Agenda Item
a. Renewal: Second Step Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Digital Program (Not to exceed $313,821.90)
Summary: Presented by: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the renewal to purchase, for one additional year, the Second Step Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Digital Program for the 2026-2027 school year for an amount not to exceed $313,821.90.
Why: Second Step is a comprehensive, classroom-based social skills program designed for students ages 4-14, spanning preschool through middle school. The curriculum is tailored for each grade level and focuses on reducing impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors while strengthening essential social-emotional competencies. Its core objectives include developing students’ self-regulation, empathy, problem-solving abilities, and overall social-emotional skills. By intentionally building these competencies, the Second Step curriculum supports a positive school climate and culture, contributing to students’ overall well-being, readiness to learn, and long-term success.
Details: Second Step® Elementary Digital (Grades K-5)
• Twenty (20) research-based lessons, taught once per week for 15- to 25-minutes at each grade level.
• Divided into four (4) units: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting, Emotion Management, Empathy & Kindness, and Problem-Solving. DeKalb also uses the optional Bullying and Child Protection (Erin’s Law) Units.
• Eighteen (18) targeted Tier 2 small group lessons.
• Tier 3 resources.
• Assessment Toolkit: Optional, easy-to-use universal screen, teacher referral rubric, and implementation guidance to help educators identify students in need of additional support.
• Interactive and engaging content includes videos, stories, new Brain Builder games, songs, and more.
• Aligned with Georgia ELL and Social Studies Standards
• Program training and school-wide implementation support resources are included.
Second Step® Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• Twenty-six (26) research-based and highly engaging lessons for each distinct grade level.
• Taught once per week, 25-minute interactive lessons include videos and game-like activities.
• Lessons are divided into four (4) units: Mindsets and Goals; Developing a Positive Sense of Self; Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions; and Managing Relationships & Social Conflict & Recognizing Bullying & Harassment (optional unit DeKalb uses)
• Aligns with Georgia ELL and Social Studies Standards.
• Real Voices videos feature a diverse set of unscripted interviews with students from around U.S.
• Eighteen (18) targeted Tier 2 small group lessons.
• Tier 3 resources.
• Assessment Toolkit: Optional, easy-to-use pre-screeners and implementation guidance to help educators identify students in need of additional support
• Reinforcing content is built-in with 200 engaging 10-to-15-minute advisory activities.
• ParenTeen Connect - both in advisory materials for students and as an at-home family engagement resource featuring candid videos and guidance by leading experts on topics like communication, independence, responsibility and screen time.
• Program training and school-wide implementation support resources are included.
Financial impact: The total not-to-exceed budget of $313,821.90 for the 1-year license renewal will be purchased using funds from the Purchased Professional/Technical Services account code: 100.1000.553200.03111.7370.9990.8010.090.0000.
Contact: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678.676.1811
Dr. Shannon Crosslin, Senior Counseling Coordinator & Student Advancement, Division of Wrap Around Services, 404.808.8942
Effective: 08/01/2026
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
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FULL SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
Second Step® Digital Programs
for Kindergarten–Grade 8
Kindergarten
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
Demonstrate they know ways to pay attention
We Watch. We Listen. We Think.
Lesson 2
Identify reasons to pay attention
Why We Pay Attention
Lesson 3 Recognize mistakes are a part of learning by encouraging themselves and
Mistakes Are Okay! others when they make mistakes
Lesson 4
Name two ways they can get better at a skill
Practice Makes Better
Lesson 5—Performance Task Demonstrate paying attention and using kind words to encourage themselves
Let’s Practice and Learn! and others while learning something new together
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Kindergarten
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Give at least one reason why they think someone is feeling happy
Sometimes We Feel Happy
Lesson 7
Give at least one reason why they think someone is feeling sad
Sometimes We Feel Sad
Lesson 8
Give at least one reason why they think someone is feeling mad
Sometimes We Feel Mad
Lesson 9
Practice asking for help and slow breathing as ways to feel calm
We Can Feel Calm
Lesson 10—Performance Task Label feelings using behavioral and contextual clues and demonstrate a way
What Are They Feeling? to feel calm
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Give an example of a kind act
We Can Be Kind
Lesson 12
Give a reason why they think kind acts are important
Why Kindness?
Lesson 13 Demonstrate two kind acts: asking “Would you like to share?” and
Showing Kindness “Would you like a hug?”
Lesson 14
Give at least one example of a kind act they could do in a given situation
Kindness at School
Lesson 15—Performance Task Give at least one example of a kind act they have done or someone has
Demonstrating Kindness done for them
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Kindergarten
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
Repeat a clearly stated problem
We Can Say the Problem
Lesson 17
Name “feeling calm” as a helpful first step for problem-solving
Ready to Solve Problems
Lesson 18
Demonstrate apologizing as a problem-solving strategy
Apologizing Can Help
Lesson 19
Demonstrate offering to share or taking turns as problem-solving strategies
Taking Turns and Sharing
Lesson 20—Performance Task
Demonstrate a problem-solving process
We Can Solve Problems
Grade 1
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
Demonstrate how they pay attention
Time to Pay Attention
Lesson 2
Name behaviors that would help them pay attention when distracted
Everyone Gets Distracted
Lesson 3
Describe how they have gotten better at one skill they’ve learned
You Did It!
Lesson 4
Suggest helpful thoughts to encourage themselves to keep trying
Helpful Thoughts
Lesson 5—Performance Task Demonstrate practicing and paying attention—despite mistakes and distractions—
We Can Do It! to learn something new
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 1
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Name one way they can guess how someone feels
Noticing Feelings
Lesson 7
Name a reason for why they think someone feels worried
Sometimes We Feel Worried
Lesson 8
Name a reason for why they think someone feels calm
Feeling Calm
Lesson 9
Name a reason for why they think someone feels frustrated
Feeling Frustrated
Lesson 10—Performance Task Label feelings using behavioral and contextual clues and demonstrate
Noticing Clues a way to feel calm
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Describe how kind acts can help people feel good
The Power of Kind Acts
Lesson 12
Demonstrate two kind acts: asking “Are you okay?” and offering their company
Ways to Be Kind
Lesson 13
Demonstrate two kind acts: offering to help and inviting to join
Offering Kind Acts
Lesson 14
With adult support, demonstrate at least one kind act they could do for others
Practicing Kind Acts
Lesson 15—Performance Task
Demonstrate at least one kind act they could do for others
Demonstrating Kind Acts
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 1
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
State a problem respectfully
How to Say the Problem
Lesson 17
Identify problems caused by accidents and demonstrate an appropriate response
Was It an Accident?
Lesson 18
Describe what they would want and need to solve a problem
Ask for What You Need
Lesson 19
Identify ways to make amends to solve a problem
We Can Make It Better
Lesson 20—Performance Task
Suggest one way to solve a problem
Solving Problems
Grade 2
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
Identify things they’ve done to get good at something
How to Get Good at Something
Lesson 2 Give at least one example of things they can do to keep going when they
What Mistakes Tell Us get stuck or make mistakes
Lesson 3
Identify the likely outcomes of a character’s helpful or unhelpful thoughts
Helpful and Unhelpful Thoughts
Lesson 4
Replace unhelpful thoughts with helpful thoughts
We Can Change Our Thoughts
Lesson 5—Performance Task Apply what they’ve learned to give advice to someone having a hard time
Learn and Get Better acquiring a new skill
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 2
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Identify reasons for feeling proud
Feeling Proud
Lesson 7
Identify reasons for feeling disappointed
Feeling Disappointed
Lesson 8
Generate helpful thoughts as a strategy to regulate strong feelings
Help Yourself Feel Better
Lesson 9 Recognize that people can have different feelings about the same situation because of
Different Feelings their experiences
Lesson 10—Performance Task
Explain why different people can have different feelings in the same situation
How Do You Feel?
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Describe how empathy leads to an act of kindness
What’s Empathy?
Lesson 12
Describe how empathy has led them to show kindness to others
Empathy in Action
Lesson 13
Identify a kind act they could do for someone
Having Empathy
Lesson 14 Use empathy to identify a kind act they could do for a person in their
Empathy at School school community
Lesson 15—Performance Task
Use empathy to identify a kind act they could do for a person of their choosing
Empathy and Kindness
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 2
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
State the problem without blame
The Way to Say a Problem
Lesson 17
Generate multiple solutions to a problem
Thinking of Solutions
Lesson 18
Explain why one solution is better than another for solving a given problem
Which Solution?
Lesson 19
Generate ways to make amends to solve a problem
What Would I Want?
Lesson 20—Performance Task
Generate possible solutions and select the solution that makes sense
Be a Problem-Solver
Grade 3
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
State what happens in their brain when they learn a new skill
Changing Your Brain
Lesson 2 Describe the connection between their own practice and effort and the
Getting Better with Practice changes that happened in their brain
Lesson 3
Name two additional actions they can take to improve a skill
More Than Practice
Lesson 4
Make a practice plan with a partner
Planning for Practice
Lesson 5—Performance Task
Use a handout to make a practice plan for a skill they want to get better at
Make a Practice Plan
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 3
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Suggest an example of information that emotions give them
Why Emotions?
Lesson 7 Differentiate feeling annoyed, angry, and furious through contextual
How Angry? and behavioral clues
Lesson 8
Recognize when and how to take a break to regulate a strong emotion
Take a Break
Lesson 9 Differentiate feeling content, happy, and excited through contextual
How Happy? and behavioral clues
Lesson 10—Performance Task
Recognize differences between levels of intensity of similar emotions
Strength of Feelings
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Identify kind acts that can build a new friendship
Kindness and Friendship
Lesson 12
Identify kind acts that can make existing friendships stronger
Building a Friendship
Lesson 13
Describe different ways people prefer to be shown kindness
My Kind of Kindness
Lesson 14 Ask questions to determine how someone else feels and identify a
Asking Questions kind act they might want
Lesson 15—Performance Task
Generate kind acts they can do to build a friendship
Do Something Kind
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 3
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
Recall a process they can use to solve problems (STEP)
STEP by Step
Lesson 17
Restate the wants and needs of each person involved in a given problem
S: Say the Problem
Lesson 18
Identify whose wants and needs are met by possible solutions
T: Think and E: Explore
Lesson 19
Pick a solution for a given problem and explain why they chose it
P: Pick a Solution
Lesson 20—Performance Task
Solve a given problem using the STEP process
Solving a Problem
Grade 4
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
Apply criteria to identify a good class goal that improves their classroom
Setting a Good Class Goal
Lesson 2
With adult support, create a collaborative plan to reach their group goal
Making a Plan
Lesson 3 With adult support, evaluate their progress toward their group’s goal so they can make
Checking Our Progress adjustments if needed
Lesson 4 With adult support, reflect on the goal-setting process and say what they would
Reflecting On Our Journey do next time
Lesson 5—Performance Task Reflect on their goal-achieving process through a gallery walk and celebrate their
Gallery Walk Celebration collective accomplishments
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 4
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Explain why it is important to manage strong emotions
The Balanced Brain
Lesson 7
Describe the benefits of rethinking a situation
What Is Rethinking?
Lesson 8
Use questions to help them rethink given situations
How to Rethink
Lesson 9
Rethink a situation they have personally experienced
Take Another Look
Lesson 10—Performance Task
Rethink a variety of situations
Rethink It!
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Explain different points of view in a given situation
The Same, But Different
Lesson 12 Generate questions a person could ask to better understand someone’s
Ask, Listen, Learn point of view
Lesson 13
Ask questions to better understand someone’s point of view
Seeing It Differently
Lesson 14 Explain how understanding someone’s point of view could change their
Changing Your Mind own thinking or actions
Lesson 15—Performance Task
Demonstrate taking another person’s point of view
A New Point of View
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 4
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
Explain what they can do to be a better problem-solver
A Good Problem-Solver
Lesson 17
Describe a given problem from each person’s point of view
Saying It Respectfully
Lesson 18
Evaluate possible solutions to a given problem
Exploring Outcomes
Lesson 19
Evaluate which solution best solves a problem
A Good Solution
Lesson 20—Performance Task
Apply the STEP process to solve a problem from each person’s point of view
STEP into Problem-Solving
Grade 5
Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1
Identify goals that are important and interesting to them
Let’s Dream Big!
Lesson 2
Choose a goal that is specific and challenging and create a statement for that goal
The Power of a Good Goal
Lesson 3 Explain the connection between habits and goal achievement and identify specific
Habits for Success! habits that can support their personal goals
Lesson 4 Demonstrate an understanding of strategies for achieving goals, including developing
Overcoming Obstacles strategies for overcoming obstacles
Lesson 5—Performance Task Generate a unique symbol that represents something they have learned about
Continuous Improvement setting a goal
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 5
Unit 2: Emotion Management
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 6
Give an example of a recurring situation that causes them to feel strong emotions
Strong Emotions
Lesson 7
Identify signs and causes of stress in themselves
What Is Stress?
Lesson 8 Identify what a person can think or do differently to manage their strong emotion
Planning for Change in a recurring situation
Lesson 9 Identify what they can think or do differently to manage strong emotions in a
What Can I Change? recurring situation
Lesson 10—Performance Task Identify two things they can change in a recurring personal situation to preemptively
Making a Change manage strong emotions
Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 11
Describe how people used empathy to identify and address a community problem
Empathy in the Community
Lesson 12
Identify problems in their community and the people affected
What’s the Problem?
Lesson 13 Describe different points of view to build empathy for the people affected by a
A Different Point of View community problem
Lesson 14
Evaluate possible solutions to a community problem
Community Solutions
Lesson 15—Performance Task Explain how their solution meets the wants and needs of the people affected by
Your Solution a community problem
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 5
Unit 4: Problem-Solving
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 16
Explain how to begin the STEP problem-solving process
Beginning to STEP
Lesson 17
Identify when, where, and with whom to work on different problems
When? Where? Who?
Lesson 18 Predict whether a potential solution will be successful based on the points of
Solutions Web view of everyone involved
Lesson 19
Evaluate the outcome of a solution based on how it affected everyone involved
Let’s Reflect
Lesson 20—Performance Task Apply the STEP process and consider the context in which they might best solve
Putting It All Together the problem
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 6
Unit 1: Mindsets & Goals
Program Themes: Academic Success, Belonging, Growth Mindset, Helping Others, Planning Ahead, Perspective-Taking,
Resilience, Starting Right
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1 Identify how music can be a motivator in challenging times and collaborate to create a
A Soundtrack for Success classroom playlist that represents determination or overcoming obstacles
Lesson 2 Describe what happens in their brains when they try something new and how their
How to Grow Your Brain brains change with experience and practice
Lesson 3
Name new strategies they can try when they’re having trouble learning something new
Trying New Strategies
Lesson 4
Write a specific goal
Making Goals Specific
Lesson 5
Break a big, long-term goal down into smaller, short-term goals
Breaking Down Your Goals
Lesson 6 Set progress markers for their goal, determine when their goal has been achieved,
Monitoring Your Progress and determine if they need to try a new strategy to reach their goal
Lesson 7—Performance Task
Create an action plan for achieving a goal
Bringing It All Together
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 6
Unit 2: Developing a Positive Sense of Self
Program Themes: Decision-Making, Guiding Principles, Relationships
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 8
Identify what guiding principles are and where they come from
What Are Guiding Principles?
Lesson 9
Use a process to identify at least one of their own guiding principles
Your Guiding Principles
Lesson 10
Describe how they can use their guiding principles to make decisions
Making Decisions
Lesson 11
Apply more than one guiding principle before making a decision
Multiple Guiding Principles
Lesson 12
Evaluate how they would feel after making a decision using their guiding principles
Thinking Short-Term and Long-Term
Lesson 13—Performance Task
Apply their guiding principle to make a decision in a given situation
Using Your Guiding Principles
Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
Program Themes: Conflicts, Resilience, Staying Calm, Thoughts and Emotions
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 14
Describe why emotions matter in their lives
What Emotions Tell You
Lesson 15
Describe what happens in their brains when they feel a strong emotion
Emotions and Your Brain
Lesson 16
Describe how strong emotions can influence the decisions they make
How Emotions Affect Your Decisions
Lesson 17
Demonstrate and evaluate strategies for managing their emotions
Managing Your Emotions
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 6
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 18 Determine the emotion-management strategies that work best for them and choose
What Works Best for You? the best strategy to use in a situation, given the context
Lesson 19—Performance Task
Apply their knowledge from the unit to promote awareness about emotion-
Raising Awareness About Managing
management strategies at school
Emotions
Unit 4: Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
Program Themes: Conflicts, Growth Mindset, Perspective-Taking, Relationships
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 20 Describe the changes they’ve gone through in the past, the change(s) they’re
You’re Changing currently going through, and how those changes affect their relationships
Lesson 21 Identify actions that escalate conflicts and determine ways to prevent conflicts
Why Conflicts Escalate from becoming more serious
Lesson 22 Examine a social conflict from multiple perspectives so they can resolve minor
Considering Multiple Perspectives conflicts
Lesson 23
Demonstrate how to use respectful language to prevent conflicts from getting worse
Respectful Communication
Lesson 24
Identify and evaluate various solutions to a conflict in order to find the best solution
Resolving Challenging Conflicts
Lesson 25
Demonstrate how to make amends in meaningful and restorative ways
Making Amends
Lesson 26—Performance Task
Demonstrate resolving a social conflict
Conflict Solvers
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 7
Unit 1: Mindsets & Goals
Program Themes: Academic Success, Belonging, Growth Mindset, Helping Others, Perspective-Taking,
Planning Ahead, Resilience, Starting Right
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills,
Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1 Create a vision board that represents their goals and reflect on the efforts needed to
Designing Your Future achieve those goals
Lesson 2 Explain what happens in the brain when they overcome challenges to learn
Creating New Pathways in Your Brain something new
Lesson 3 Explain why challenging themselves and overcoming obstacles is an essential part
Learning from Obstacles of learning
Lesson 4 Differentiate between internal and external obstacles and recognize how they have an
Identifying Obstacles impact on goal achievement
Lesson 5
Anticipate potential obstacles and create an If–Then Plan to address them
Overcoming Obstacles
Lesson 6 Develop a personal If–Then Plan to help them anticipate and respond to obstacles that
Creating an If–Then Plan could prevent them from reaching their goals
Lesson 7—Performance Task Analyze their If–Then Plan and reflect on its effectiveness to improve their ability to
Reflecting on Your If–Then Plan overcome future obstacles
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 7
Unit 2: Developing a Positive Sense of Self
Program Themes: Growth Mindset, Planning Ahead, Self-Concept
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 8
Explain what self-concept is and why it’s important
What is Self-Concept?
Lesson 9
Describe two or more parts of their current self-concept
Your Self-Concept
Lesson 10
Name at least one factor that influences their self-concept
Influences on Self-Concept
Lesson 11
Describe how their self-concept has changed over time
Changes in Self-Concept
Lesson 12
Describe the self-concept they want to have in the future
Your Future Self-Concept
Lesson 13—Performance Task Describe something they can do now to connect their self-concept to who they want
Who Will You Become? to be in the future
Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
Program Themes: Conflicts, Resilience, Staying Calm, Thoughts and Emotions
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible
Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 14 Explain the importance of emotions and describe how emotions can affect their
Emotions Matter thoughts and decisions
Lesson 15
Explain how thoughts and emotions are connected and can affect their decisions
Feel, Think, Do
Lesson 16 Distinguish helpful thoughts from unhelpful thoughts and analyze how unhelpful
Unhelpful Thoughts thoughts can negatively affect the decisions they make
Lesson 17
Explain how to interrupt unhelpful thoughts and reframe a challenging situation
Reframe the Situation
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 7
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 18
Practice using positive self-talk to reframe a challenging situation
Practicing Positive Self-Talk
Lesson 19—Performance Task • Demonstrate how strong emotions can prompt unhelpful thoughts
Making Better Decisions • Model strategies for managing their emotions
Unit 4: Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
Program Themes: Conflicts, Perspective-Taking, Planning Ahead, Relationships
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 20
Identify common reasons why social conflicts escalate from minor to major
What Makes a Conflict Escalate?
Lesson 21 Describe how using emotion-management strategies can prevent the escalation of
Keeping Your Cool in a Conflict a conflict
Lesson 22
Explain how to listen to and consider someone else’s perspective during a conflict
Conflicts and Perspectives
Lesson 23
Describe the perspectives of everyone involved in a conflict in a nonjudgmental way
Resolving Conflict Part 1
Lesson 24 Consider possible solutions and their consequences in order to find the best solution
Resolving Conflict Part 2 for resolving a conflict
Lesson 25 Explain what to do to take responsibility for their actions and make things as right
Taking Responsibility for Your Actions as possible
Lesson 26—Performance Task
Identify the key elements of resolving conflicts successfully
Tips for Resolving Conflicts
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 8
Unit 1: Mindsets & Goals
Program Themes: Academic Success, Growth Mindset, Planning Ahead, Resilience, Starting Right
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 1 Attempt a self-selected challenge multiple times and reflect on ways to improve
Adjust and Achieve between each attempt
Lesson 2 Explain what motivation is and why it’s important, as well as analyze the factors that
Motivation influence why individuals feel motivated to engage in some activities over others
Lesson 3
Explain how success expectation and value influence motivation
Motivation Factors 1
Lesson 4
Explain cost as a factor that affects motivation and describe its three components
Motivation Factors 2
Lesson 5
Identify strategies to increase their motivation levels
Strategies for Motivation
Lesson 6
Choose a strategy to increase motivation and develop a plan to implement it
Increasing Your Motivation
Lesson 7—Performance Task Select an upcoming task and create a plan to increase their motivation to complete it
Your Motivation Plan using specific strategies
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 8
Unit 2: Developing a Positive Sense of Self
Program Themes: Agency, Confidence, Growth Mindset, Planning Ahead
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 8
Explain what agency is by describing how it appears in their lives
Agency
Lesson 9
Name a specific source of confidence that led to a personal success
Sources of Confidence
Lesson 10 Name a time when they built confidence by preparing their physical and emotional
How to Build Confidence 1 states or by observing others
Lesson 11 Name a time when they built confidence using encouragement from others or
How to Build Confidence 2 past experience
Lesson 12
Make a plan to build confidence in a given area
Agency and Confidence
Lesson 13—Performance Task
Make a plan to build confidence in an area of their choice
Your Confidence-Building Plan
Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions
Program Themes: Resilience, Staying Calm, Thoughts and Emotions
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 14
Recognize how stress and anxiety affect their emotions, thoughts, and bodies
Understanding Stress and Anxiety
Lesson 15 Categorize common sources of stress and explain the difference between controllable
Where Does Stress Come From? and uncontrollable stressors
Lesson 16
Reframe certain types of stress as opportunities for growth
Can Stress Help You Grow?
Lesson 17
Demonstrate how to choose strategies for managing stress
Strategies for Managing Stress
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs
Grade 8
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 18 Analyze stressful situations, decide if they need to change strategies or get outside
Changing Strategies and help to manage their stress, and identify people who can help them when they feel
Getting Help their stress is unmanageable
Lesson 19—Performance Task
Create an individual plan for managing their stress
My Stress-Management Plan
Unit 4: Managing Relationships & Social Conflict
Program Themes: Academic Success, Belonging, Conflicts, Growth Mindset, Perspective-Taking, Planning Ahead,
Relationships, Resilience, Starting Right, Values
CASEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible
Decision-Making
Lesson Title Objectives
Students will be able to:
Lesson 20
Identify their core values and how their behaviors demonstrate these values
My Values
Lesson 21
Describe the connection between their values and healthy behaviors in relationships
Values and Relationships
Lesson 22
Analyze conflicts from multiple perspectives to help prevent them from escalating
Recognizing Others’ Perspectives
Lesson 23 Generate and evaluate solutions to conflicts that are mutually acceptable to
Finding the Best Solution everyone affected
Lesson 24 Identify a variety of ways for making amends to restore a relationship that’s
Making Things Right been damaged
Lesson 25
Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships
Unhealthy Relationships
Lesson 26—Performance Task Describe the importance of choosing healthy relationships, tell if a relationship is
Guide to Healthy Relationships healthy, and recognize and manage unhealthy relationships
Lesson 27 Identify challenges many students face starting high school and people they can go to
High School Challenges for help with these challenges
06.18.2025
#4978 - Updated K-8
2025 Committee for Children | SecondStep.org | Second Step® Elementary and Second Step® Middle School Digital Programs