Grab & Go Tools: Simple Learning Activities
Try these simple learning activities as part of your everyday mental health practices at school, or at home. At school, it is important when talking about emotions with students, that individual, family and community cultural contexts be considered. For these learning activities to be impactful, supportive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive, it is important to also consider the lived realities, racial and other disparities and educator biases that can impact students’ experiences in Ontario schools.
Feelings Flashcards
These flashcards can be used in a variety of ways and are suitable for all grades. They are helpful for supporting the identification of, and conversations about feelings. You can also find this tool embedded as part of a Kindergarten, Primary and Junior lesson about stress management and coping strategies.
*This activity includes a downloadable slide deck.*
Mood Check-Ins
These tools are a great starting point for students, educators and caregivers. Elementary students are encouraged to choose from the tools below and find the one that they like best.
These tools are also embedded as part of lesson plans about stress management and coping strategies - Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior.
Practicing Gratitude
This tool is designed to help students build the skill of practising and expressing gratitude for the people, places or things that they appreciate. Gratitude is a way of thinking, one that you can practice, develop and cultivate. Gratitude can also help manage stress and can bring more positivity and joy into our lives. This activity outlines four steps to support students with practising gratitude and was part of the lesson plan for the Secondary Virtual Field Trip about Gratitude.
See and Say How You Feel
This is a simple tool to support students in expressing feelings and reflecting on situations or experiences that can impact their feelings. This activity is also embedded as part of a Kindergarten and a Primary lesson in our Virtual Field Trips on stress management and coping strategies. *This activity includes a downloadable slide deck.*
Would You Rather?
This quick activity is designed to get students thinking about their preferences, skills, talents, and strengths. This can serve so many purposes! It can help create a caring connection and show interest in students’ unique identities, provide students with an opportunity to share about themselves, build a sense of community as you learn about each other, and allow students to reflect on activities and interests that support their well-being. It also offers a way to begin any learning from a place of strength or wrap up with a supportive transition.
This activity is available in two versions: one for K – 3 and one for Junior grades. Each version includes a downloadable slide deck.* Choose the version that would work best for the students in your class and adapt it to the interests and abilities of students, if needed.
I in image
The I in Image activity provides students an opportunity to choose an image that they connect with and then share why they chose it. This activity will shine a light on the strengths and interests of students. It also allows for students to hear and learn about the views of their peers. You can customize this activity for the age and interests of your students through the images you select to use.
These links provide instructions for doing this activity in person:
This activity can be adapted for virtual learning by using the slide deck format included.
This tool was part of a Junior, Intermediate, and Secondary lesson plan in our Virtual Field Trips on stress management and coping strategies.
