Summer Countdown SEL Activities for Counseling Programs and the Primary Classroom

Hello, is it peace you’re looking for?

Hello it's me summer vacation meme for teachers

Since we all have such different end dates, but such similar #feels during the end of school countdown, I’m going to do two months for the price of one in this May and June primary social-emotional learning activities round-up.

Digital Balloon Pop Countdown to Summer

You’ve likely seen the balloon pop countdowns sprinkled like confetti across Pinterest and Instagram. If you have the resources and time, it’s a wonderful way to end the school year with a bang! If you’re more low-key and Team No-Prep, I’ve got a digital version that will still yield excitement and still produce a bang - literally (without the mess or fuss). Each day, your primary students will click or tap (on a Smartboard) a balloon which will reveal a scene with Carlos the Crab. They will then complete a SEL activity and see how he has progressed at decorating the sea floor for the best End of Year party ever! 

If you're looking for your countdown to summer break to be more symbolic than to take up time during the day, try using a silly goose to brighten the days! Each morning, dress your goose in a new 'fit and choose from one of the 100 morning meeting prompts. 



The benefits:

  • There are fewer conflicts when students are united with a common interest
  • Students come into class faster to get a peek
  • Your community circle prompts are done for you
  • There is an excitement and buzz that will keep morale high until the end of the year

Cheers to the Year Water Tumbler

Focus on self-esteem and confidence with this epic water tumbler craft that is sure to get your students talking. After comparing and contrasting interests and strengths on a Venn diagram with a partner, they will each create their own water tumbler that has "stickers" to showcase some of the strengths of which they're most proud.

Student Gift on a Budget

I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest. On the one hand, I was never more inspired as a teacher to think outside the box, try new things and to get creative in the name of learning. On the other? This self-imposed dread that built that told me what I was doing wasn't enough- and student gifts were one of those pressure points. If gift giving is your love language, but you have a tight budget, here's an idea for you!

  1. Print off these summer-themed puzzle piece coloring pages for your group.
  2. Have them cut out the pieces and work together to assemble them into wings. 
  3. Invite students to come to school dressed in their favorite summer clothes for a "Beach Day".
  4. Snap a picture of them posing in front of the wings so that you can print them off onto magnetic paper or frame them to sign! 

 

 End of Year SEL Memory Workbook

This memory book printable is a fun way to wrap up the school year that support social emotional learning pillars such as growth mindset, gratitude, friendship skills and self-esteem. 

Hat's Off to a Fun Year

Reflective retells aren't glamorous. No student is stoked to sit down and to recap the year on a sheet of bland, lined paper. It's both overwhelming and inauthentic. I created this bucket hat craft to help make the process more immersive, trendy, and less intimidating. Students will explore a series of symbols and choose three that somehow connect to the year that they've had. They will justify why they chose what they did and then decorate their bucket hats in a way that celebrates their diverse interests. 


Summer Dog Digital Check-ins

Even though the conditions are perfect for happy, excited temperaments, this isn't always the case. There are many students who feel dysregulated by the lack of routines leading up the summer break, or who simply would rather spend their summers at school. To ensure we meet the needs of all children, checking in is imperative. In these digital summer check-ins, students will choose one of the four dogs that best represent their mood that day. This simple addition to your morning routine will become an invaluable tool for classroom management. 

End of Year 4 Corners Game

Our best-selling community-building came is the perfect way to get some energy out and squeeze in those movement breaks as often as possible. Making them laugh while they’re doing it? The ultimate win. Your K-3 students will be asked to choose from four choices, by walking to that assigned corner of the room to normalize being different and to solidify relationships that you already spent the year nurturing and growing. 


Summer SEL Early Finishers Coloring Page Bundle

If you’re anything like me, you don’t have time for the question: “What do I do nowwwwww?” on a good day, and especially do not have the patience or capacity to hear it (& isn’t it always in the shrillest tone too) as the school year winds down. Work smarter and not harder, with this bundle of mindful coloring pages to meaningfully fill any time voids. The social-emotional learning topics included in these pages cover: growth mindset, positive self-talk, mindfulness and getting to know you prompts.

 

Best Summer Mindful Coloring Pages for Kids on Teachers Pay Teachers

 

Plan the ideal, calm summer vacation, with this glyph that focuses on visualization and mindfulness. Your students will absolutely love comparing and contrasting their floating friends, to see how their answers compare to one another.

Summer pool floaty mindful glyph craft

 Without fail, I get a parent who is frazzled about what to do with their child over the summer. I do not give worksheets, but make some real-life suggestions as to how they can integrate literacy and numeracy over the summer. In Kindergarten and Grade 1, I will also send home these summer activity choice boards. There is a variety of low-prep suggestions that will not only help pass the time, but also spotlight & target the social skills that matter the most, such as mindfulnesspositive self-talkmovementproblem-solving and emotional regulation. 

Want a sample before purchasing? Click on the image below for 2 weeks of FREE summer choice boards to support the well-being of your students or child over the summer. 


Which activity is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Love & Be Well,
Dani

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