SEL Core Competencies: 

• Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity 

• Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline 

• Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others 

• Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed 

ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing 

Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity 

Introduce criteria for goal setting with the acronym SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

In small groups, provide students with example goals and ask them to sort according to the SMART criteria. 

Ask small groups to share a conflict scenario from their own lives. Ask each group to come up with a realistic goal using the SMART criteria that assists them in facing, and hopefully solving, the problem.

Have groups present their goals.

Ask students to discuss the importance of each criterion in the context of conflict. Discuss common obstacles students might face when trying to achieve their goals during conflicts. Introduce strategies for overcoming obstacles.

Have students work in their small groups to identify potential obstacles related to their conflict scenarios and brainstorm ways they could overcome them. Have students present their ideas.