1. Emotions Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of emotions such as happy, sad, excited, and angry. Hide pictures or objects that represent each emotion around the classroom or outdoor space. Ask the children to find and identify the emotions.

2. Feelings Puppet Show: Provide the children with puppets or stuffed animals and encourage them to put on a puppet show. Each puppet can represent a different feeling or emotion, allowing the children to explore and express their own emotions.

3. Mindful Breathing: Teach the children simple breathing exercises to help them calm down and focus. Practice deep breathing together and explain how it can help them manage their emotions.

4. Friendship Quilt: Give each child a square of fabric and ask them to decorate it with their name and drawings representing friendship. Assemble the squares to create a classroom quilt that symbolizes the importance of friendship and inclusivity.

5. Emotion Charades: Write different emotions on small pieces of paper and place them in a bowl. Each child takes turns acting out the emotion without speaking while others guess what emotion they are portraying.

6. Gratitude Jar: Provide each child with a jar and encourage them to write down things they are grateful for on small pieces of paper. They can add these papers to their gratitude jars throughout the year, promoting a positive mindset and reflection.

7. Feelings Collage: Provide magazines, scissors, and glue sticks. Ask the children to cut out pictures or words that represent different feelings or emotions and create a collage. This activity helps them understand and recognize a wide range of emotions.

8. Kindness Rock Garden: Create a rock garden in the classroom where children can paint rocks with positive messages or drawings. Encourage them to show kindness by exchanging rocks with their classmates or leaving them in the community.

9. Social Storybooks: Read storybooks that depict characters experiencing various emotions or social situations. Discuss the characters’ feelings and encourage the children to share their thoughts and experiences related to the stories.

10. Circle of Compliments: Sit in a circle and have each child take turns complimenting the person next to them. This activity promotes positive reinforcement and boosts self-esteem.

11. Emotion Sorting: Provide a set of cards with different facial expressions depicting various emotions. Ask the children to sort the cards into categories based on similar emotions.

12. Feelings Bingo: Create bingo cards with different emotions instead of numbers. Call out emotions and have the children identify and mark the corresponding emotion on their cards.

13. Emotional Check-In: Begin each day with an emotional check-in where children can express how they are feeling using words, drawings, or a color-coded chart. This encourages self-awareness and helps the teacher address any emotional needs.

14. Empathy Role-Play: Assign different scenarios involving empathy, such as a friend feeling sad or a disagreement between classmates. Let the children act out how they would respond and discuss different ways to show empathy.

15. Mindfulness Walk: Take the children on a mindful walk outdoors, encouraging them to observe their surroundings and focus on their senses. Discuss how this activity can help them feel more present and connected.

These engaging SEL activities for preschool and kindergarten students provide opportunities for emotional exploration, self-awareness, empathy, and social skill development. By incorporating these activities into the curriculum, educators can create a positive and supportive learning environment for young children.