Starting your day with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can set the tone for a positive, focused, and engaging classroom environment. As teachers, we know the power of helping students build emotional awareness, self-regulation, and social skills. But with busy mornings and packed schedules, how can you easily incorporate meaningful SEL activities into your daily routine?

In this post, I’m sharing 5 quick and easy SEL activities that will energise your mornings and create a sense of community in your classroom. From a simple daily check-in to creative writing prompts inspired by books, these ideas are designed to be effective and time-saving. Plus, they’ll help your students develop crucial life skills while keeping your classroom running smoothly.

Ready to transform your mornings with Social and Emotional Learning? Let’s get into these practical, engaging activities that you (and your students) will love!

1) SEL Daily Check ins

2) Morning Music for SEL Learning

Kick off your morning with some music that the kids love. Incorporating singing and music into your routine is a fun and effective way to boost your students’ mood and build a positive classroom culture.

I recommend creating a playlist of feel-good songs using YouTube and linking them to a Google Slide for easy access. To make it even more engaging, involve your students by letting each one suggest a song they’d love to add to the playlist (with your approval, of course!). Having their choices included gives them a sense of ownership and builds excitement around the activity.

Each morning, the Star of the Day gets to choose a song from the playlist to kick things off. This simple addition to the day not only energises the class but also promotes confidence and puts anyone in a good mood.

Music has a unique way of connecting us all—and it’s a fantastic tool for fostering emotional awareness and self-expression in your classroom!

3) Big Life Journal Activities

Start your mornings with meaningful social and emotional learning activities using Big Life Journal resources! These award-winning, psychology-backed journals, affirmation cards, and conversation cards are designed to help children build confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset. They’re perfect for creating a reflective and focused start to the day.

You can use Big Life Journal’s growth mindset journals to kick off the morning with an inspiring activity or discussion. These include fun prompts and stories that encourage students to explore their emotions and set goals for the day. Alternatively, try the conversation and affirmation cards to spark quick, meaningful discussions that help students think positively and connect with their peers.

They also have Freebies available on their website!

These activities promote self-awareness, critical thinking, and emotional resilience—essential SEL skills that set the tone for a productive day. Interested in bringing Big Life Journal into your classroom? Check out their amazing resources here to explore journals, cards, and more!

4) Books and Vooks

Reading can be a great way to combine social and emotional learning with literacy. Start your day by sharing a short story, picture book, or animated story from Vooks, an excellent website offering a library of engaging read-aloud videos.

After reading, guide your students into meaningful discussions about the book’s themes. What emotions did the characters experience? How did they solve problems? You can also turn the story into a creative writing prompt by asking, “What would you do if you were in the character’s shoes?” or “How would you change the ending?”

This approach not only builds comprehension skills but also enhances empathy and emotional understanding. Plus, with Vooks making stories so accessible, it’s a stress-free way to fit SEL into your busy mornings.

Vooks is an amazing platform, that I use on a weekly basis in my classroom. And it’s free for educators! Definitely worth checking out

Here are my favourite SEL books

5) Zones of Regulation Activities

Help your students start the day feeling grounded and ready to learn with Zones of Regulation activities. This framework teaches students how to identify their emotions and use strategies to move into the “Green Zone,” where they feel calm, focused, and ready to engage.

Begin by introducing the concept of the four Zones (Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red) and what each represents. You can create a morning routine where students check in with their Zone as they arrive. Then, as a class, practise quick regulation strategies, like breathing exercises for the Yellow Zone or energising stretches for the Blue Zone.

To make it interactive, use visuals like posters or slides to reinforce the Zones, and encourage students to share which strategies work best for them. These yoga and breathing exercises are a perfect way to incorporate movement into your regulation activities. Get your freebie by using the form below. These quick activities help your class develop emotional awareness while providing tools to handle challenges throughout the day.

There are many resources out there. You can find them on the Zones of Regulation website, Twinkl or Teachers Pay Teachers. Here are some of my favourites

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Social Emotional Learning

Incorporating social and emotional learning into your morning routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. Therefore these 5 quick and easy SEL activities—from a simple daily check-in to interactive music and storytelling—can help set a positive tone for your classroom, encourage kindness, and build a stronger sense of community among your students.

By starting the day with these intentional activities, you’re giving your students the tools they need to manage their emotions, connect with others, and approach learning with confidence. Whether it’s through journaling, music, or Zones of Regulation, these strategies are a meaningful way to weave SEL into your daily schedule.

Try out one or more of these ideas and see the difference it makes in your classroom! And don’t forget to grab your free Daily Check-In Google Form and explore resources like Big Life Journal and Vooks to make SEL a seamless part of your teaching. Together, we can help students grow both academically and emotionally—one morning at a time.

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