1.10. What will a class integrating SEL and Arts look like?

Think of it as teaching with an extra layer of emotion and creativity.

• Imagine teaching the water cycle, where learners doodle rain, rivers, and evaporation, then reflect on how water is a shared resource we must all care for.
• Imagine teaching about animal habitats, where learners create soundscapes of forests, oceans, or deserts, and discuss how those sounds make them feel: building empathy for living beings and the environment.
• Imagine teaching civics, where learners dramatize an issue in their community, practicing both citizenship and respectful dialogue.

With SEL: In each case, learners aren’t just learning the subject. They’re also practicing empathy, mindfulness, critical thinking, and compassion.

Stay curious, stay creative, and most importantly, stay human! The next chapters will dive deeper into how to put each of these arts into action. Let’s make SEL as vibrant and lively as your classroom!