 30–40 minutes per lesson
Designed for Grades K–2
Colour and selected black-and-white printables
A3 Roll and Respond board game
No specialist equipment required
Please note: Picture books are not included. Teachers can use suitable books available in their classroom. Suggested stories include Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Pig the Pug. This resource is not affiliated with their publishers.
