# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The trend of Bitmoji classrooms started last fall when many of us were teaching virtually, but many teachers are continuing to use them this year too. Since many teachers use a digital learning platform, Bitmoji classrooms offer interactive elements for students to click through to see assignments, documents, and websites.

Isabel P. says, "I'm still going to use it. Before the pandemic, I had been trying to incorporate more technology into my curriculum. To me, it is important for students to prepare themselves for the workforce. After all, it is the 21st century. Most businesses, hospitals, etc., use technology now and it's getting more sophisticated. I feel I need to be an example of those changes." Kelly B. agrees. "I use Bitmoji classrooms for my interactive read aloud. I love them, and I'm keeping them!"

Are you ready to join in? Looking for ideas of what to include in your Bitmoji classroom? We've got you covered with these creative ideas posted in our Facebook groups and on Instagram. And if you don't know how to get started ... we've included a tutorial below.

We Can't Stop Staring

There are so many details in this image posted by Kait C. on Facebook!

Anchor Charts & Posters

We also love the Alma Mater representation, from Amanda H. on Facebook.

[contextly_auto_sidebar]

How Welcoming is This?!

And we love it!

Ready for School!

And the start of school for kindergarten!

Fun Bulletin Boards

And a book nook too!
Source: @elementree4teachers
A Colorful Classroom

Love that THINK poster.

We Love Any Book Love

With a Bitmoji classroom you can link to reading materials for the week.

AP Classes Get in the Mix

Get ready for some psych!
Source: @thesocialstudiesworldofmsj
Physical Science, Too

Fun with dinosaurs!
Source: @urbanscienceeducator
Ready for Game Day!

We love the theme for this Bitmoji classroom.
Source: @teamingupinelementary
Fun for Foreign Language Learners

Also how great is this Spanish classroom?!

Music Teachers Get in the Groove

We love the links to each grade level on the keyboards.
Source: @thek8musicteacher
Art Teachers Share Their Creativity

We love the challenge and artist of the week.
Source: @artwithmseggers
First Grade Teachers Represent!

The whole grade can showcase their Bitmojis.
Source: @libros.cafe.andteach
Create Your Own!

Want your own interactive Bitmoji classroom? Check out this video tutorial:

Here's how you link it to Google Classroom and Seesaw:

This video tutorial walks you through the steps to making a Bitmoji Google Classroom banner:

And if you'd rather see some step-by-step instructions this link helps!

Have your own Bitmoji classroom to share? Come join us in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Teachers Are Still Using Bitmoji Classrooms in 2021-22

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Looking for ideas of what to include in your Bitmoji classrooms? These teachers have posted a variety of fun elements.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Bitmojis are all the rage during COVID-19. Teachers are making virtual Bitmoji classrooms that include interactive elements so students can click through to assignments, documents, and websites. But the latest trend is easier and (we think) even more fun. A Bitmoji virtual locker! This is a perfect icebreaker for any middle school or high school teacher.

Check out the sample Bitmoji lockers from our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Facebook group and Instagram. And if you don't know how to get started ... we've included a tutorial below.

Sewing and Animal Crossing love from Mr. Harbeson

Yoga mat and Starbucks from Ms. Vining

PE Teacher's FTW

Source: @coachwootenpe

Avengers fan

Source: @creativeundertakings

Packers fan

Source: @missmilosmiles

Netflix and Target love!

Source: @learningwithlisamarie

Never give up!

Source: @mrs.funsocks

Science teacher love

Source: @lake.breeze.reads

The X-Files fan

Source: @middleschoolisahoot

Create Your Own!

Ready to create your own virtual locker assignment to share with your students?

Start with this Google Doc template created by Lauen Vining with Teach the World. Add your own details. Then, share a blank copy with your students. They can edit the document and present their locker so their classmates can get to know them better. And you will too!

For further details, check out this video tutorial:
Have your own virtual Bitmoji locker to share? Come join us in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bitmoji Lockers Are the New Bitmoji Classrooms-and a Great Icebreaker for Students!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bitmojis are all the rage during COVID-19. Teachers are making virtual Bitmoji classrooms that include interactive elements so students can click through to assignments, documents, and websites. But the latest trend is easier and (we think) even more fun. A Bitmoji virtual locker! This is a perfect icebreaker for any middle school or high school teacher.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get Started Teaching Resources Community For Schools & Districts Learning Science Remote Learning Resources Support Great Teaching LMS Integrations Privacy & Security Achievements Inspearational Educators Share the Pear Coach Program Giving Back Explore Content Help Videos Training & Webinars Teaching Blog Active Learning Knowledge Base Remote Learning For Google For Microsoft Flashcard Factory Pricing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Before we jump into our list, let's talk about relationships. Remote learning is having a detrimental impact on the mental health of our students and impacting their social and emotional learning learning. Gone are the daily interactions of peers and social activities like lunch or football games. Instead students are stuck at home, often spending hours on their devices, and they are craving meaningful relationships.

As educators, we must make time to check-in with our students. During a live class session, such as through Zoom or Google Meet s, teachers can use the activities provided below to increase engagement and re-connect with students. While some are perfect for enhancing academic learning, many are intended to focus on relationship building and mental health. Only students engaged in learning will find academic success!

But how do we build deeper relationships? The best approach we have found is through using sparks. A spark is what a student is passionate about, what lights them up and gives them well......that "spark". Sparks were developed by the Search Institute, who explains them as follows: "Sparks are the activities and interests that truly engage kids to be their best. Research shows that kids who know and develop their sparks-and who have adults in their lives to help-have higher grades, better school attendance, and a sense of purpose."

In our STEM programs, we use different games and activities to help students find their spark, and then we utilize those sparks throughout the year to personalize activities. Click here to read more about using sparks in the classroom, and click here for a guide on sparks via distance learning. Many of the games below are a perfect way to share and connect with student sparks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
50 Distance Learning Icebreakers & Games - Vivify STEM

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you struggling to engage students during distance learning? Here is a list of 50 icebreakers and games to keep students engaged and motivated during remote learning! Perfect for back to school, these activities also develop important 21st-century skills like communication, creativity, and collab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The COVID-19 pandemic forced students and teachers to change their routines drastically and quickly as they shifted to online learning. They could no longer sit in a circle and read a book, jump up to the front of the classroom to recite a poem, or work with a partner to share a dialogue in a language class.

During this extraordinarily complex time, it is important to offer students not only a solid academic experience, but also a place for connection and community, familiarity and consistency, discovery and expression-all virtually. Weaving games into lesson plans can improve engagement, inspire creativity, and develop content knowledge during a challenging time. Perhaps most important, games bring students together during the time of physical separation.

Design for Joy and Movement

Even with mundane tasks such as attendance taking, games can offer delight. One of the teachers at our school realized that she could make daily attendance a quick game by asking a fun question. Using Google Forms to collect responses and attendance, she asked students, "Would you rather be a mammal or a bird?" and "Why?"

Young students replied, "Because birds can travel wherever and fly in the clouds and on land water everything," "Mammals tend to live longer," and clever answers like "I'm a mammal already, and it's going well." At the beginning of class, students shared some of their answers, learned from one another, and laughed together.

Games that require movement provide opportunities for students to move away from their screens, even while in class. In our Early Childhood program, during synchronous programming, students were asked to find objects in their house, based on color, purpose, texture, and size, and bring them back to the group. These live scavenger hunts had children giggling and connected home to school, offering an opportunity for kids to share personal items and accompanying stories.

Physical movement can also be a valuable tool in building community. Our athletics trainer created weekly virtual workout challenges for older students and adults. Seeing peers and coaches outside created a sense of solidarity during isolation. This popular activity offered a regular challenge that helped our community connect, learn from each other, and laugh.

Look for ways to blend movement with creativity. In dance class, pre-K students moved through a riotously funny series of dinosaur movements, such as pretending to be a T. rex with leaves in its mouth struggling to walk in muddy swamp water. To watch a screen filled with 4-year-olds giggling as they imitate large non-avian dinosaurs is to see an important triumph of the collective imagination of the classroom.

Consider Activities for the Home

In addition to required academics, provide regular space and opportunity for games that students can participate in outside of synchronous video learning. Consider activities that can include the whole family, as many are home together.

Video clips can be a useful tool for offering games at home. Our middle school director created videos in the style of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? by recording geography challenges in front of a park or open space, offering clues to his location. Students read about various parks in the area to discover the answer.

If the school is operating on a hybrid schedule, consider send-home games for off days when students will not physically be in the classroom. Our elementary students received a bingo board with nine options, from drawing a self-portrait to creating wearable art. The options gave students something fun to accomplish during their off day, while parents could choose which options worked best for their home and schedule. The card may include low-cost activities such as: have a dance party, draw something you are grateful for, or collect data and create a chart or graph.

Offer asynchronous games that students complete at home and share with the class. While live games are often held over video chat, give students the opportunity to add contributions through technology. For example, students can upload pictures and videos to Padlet, a digital bulletin board, or short videos to Flipgrid. Young students were asked to answer a question on Flipgrid related to the week's lesson, such as "Describe the water cycle in your own words" or "Tell the class about today's weather."

Incorporate Games in Assessments

As the school year moved into its final weeks, teachers looked for ways for students to consolidate and share knowledge and have fun doing it, particularly in an environment in which traditional assessments were difficult.

Asking students to design games opens up a new avenue for creating meaningful year-end experiences. For example, in our school, geometry students were asked to design and create their own right triangle puzzle using the Pythagorean theorem. Students created a wide array of puzzle projects, including creating cities, analyzing the shape of Doritos, and exploring the angles of pyramids and mountains. Students shared their projects with each other through online videos.

While the pandemic adds extra stress for many families, games can be a simple but fun opportunity not only for learning engagement, but for moments of joy together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Use Games to Build Community in Distance Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The COVID-19 pandemic forced students and teachers to change their routines drastically and quickly as they shifted to online learning. They could no longer sit in a circle and read a book, jump up to the front of the classroom to recite a poem, or work with a partner to share a dialogue in a language class.

# data[].attributes.body
https://kidactivities.net/name-games-for-kids/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
the-inspired-educator.com - the inspired educator Resources and Information.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
the-inspired-educator.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, the-inspired-educator.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to draw a Shark - Great Artist Mom - Guided Drawing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Circle discussions foster community and intimacy in a classroom, and can serve academic and social and emotional purposes.

When I think about my style as a teacher, two words come to mind: community and communication. I want my classroom to be a place where students want to be, a place where they feel safe and loved and valued. And I want it to be filled with student voice-I want them to tell their stories. These two qualities are inextricably linked: When students belong, they open up, and when they open up, they belong.

I've found that an effective and meaningful path to both community and communication in my classroom is circle practice, inspired by restorative justice (RJ). Though it originated in the context of criminal justice, RJ has become popular in schools as many educators use it as an alternative to traditional discipline approaches-it's a shift from focusing on consequences to focusing on responsibility and relationships.

But RJ and circle practice can also be used to serve academic, social and emotional, and reflective purposes with our students.

Setting Up a Circle

Start with the physical space. After years of practice, I have a routine: On my centerpiece-a beautiful round, knitted blanket I received from a colleague-I place a talking piece that acts as a physical signifier indicating whose voice we are listening to at any time. I use a rock, crystal, stuffed animal, or toy. Around the centerpiece are enough chairs for all participants; the chairs must be in close proximity to foster intimacy.

Speak from the heart (only with the talking piece, authentic contributions);

Listen from the heart (without judgment, with compassion);

Speak spontaneously (spend time listening, not thinking about what you're going to say);

Speak leanly (especially important with big groups); and

What is shared in the circle stays in the circle (I stress this fiercely).

Next, set up the purpose and expectations. If it's the first circle with a group, I have an overview printed to use as a guide. I explain the overarching purpose of circle: to form a community with open lines of communication, which is so important to taking intellectual risks.

Doing this thoroughly early in the year sets up circle culture for the rest of the year.

After this general setup, be explicit about your intention for the current circle. Is it to build relationships? to explore an academic topic? to rectify a wrong? to explore an issue of concern?

The Structure of a Circle

With the physical space and expectations established, it's time to explain the three basic components of a circle routine: opening, prompts, and closing.

The opening: This consists of the norming already discussed and a moment of mindfulness. I share directions if needed: After a prompt is posed, the first student who wishes to speak will take the talking piece and share their thoughts, and then pass it to the left; each student can either speak or pass.

We each share our names (if the participants don't know each other), and begin with an icebreaker-a light, easy question that invites everyone's voice into the space without threat (e.g., what's your favorite music? ice cream flavor? season?). It's important to emphasize that the goal is listening, not responding; participants should share their own answers in each round, not react to each other.

The prompts: After the opening come the prompts, which are what allow a circle to serve your specific purpose. I provide a few examples of prompts for different circle purposes here, but you can come up with many more tailored to your students and your purpose.

Circles are effective at the beginning of the year as a means to start identifying and planning for students' individual needs. I ask: What kind of learner are you? Who is a teacher who has influenced you greatly, and why? What do you need from your peers to be successful? What are your learning pet peeves? How do you feel about reading, writing, and/or speaking?

One way to use circles to build relationships is to print out several "get to know you" questions (I've compiled a list of a couple hundred of these), lay them around the centerpiece, and let students pick which questions to use for the prompt rounds. Students can also craft their own questions to ask each other.

Restorative justice is a traditional use of circles. After conflicts or other difficult situations, you can ask: What happened? Why did it happen? Who was affected, and how? How do we repair the wrongs?

A related use of circles is caring for students in moments of stress or trauma. After a heartbreaking flare-up of gang violence in our city, my students and I wept together in circle, answering questions like: What makes you feel afraid? What makes you feel safe? What do you need? How can we move the community forward?

Circles can serve academic purposes as well. For example, before beginning Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony, I printed out articles with information about issues affecting Native Americans and laid them on the centerpiece with baskets of pens, pencils, and Post-its. I had students pick an article and read and annotate it. Then I asked questions such as: What predictions do you have about the novel based on these articles? What is something that stood out to you, and why?

Circles can serve any purpose-all you need are meaningful prompts.

The closing: Because circles can be so powerful, they necessitate closure. There are a couple ways to do this. You can keep it light with a group high five or a silly coordination game. You can do a witness round in which participants share one word on their mind. The closing offers an opportunity for participants to transition in a healthy way. It's critical to remind participants of the norm that what was shared in the circle stays in the circle.

Some of my most memorable (I dare say magical) moments in the classroom have been inside of a circle, and they are always treasured moments of community and communication. And I think my students would say the same.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Circle discussions foster community and intimacy in a classroom, and can serve academic and social and emotional purposes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Connect w/ a Challenging Student | Classroom Management

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Access free guided mindfulness sessions, and subscribe to unlock all Mind Yeti content.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mindfulness is the idea of learning how to be fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of your thoughts and feelings without distraction or judgment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Headspace | Meditation | Changing Perspective

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Insight Timer - #1 Free Meditation App for Sleep, Relax & More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The best meditation app with the world’s largest FREE library of more than 190k guided meditations, 17k teachers & the world’s most loved meditation Timer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I don't know about you, but when I sit through a faculty meeting or professional development session of any sort, I start getting antsy by the 30-minute mark. If you can relate, just imagine how your students must feel when they've been sitting for too long. Educational brain breaks are the perfect way to help your students redirect their energy and focus when they start to fade.

I find it super-beneficial to incorporate quick mindful, physical, and mental check-ins with my students as a regular part of my classroom routine. These breaks include all types of movement, yoga and breathing exercises, as well as jokes, quick videos, and more. The activities I use have helped me throughout my lifetime, so I love sharing them with my students. Here are my favorite educational brain breaks that are sure to increase productivity and give your kids a much-needed way to unwind before the next lesson.

Mindful Educational Brain Breaks

1. Use transition times for mental check-ins

Transitions are a big part of the elementary school day. When I first started teaching 19 years ago, I was surprised by just how much time it takes to get ready for specials or to bring students back from centers. It's hard not to feel like that's lost time. That's why using transition time for mental health check-ins is such a game changer. Mental health check-ins can help students get in touch with their emotions, refresh and recharge, acknowledge and cope with negative thoughts and overwhelming feelings, and be more focused throughout the day.

2. Pretend to breathe like an animal

Source: Stephanie Sanders

This video shows students how to pretend to breath like some of their favorite animals. The snake breath involves hissing while slithering from side to side, while the whale breath has students pretend to breathe out through a blowhole! Tap into creativity by picking other interesting animals and acting them out through breath.

3. Do a 10-minute guided meditation

These guided meditations are educational and are perfect to use as brain breaks whenever you and your students just need to breathe. Catch your breath with any of these 20 guided video meditations.

4. Practice "focus ball" breathing

Walk your kids through the following exercise: Stand or sit with legs and feet together. Bring your palms together in front of your chest. Keep your fingertips touching as you pull your palms apart, forming a ball with your fingers. Press your fingertips together until you feel the muscles in your hands and arms activating. See if you feel your core tighten too. Now close your eyes and as you breathe in, inflate your ball, and as you breathe out, flatten the ball by pushing your palms together. (Repeat these instructions for 60 seconds).

Learn more: Mindful.org

5. Try the old ear-nose switcheroo

This is a quick and easy challenge to reset the brain. Instruct kids to touch their left ear with their right hand and at the same time touch their nose with their left hand. Then have them switch their hands and touch their right ear with their left hand and their nose with their right hand. Switch back and forth a few times. Then have them close their eyes, take a deep breath, and blow it all out.

Learn more: YouTube: Ear-Nose Switch

6. Take a yoga break

Source: The Pyjama Foundation

Inspire kids to move, stretch, and practice mindfulness with yoga. These printable yoga cards make it easy to incorporate yoga into your educational brain breaks. Each page includes a picture and description of the pose, and each page includes poses of increasing difficulty from level 1 to level 5. And don't worry, it's not a huge time commitment. The sequence on each card is designed to take only a few minutes.

7. Stretch it out

It's never a good idea to spend too much time sitting in one position. Allow kids to take a break and bring some flexibility back into their spines. Have them stand with their feet shoulder-distance apart. Put their left hand on their hip and raise their right hand overhead. Lean to the left and stretch their arm as far as they can to the left. Repeat on the right side. Then stand tall and slowly roll down one vertebra at a time until their hands reach the floor (or at least their shins). Have them take a deep breath then slowly roll back up. Repeat as necessary.

Learn more: Mom Junction

8. Focus on sound

Have kids sit quietly with their eyes closed. Ring a chime or gong. Have them listen carefully to the chime, feeling the vibration in their body as the sound reverberates and then slowly fades. Tell them to breathe slowly and deeply as they focus on the sound.

9. Do a quick mindfulness activity

Mindfulness activity cards provide great educational brain breaks. Stash a pack in your desk and pull them out whenever you need them. Each card will give a prompt for kids to try that will let them refocus and recharge. Perfect for moments when you need to bring down the energy in the room.

Buy it: Mindfulness Cards for Kids at Amazon

10. Chill out with this cross-body exercise

Have kids stand tall and cross one leg in front of the other while pressing the outsides of their feet together. Now have them cross their arms over each other at the wrists. Clasp their hands and curl their arms into their chest. Take a few breaths, and uncross and cross the opposite way for a few more breaths.

11. Float with jellyfish

When you really need to take the energy in your room down a notch, turn off the lights, set a timer, and put on a calming video. For example, Cat Trumpet put together a jellyfish aquarium video where kids will find themselves under the brilliant blue sea in the middle of a swarm of jellyfish. They'll be mesmerized by the slow, fluid motions and lulled into calmness by the soothing music.

12. Break out the hot hands

This is a good break when you sense a weariness in the air. Have kids rub their hands together vigorously until they warm up. Tell them to close their eyes and place their hands over their eyes. Instruct them to breathe deeply as they clear their minds and refocus.

13. Try cat and cow poses

Source: Flow and Grow Kids Yoga

Have kids start on all fours and then give them the following instructions to complete the cat and cow yoga poses: Place your shoulders over your wrists and hips over your knees. Arch your back to the sky and tuck in the tailbone (cat pose). Let your head fall between your arms. From there, sink the belly towards the ground, and lift the chest and chin (cow pose). Gently alternate between the two poses while breathing deeply.

14. Do nothing for two minutes

Never underestimate the power of stillness. When the energy gets a little ramped up, and it's time for the entire class to take a pause, have them drop everything and glue their eyes to the screen as you show this countdown. The gentle lulling of the waves and the sight of the sun sparkling off the water will reset their nervous system in a jiffy.

Learn More: Calm

15. Spread your wings (in slow motion)

Walk your kids through this winged movement: Sit cross-legged on the floor. Stretch your arms down by your sides with your palms facing inward toward your body. Slowly raise both arms while rotating hands forward. When your arms reach shoulder level, your hands should be facing forward. Continue raising arms, slowly rotating palms so that by the time hands are overhead, palms are facing each other. Slowly lower arms, repeating the rotation (palms facing each other, palms facing forward, palms facing sides) until they are once again resting at your sides. As you raise and lower your arms, stretch them as long as you can, as if you are scraping the sides of the room and the ceiling. Repeat slowly three times, breathing deeply.

Physical Education Brain Breaks

16. Play Silent Ball when you have downtime

You can play a quick game of Silent Ball anytime, anywhere. Play a quick three-minute game right before dismissal or before transitioning to a new activity. All you need is a small squishy ball. The rules are simple: 1) stay quiet and 2) don't drop the ball when passing it around. This activity is one of those educational brain breaks that builds a positive classroom community, fosters friendly competition, and boosts nonverbal communication. Enjoy the silence.

17. Line up in unique ways

Kids are very social and curious beings. Most of them love to chat with one another at any chance they can get. Lining up to leave the room for anything is the perfect chance for them to mix and mingle. Make a more productive use of this time by having students line up in special ways. Some fun ideas include lining up in alphabetical order by name, by birth date, or by height order.

18. Just jump!

Sometimes kids just need to bounce their energy out. Have them pretend they are bouncing on a mini-trampoline (this will keep their movement on a vertical plane instead of all over the room), and give them a couple of minutes to let loose!

19. Take a cue from the stadium

Here's one for a group of kids-start the wave! Beginning at one end of the room, kids stand up and throw their arms overhead, bringing them back down as they return to their seats. Each row follows until you reach the other end of the room. Amp it up by encouraging your kids to tap their feet or tap their hands on their legs so that they are in constant motion. This activity works great on Zoom too!

20. Stir the pot

Have kids visualize they are standing in front of an enormous cauldron. Inside the cauldron is an ooey-gooey pot of caramel. Take hold of a large stirrer and plunge it to the bottom of the pot. Slowly begin to stir in a clockwise direction. Have them use their whole body to help get a full range of motion in their wrists and shoulders. Instruct them to throw their hips into the action. After a minute or two, reverse the direction.

21. Make it rain

Conjure up a rainstorm! Sitting or standing at a desk or table, have kids tap one finger on the desk, then two, then three, then four, then their whole hand until you all feel like you're in the middle of a deluge. Work your way backward from five down to one as the storm ebbs away.

22. Energize with these

First, instruct kids to touch their left elbow to their right knee, then touch their right elbow to their left knee. Switch back and forth, going slowly at first, building speed until they are going at a vigorous pace. Next, do some windmills by standing tall with their feet shoulder-width apart and their arms stretched out. Bend at the waist and touch their right hand to their left toes, then their left hand to their right toes. Switch back and forth.

23. Make X's and O's

Walk kids through the following exercise: Sitting in a chair with your feet on the ground and legs together, curl your body into your lap, folding yourself into a tiny O shape. Next, open your arms and legs wide, forming an X shape with your body. Pull back into an O shape, then back out to an X shape. Repeat three times.

24. Energize in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Get hearts pumping with a quick sequence of exercises. Call out five actions for your students to do as quickly as they can. For instance, five jumping jacks, four push-ups, three sit-ups, two squat jumps, and one tree pose.

25. Take a cruise on an imaginary skateboard

Have your kids line up next to a wall and place one hand on the wall. Tell them to plant the foot closest to the wall and swing the other leg, as if pushing off the ground on a skateboard. Start slowly, with tiny swings, moving up to power pushes. Repeat on the other side.

26. Take a break to groove

Music is a great way to reset the mood in a room and raise the energy level. Put on a fun song and have a 30-second freestyle dance party. Here's a big list of school-appropriate songs for kids.

27. Or take it to the next level

Teach your kids the steps to popular dances such as the Cha-Cha Slide, the Macarena, or the Kidz Bop Shuffle.

28. Ramp up with a round of cherry pickers

This easy activity will get your students' hearts pumping and give their brains a boost. Have them jump up off the ground, then down to the floor into a push-up position. From there, instruct them to hop their feet up into a frog position, then pop up to a standing position.

29. Clap on, clap off

When you say "clap on," kids clap their hands vigorously together. When you say "clap off," they stop as quickly as they can and freeze. Or follow along with this a fun video.

30. Skip it out

When the energy is fading and kids need to get their blood flowing, put on a peppy song and pull out the imaginary jump ropes. Have kids skip or jump rope in place until the song ends.

31. Make like a blender

Tell kids it's time to make fruit smoothies. Ask them to pretend they are in a blender and they are strawberries (or blueberries or bananas, etc.). Dramatically pour orange juice or yogurt into the air in front of you. Tell kids when you flip the switch that they need to wiggle and jiggle (separately, not together) until they are each individually blended up. Start with a slow speed, moving up to medium speed, fast speed, and finally turbo speed. And then reverse it! Start at turbo speed and go back to slow speed.

32. Celebrate with a silent cheer

This activity is perfect for the end of an activity or a sustained amount of work time-especially for kids who are learning remotely. Let kids stand up and silently cheer and gesture in celebration. How animated can they get?!

33. Do a full-body workout

This kid-friendly exercise video is great for your body and brain! Kids can follow along through a set of workout moves that will get their blood pumping.

34. Play popcorn

Students will all be sitting in their chairs, and at any time, a student can jump up and say, "Pop!" Once they do, that student remains standing. If two students pop up at the same time, everyone takes their seats, and the game starts over. How quickly can the entire class pop without having to start over?

35. Hit the wall

Pushing against a solid object is a good way to displace extra energy from your body. Have kids stand facing a wall with their arms stretched out in front of them, palms on the surface of the wall. Push the wall away with all their strength for a count of ten. Relax for five seconds, then push again. Other activities they can do at the wall include calf stretches and wall push-ups.

36. 3, 2, 1 blastoff!

Instruct kids to stand and then squat down with their hands on the ground in front of them. All together, count down 3, 2, 1. When you get to zero, they should push up like a rocket, jumping as high as they can-letting all of their energy burst from their center.

37. Quick as a snap, wink

This is a quick and easy refocusing activity. Tell kids to snap their left fingers while they wink their right eye. Switch to snapping their right fingers while winking their left eye. This activity is particularly effective for younger learners who may find both activities challenging.

38. Balance break

A great way to get kids out of their chairs is to practice balance. Have them hop on one foot. Then up the ante by having them stand on one foot and bend their other knee out in front of them.

39. Tabletop push-ups

Kids can use their desk, a chair, the side of their couch-anything really. Have them place their hands on the table and focus their eyes in the center, moving down slowly and pushing back up.

40. Try some facial gymnastics

Have kids get their silly on for 30 seconds. Tell them to wiggle their eyebrows up and down as fast as they can. Then try to raise one eyebrow at a time.

Mental Brain Breaks That Are Educational

41. Take a comedy break

Comedy is a great release when the atmosphere is feeling a little intense. Show a funny video clip or have kids volunteer to tell a joke or pose a few silly riddles. We have compiled a number of jokes by theme on WeAreTeachers for kids of all ages for guaranteed laughs. For example, your students will love one of our most recent additions, 34 Cat Jokes for Kids. From there, you can find dog jokes, seasonal jokes, food jokes, and much more.

42. Share fun facts

In addition to joke compilations, we have plenty of fun fact lists on our site with themes that will thrill your students. Plus they're an educational way to teach your students new information during brain breaks. Get started with these fun feline facts to accompany the jokes above. Meow!

43. Practice another language

Source: startasl.com

Teach your kids the alphabet in sign language. Use brain breaks to practice by singing the ABCs while signing the letters. Then practice vocabulary words by spelling them out loud while signing the letters.

44. Find out how it's made

Remember that classic Sesame Street video about how crayons are made? We watched in awe as crayons rolled off the assembly line, wrapped in paper, and then slipped into those familiar cardboard boxes. Kids today are just as fascinated by how things are made! Here are our favorite videos about how things are made-from fireworks to LEGO.

45. Take a doodle break

According to researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, downtime is essential for brain health. Kids need time for their growing brains to integrate and process the vast amount of information they receive each day. In other words, it is actually beneficial to give our kids time to allow their minds to wander. Try this: Set a timer for three to five minutes and let kids silently doodle with pencil and paper or a dry-erase board and marker while soft, calming music plays in the background.

Learn more: Sage Journals

46. Try a directed-drawing activity

Directed drawing activities walk your students through the process step-by-step so anyone can create their very own masterpiece. Teachers can lead the session by drawing on the whiteboard or chart paper while students follow along. Even better, there are plenty of videos on YouTube that lead the lesson, giving you a little break too. We have done the work and gathered some our favorite free directed-drawing activities for kids. Grab your favorite art supplies and get creative!

47. Gather your favorite GIFs

Make a slideshow of your favorite GIFs and have your kids act them out. Funny animals are a good place to start!

48. Find the object

Kids don't even have to get out of their seats for this one, but they can! Have one student start by finding an object and saying, "I see something beginning with the letter [fill in the blank]." The first person to guess the item correctly gets to choose the next object. This can be a fun one to play on Zoom too! You can have kids add in additional clues to help.

49. Clap for a little call-and-response

Pep things up with a little call-and-response clapping. It's simple to do and is often used in the classroom to get students' attention. Simply clap out a pattern that your kids will repeat back to you. Switch out the pattern a few times until everyone is focused and engaged. Alternatively, try a vocal call-and-response. Sing out a few riffs and have kids echo the tune back to you.

50. Color yourself mellow

Even grown-ups have picked up on the coloring craze as an excellent way to calm down and zone out. Put on some nice mellow background music, set a timer, and pass out some of these free mandala coloring pages.

51. Try a brain-break spinner

One way to make sure educational brain breaks are effective is to change up activities. Check out these online movement spinners for Wheel of Fortune-type games that help you add variety to brain breaks!

53. Would You Rather?

Students of all ages love participating in Would You Rather? videos, which can be found all over YouTube these days. Each video is approximately 8 minutes long, and students are given two scenarios where they choose which one they would rather participate in. Topics range from food items to activity choices to places to visit and more. As students choose the scenario, they move to either the right or left side of the room. Students then perform 30-second rounds of a specified exercise before repeating the process with another choice. Some of our favorite Would You Rather? channels include PE with Mr. G, Phonics Man, and Fix and Play. Students love when their teacher participates with them in the fun!

Learn more: PE With Mr. G

52. Write it out

Don't underestimate the power of journaling or creative writing. Give your kids a 5- or 10-minute break to open up a page of their notebook and write about anything they'd like. They don't have to share it with the class or do anything else with it; just use the quiet time to focus on something they love and want to write about.

Educational Video Brain Breaks by Grade Level

54. Brain-break compilations by grade level

If you are looking for a sample of brain breaks suitable for your students by grade level, look no further. We have created separate links of 25 videos each for individual grades at the elementary level. Go down the list and find your favorite!
Kindergarten Brain Breaks First Grade Brain Breaks Second Grade Brain Breaks Third Grade Brain Breaks Fourth Grade Brain Breaks Fifth Grade Brain Breaks
What educational brain breaks do you love? Share them in the comments!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Quick, easy educational brain breaks that will help students re-energize, refocus, and give their brains a much-needed boost.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I’m Katie, and I’m a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mindfulness Exercises for Kids in the Classroom - Waterford.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use these 51 mindfulness activities to help children recognize and manage their thoughts, emotions, and actions—all important SEL skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
51 Mindfulness Exercises for Kids in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 10 Engagement Strategies for Distance Learning | PowerSchool

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bob Schuetz, Technology Department Chair from Township High School District 211 in Palatine, Illinois, shares a crowd-sourced list - from Schoology Ambassadors, other thought leaders, and his students - on the top 10 ways to engage students for distance learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Curated for Educators and Families

Support Social-Emotional Well-Being

When children practice social-emotional skills throughout their day, they learn to understand emotions and cope with everyday challenges. Use and share these research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) resources to empower children to thrive at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SEL Activities and Resources | Second Step

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use and share these research-based SEL activities and resources to empower children to thrive at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This activity creatively guides students in reflecting on and understanding what's happening inside of themselves. Student "weather reports" can happen any time of day, and are a great way to help them cultivate self-awareness and self-management.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Create an Internal Weather Report | Activity | Education.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This activity creatively guides students in reflecting on and understanding what's happening inside of themselves. Student "weather reports" can happen any time of day, and are a great way to help them cultivate self-awareness and self-management.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
No matter what age you teach, social-emotional learning is an essential part of your curriculum. Social skills books for kids are crucial in the classroom for supporting conversations about social-emotional issues. That's why we gathered 50 (yes, 50!) social skills books for kids, including lots of great recent ones you may not have seen yet, that you can share to help kids build empathy, talk about emotions, navigate tough experiences, and more.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

Books About Managing Fear and Anxiety and Taking Risks

1. Brave Every Day by Trudy Ludwig

Camila and Kai are both scared about their class's field trip to the aquarium, though they show it in different ways. It turns out that supporting each other helps them both.

Buy it: Brave Every Day on Amazon

2. A Case of the Zaps by Alex Boniello and April Lavalle

Robot Pi's class is planning a class trip to "where it all started, Olde Silicon Valley." (Ha!) It's supposed to be exciting, but Pi's worries quickly kick into "overdrive." The fun robot metaphors give kids helpful language for talking about anxious feelings. Bonus: We appreciate the incidental use of they/them pronouns for the main character!

Buy it: A Case of the Zaps on Amazon

3. The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore

Scary "Whatifs" follow Cora everywhere, and it only gets worse as she prepares for her big piano recital. Her outlook changes when Stella challenges her to turn her bad Whatifs into good ones.

Buy it: The Whatifs on Amazon

4. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. Also check out the sequel Jabari Tries to talk about perseverance!

Buy it: Jabari Jumps on Amazon

5. The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Ernestine is super excited to go camping for the first time with her aunt and cousin-until they reach the campsite, that is. Then everything feels scary, and she misses her dad.

Buy it: The Camping Trip on Amazon

6. Anita and the Dragons by Hannah Carmona

Fear of "dragons" almost overcomes Anita as she and her family prepare to emigrate from their home in the Dominican Republic. Her brother reminds her, "They aren't real dragons. They're just planes in the sky."

Buy it: Anita and the Dragons on Amazon

7. The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

Zoom meets Beautiful Oops! in this book about the creative process and the way in which "mistakes" can blossom into inspiration.

Buy it: The Book of Mistakes on Amazon

8. Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka

Learning to ride a bike is one of the most important milestones of childhood, and this book captures the emotional ups and downs of the experience.

Buy it: Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle on Amazon

9. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can't draw-she's no artist.

Buy it: The Dot on Amazon

Books About Friendship

10. Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler

One morning, Jonah decided to become ruler of the playground. Everyone agreed to obey his rules to play in King Jonah's kingdom ... everyone except for Lennox, because she wanted to rule the playground too.

Buy it: Rulers of the Playground on Amazon

11. A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey

Henry, who has autism, eagerly wants a new friend. But many of his classmates aren't quite the perfect fit he imagines. Then he builds blocks with Katie, and their tower is just right.

Buy it: A Friend for Henry on Amazon

12. Daisy by Jessixa Bagley

Teasing makes Daisy feel terrible. She spends much of her time alone, collecting treasures-until she realizes someone else is adding to her treasure shelf.

Buy it: Daisy on Amazon

13. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party ... until a new kid comes to class.

Buy it: The Invisible Boy on Amazon

14. Ways To Make Friends by Jairo Buitrago

Friendship books are some of the most important social skills books for kids to have in the classroom. Toad works hard to make new friends. He tries lots of different strategies, including some unusual ones. We like that his experiences let kids know that sometimes making friends can feel hard or tiring, and that's OK!

Buy it: Ways To Make Friends on Amazon

Books About Identity

15. What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke

This is one of our favorite social skills books for kids for supporting developmentally appropriate conversations about pronoun choices. Let kids know they have options for the words that feel right-and that it's important to respect others' choices too.

Buy it: What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns on Amazon

16. Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty

We love all the Questioneers books to use as engaging class read-alouds, but this one is especially awesome for talking about strengths, challenges, and finding your own way to shine. Aaron Slater has a tough time writing a story to share in class, until he lets his love of art lead the way.

Buy it: Aaron Slater, Illustrator on Amazon

17. Like by Annie Barrows and Leo Espinosa

This quirky ode to human connection is a fun way to launch conversations about similarities and differences. How are humans like mushrooms, excavators, and hyenas? We love social skills books for kids that get classrooms talking and wondering together!

Buy it: Like on Amazon

18. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy's grandma says they don't have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that is much too small.

Buy it: Those Shoes on Amazon

19. Home Is In Between by Mitali Perkins

If you're looking for social skills books for kids related to code-switching-navigating multiple cultures-Shanti is a positive role model for students. When she and her family move to the United States from India, the worlds inside her home and in the larger community feel very different.

Buy it: Home Is In Between on Amazon

20. My Very Own Space by Pippa Goodhart and Rebecca Crane

A little rabbit is trying to read his book in peace, but there's so much going on around him! Maybe he needs some space just for himself. ...

Buy it: My Very Own Space on Amazon

21. My Shadow Is Pink by Scott Stuart

This child's family is sure his shadow is blue, but it's not-it's pink. And the shadow loves dresses and dancing, and it definitely wants to be seen as it really is.

Buy it: My Shadow Is Pink on Amazon

22. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

This young girl is intensely proud of her "eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea." She also loves that her sister, mother, and grandmother all share the same special feature.

Buy it: Eyes That Kiss in the Corners on Amazon

Books About Overcoming Challenges

23. I Love Strawberries! by Shannon Anderson

Jolie desperately wants to grow strawberry plants in the family garden, but her parents aren't on board. She takes on the challenges of convincing them she's responsible enough, earning money to buy plants, and caring for the plants once she plants them. This is a good one for talking about how achieving a goal can include lots of different challenges along the way.

Buy It: I Love Strawberries! on Amazon

24. The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned To Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

Mary Walker was born a slave and persevered through challenges her entire life. At age 114, she finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of learning to read. She's an inspiration for us all.

Buy it: The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned To Read on Amazon

25. Argyle Fox by Marie Letourneau

Argyle Fox, with his signature style, wants to play outside on a springtime day, but the wind is wreaking havoc with his fun and games. As soon as he builds a card tower, climbs into a giant spider web, or takes up his pirate sword, here comes the wind: Woosh!

Buy it: Argyle Fox on Amazon

26. Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people-but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams.

Buy it: Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah on Amazon

27. Life by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel

There are so many wonderful things about life, both in good times and in times of struggle.

Buy it: Life on Amazon

Books About Kindness

28. A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty

Add this to your social skills books for kids to encourage kindness in the classroom. Simple text and sweet illustrations show a diverse class spreading kindness from one person to another in lots of doable ways.

Buy it: A Small Kindness on Amazon

29. John's Turn by Mac Barnett

When it's John's turn to perform at the school assembly, he's nervous, but his love for dancing gives him confidence. His classmates cheer him on. This is a one of our new favorite social skills books for kids to talk about encouraging others and giving each person their "turn" to shine.

Buy it: John's Turn on Amazon

30. When We Are Kind / Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íigo by Monique Gray Smith

This bilingual English and Diné book uses art inspired by Navaho culture to show how simple kindnesses have a lasting impact. It would be lovely inspiration for a kindness-themed class book or bulletin board.

Buy it: When We Are Kind / Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íigo on Amazon

31. The Smile Shop by Satoshi Kitamura

Disappointment washes over a small boy when he drops the money he's saved down the drain. A stranger in a photography studio chooses to make an unexpectedly kind gesture.

Buy it: The Smile Shop on Amazon

32. Pass It On by Sophy Henn

When you see something terrific, smile a smile and pass it on! If you chance upon a chuckle, hee hee hee and pass it on. Should you spot a thing of wonder, jump for joy and pass it on!

Buy it: Pass It On on Amazon

Books About Grief

Equal parts affirming and hopeful, if you need social skills books for kids to help cope with a friend moving, this is the one. Daniela can't believe Evelyn won't live across the street anymore. But focusing on cherished memories and keeping in touch helps her manage.

Buy it: Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away on Amazon

34. The Circles in the Sky by Karl James Mountford

This folktale stars Fox, who wonders about a dead bird in the forest. This book gives classrooms an inclusive and gentle way to talk about death.

Buy it: The Circles in the Sky on Amazon

35. Rosa's Song by Helena Ku Rhee

Jae misses his village in South Korea but finds comfort with his new friend Rosa, who lives in his building. Then Rosa and her family have to move suddenly. This reassuring story is helpful for talking about coping with surprise disappointments.

Buy it: Rosa's Song on Amazon

36. Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane

A boy and his grandfather connect through painting. When the grandfather dies, the boy can't face his art for a long time. Finally, painting again helps him heal.

Buy it: Dadji's Paintbrush on Amazon

Books About Feelings

37. Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

An energetic group of young friends has big plans for the day-until big, hard feelings get in the way. It'll take talking about it and being flexible to get the day back on track.

Buy it: Big Feelings on Amazon

38. I Am Okay To Feel by Karamo Brown and Jason "Rachel" Brown

A boy and his dad walk and talk about their feelings. We love how positive and relatable this book is for kids. Well-researched back matter gives adults lots of tools for talking with children about emotions too.

Buy it: I Am Okay To Fee l on Amazon

39. Great Big Feelings series by Hallee Adelman

These are invaluable social skills books that normalize big emotions for kids. Each book shares a relatable experience from a kid's perspective and ends with a positive coping strategy. These are also great examples of personal narrative writing (with details about feelings!).

Buy it: Way Past Afraid and Way Past Sad on Amazon

40. Cranky Right Now by Julie Berry

"I'm cranky right now and I have my reasons," says this main character. Bad moods happen to all of us. Get kids talking about how to sit with grouchy feelings and let them pass.

Buy it: Cranky Right Now on Amazon

41. The Shadow Elephant by Nadine Robert

Elephant feels really down. All his friends keep trying to distract him, but it turns out what he really needs is a friend to be with him and his hard feelings until they fade away. This is one of our new favorite social skills books for kids with a message that it's OK to just sit with difficult emotions.

Buy it: The Shadow Elephant on Amazon

Books About Honesty

42. Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook

A storm is brewing ... whenever Levi doesn't like the truth, he kinda sorta makes up other stuff to say.

Buy it: Lying Up a Storm on Amazon

43. Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin

Ruthie loves little things-the smaller, the better. So when she finds a teeny tiny camera on the school playground one afternoon, she can hardly believe her luck. She wants to keep the camera in the worst way, but there's one little problem: It isn't hers.

Buy it: Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie on Amazon

44. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no.

Buy it: I Want My Hat Back on Amazon

Books About Self-Control

45. Stop and Smell the Cookies by Gibson Frazier

If you're looking for a new social skills book for kids that tackles managing impulsivity in a positive and empathetic way, you need this one! Dash Gordon has big ideas, good intentions ... and a hard time reining himself in. When he's feeling down about having a tough day, his mom helps him learn a mindful breathing routine that really helps.

Buy it: Stop and Smell the Cookies on Amazon

46. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can't wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions.

Buy it: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse on Amazon

47. My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook

All of Louis's thoughts are very important to him. In fact, his thoughts are so important to him that when he has something to say, his words begin to wiggle, and then they do the jiggle, then his tongue pushes all of his important words up against his teeth, and he erupts, or interrupts others.

Buy it: My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook

47. You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown

Today is the day the exuberant Lucy is going to make a new friend! But she finds it's harder than she had thought-she accidentally ruins the giraffe's breakfast and is much too big for the frogs' pond.

Buy it: You Will Be My Friend! on Amazon

48. Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale

Clark is a shark with zing, bang, and BOOM. He zooms into school, crashes through the classroom, and is rowdy at recess.

Buy it: Clark the Shark on Amazon

Books About Resiliency

49. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Gerald the tall giraffe would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can't dance ... or can they?

Buy it: Giraffes Can't Dance on Amazon

50. Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña

Milo feels like a "shook-up soda" as he takes the subway to visit his mom, who is incarcerated. He copes with his feelings by imagining the lives of his fellow passengers-and imagines the time when his family will be together again.

Buy it: Milo Imagines the World on Amazon

Use this four-step process when reading these social skills books for kids to reinforce the skills featured:

1. Describe: Talk with your students, and have them talk with one another, about what they think the main point of the story was. What social skills did the story define? How do you know? Why are these skills important? Can you make a connection to the story from your own life? Make a poster together, or have students write or draw in their journals about these social skills.

2. Demonstrate: Have a few students act out what the social skills look and feel like. Role playing different ways students can demonstrate these skills will help reinforce the behavior.

3. Practice: Plan activities where each child has to take a turn to practice the featured social skills.

4. Promote: Promote, support, and encourage children as they initiate and engage in behavior that demonstrates these social skills. Catch them being kind, flexible, honest, confident, and more!

Looking for more social skills books for kids? Don't miss:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
50 Children's Books for Teaching Social Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This diverse collection of social skills books for kids helps launch classroom conversations about identity, perseverance, grief, and more.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sonoma County SELPA- Engagement Activities 

# data[].attributes.subject
Sonoma County SELPA- Engagement Activities 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Copy of SEL at Home 3-5, Possible for 6-8