Introduction

The current global situation has led to an increased emphasis on staying home and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of a virus. This shift in our daily lives can be challenging, but it also presents an opportunity for educators and students to thrive in new ways. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills that focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and help students make the most of their time at home.

No-Prep Activity: Time Management Treasure Hunt

This activity requires no preparation or materials and encourages students to develop their time management skills. Here’s how it works:

1. Ask students to create a list of activities they would like to accomplish during the day. The list should include schoolwork, exercise, hobbies, reading, chores, and other tasks.
2. Next, have students assign a specific time for each activity, making sure to allocate appropriate durations for each task.
3. Throughout the day, encourage students to check off completed activities and monitor their progress.
4. At the end of the day, have students reflect on their accomplishments and identify areas for improvement in their time management.

This activity helps students become more aware of how they spend their time and encourages them to develop better time management skills, which are essential for academic success and overall well-being.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you feel when you accomplish a task on your schedule? How can this feeling motivate you to continue managing your time well?
2. What challenges do you face when trying to manage your time effectively? How can you overcome these challenges?
3. How can practicing good time management skills benefit your relationships with your family members?
4. How can you balance screen time with other activities to ensure you are making the most of your day?
5. What strategies can you use to maintain a consistent sleep schedule and why is this important?

Related Skills

In addition to time management, there are other important SEL skills that can help students thrive during this period of staying home:

• Goal Setting: Encouraging students to set realistic, achievable goals for themselves can help them stay focused and motivated.
• Resilience: Teaching students to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes in their routine can foster emotional well-being.
• Empathy: Promoting understanding and compassion for others can help students build stronger relationships with their family members and peers.
• Self-awareness: Helping students identify their emotions and understand how their feelings can influence their behavior can lead to improved self-regulation.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources related to social-emotional learning, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our materials at Everyday Speech. Our platform offers a variety of tools to help educators and students develop essential SEL skills and navigate the challenges of staying home.