31 TOOLS

Great Resources for Teaching Life Skills

So much of what students have to navigate in life takes skills that aren't always taught in the classroom. Technology can teach them about their health and wellness and help them develop skills such as conflict resolution, safe social networking, and getting along with others. Students can also learn essential technical skills -- from keyboarding to resume writing to word processing -- that they'll need to succeed in school and careers. In the list below, you'll see tools that offer a variety of learning experiences tailored to the specific life skills students will be learning, from reading stories to playing interactive games to creating digital media to analyzing their own personality profiles. There are also handy lesson resources teachers can use to build engaging units.

Technical Skills

GCFLearnFree.org

Bolster essential skills for modern life and career success

Bottom Line: From workplace skills to personal interests, this site is full of hard-to-find tutorials for core skills, but don't expect ultra-engaging learning design.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free

Google Applied Digital Skills

Practical PBL lessons teach critical computer skills

Bottom Line: Thorough digital literacy curriculum offers mix-and-match options to fit any classroom.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free

Financial Literacy

Milo's Money

Cute book and game combo puts kids on a path to financial well-being

Bottom Line: This is a delightful, kid-friendly intro to financial health with a great mixture of activities.

Grades: Pre-K–1
Price:
Free

FitMoney

Grounded financial literacy curriculum offers easy implementation

Bottom Line: This program is worth checking out: It's free and comprehensive and, while it's not pushing any boundaries, it gets the basics right and can be plugged into any classroom.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Vault: Understanding Money

Beginner financial literacy modules can lay a solid foundation

Bottom Line: For elementary classrooms looking to introduce students to money management and financial planning, this is a good package worth considering.

Grades: 4–6
Price:
Free

Next Gen Personal Finance

From crypto to Venmo, up-to-date lessons teach key financial skills

Bottom Line: One of the best sources for relevant and useful materials for in-depth units or just grab-and-go discussions and activities about financial literacy.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

EVERFI: Financial Literacy for High School

Interactive modules teach students early financial planning strategies

Bottom Line: These lessons break free from the one-size-fits-all expectations of other financial literacy tools, and offer a good starting point to get students planning for their future.

Grades: 9–12
Price:
Free

Social and Emotional Learning

Four little corners

Simple story about shapes showcases problem-solving and inclusion

Bottom Line: This cute little story could be a nice launching pad for big discussions about friendship, tolerance, and acceptance.

Grades: Pre-K–1
Price:
Paid

Toca Tea Party

Pretend play meets social skills at this cute interactive gathering

Bottom Line: Beautiful, imagination-provoking app is so easy to use, kids will likely want to return for many more parties.

Grades: Pre-K–1
Price:
Paid

Wisdom: The World of Emotions

Quirky game helps kids recognize and regulate anger in self and others

Bottom Line: If they can get through the confusing bits, students will be able to identify, label, and perhaps manage strong feelings of anger or frustration.

Grades: K–3
Price:
Free to try

Mindful Powers

Care for a cute creature to practice mindfulness and self-control

Bottom Line: Meditation lessons and visual timers act as decent supplemental activities for introducing SEL skills.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free to try, Paid

Peekapak

Complete multimedia SEL units in a neat and tidy package

Bottom Line: Detailed social and emotional learning lessons provide teachers with almost everything they'll need to spark positive character development and reflection in their students.

Grades: Pre-K–8
Price:
Free to try

Zoo U

Research-based social game has terrific assessment potential

Bottom Line: A powerful and focused social problem-solving game designed to reach kids who need direct instruction.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free to try

7 Mindsets

Thought-provoking structured program simplifies SEL skills

Bottom Line: If teachers take advantage of the extension activities, students can get great in-depth instruction and practice in SEL skills needed for life.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Paid

Prism

Experiential game teaches empathy toward those with autism

Bottom Line: Lessons on inclusion and community in the classroom require post-game facilitated discussion for deep learning.

Grades: 2–6
Price:
Free

I Love Potatoes

Adorable social innovation app spurs discussion, collective action

Bottom Line: This free app, when used with the extension materials, will help students understand their role in the environment and the economy, and empower them to make change for the better.

Grades: 2–8
Price:
Free

S.S. Grin

Fantastical game helps teach friendship skills through storytelling

Bottom Line: Riveting role-playing game reinforces relationship skills, but plan carefully so that students can save their game.

Grades: 3–6
Price:
Paid

Along

Messaging tool helps classrooms forge and foster meaningful dialogue

Bottom Line: This tool opens up avenues for conversation and relationship building between teachers and students.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free

Hall of Heroes

Responsive game helps students prepare for transition to middle school

Bottom Line: Wonderful and fun social-interaction game designed to teach cooperation and friendship skills needed for middle school and beyond.

Grades: 5–8
Price:
Free to try, Paid

DiGii Social

Unique platform acts as social media training wheels for students

Bottom Line: If students take to it and teachers can support it, DiGii Social can level up digital citizenship awareness in a safe yet authentic context.

Grades: 5–6
Price:
Paid

inspirED

Uplifting one-stop shop for social and emotional learning resources

Bottom Line: inspirED delivers exactly what it claims: empowering, easy-to-search content for social and emotional learning.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free

Florence

Incredibly relatable story about navigating adult love and life

Bottom Line: This heartwarming game helps kids empathize with the highs and lows of romantic relationships.

Grades: 10–12
Price:
Paid

Wellness and Self-Improvement

Mindprint Learning

Expert feedback and tools designed for individual learner profiles

Bottom Line: This impressive tool uses normed digital assessments to create a specific learning profile and provide authentic tools for individual learners.

Grades: 2–12
Price:
Free, Paid

I Got This: An Interactive Story

Interactive story explores diabetes health issues, lacks depth

Bottom Line: A kid-friendly way to teach an important message about healthy living, but a missed opportunity to fully engage kids with assessment or gameplay.

Grades: 3–5
Price:
Free

LearnStorm

Guided lessons focus on the brain, encourage a growth mindset

Bottom Line: Wonderful, easy-to-use lessons spur self-reflection and a growth mindset in students.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free

Amaze

Quirky, fact-filled videos help adults answer tweens' sex-ed questions

Bottom Line: This approachable and contemporary content can help teachers and caregivers field tough questions, but the firmly progressive approach could prevent use.

Grades: 5–10
Price:
Free

Roadtrip Nation

Outstanding organization motivates kids to follow dreams, work hard

Bottom Line: Incredibly inspirational and helpful framework for building a sustainable, fulfilling future.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free

Calm Harm - Manages Self Harm

Immediate help for teens struggling with harmful urges

Bottom Line: Powerful therapeutic tool teaches positive coping skills and mental wellness.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free

Pairin

Robust personality survey for students results in real-world insights

Bottom Line: For educators who have the time, drive, and buy-in, this program is a great data-analysis and character-development tool.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free to try, Paid

Sex, Etc.

Reliable, unbiased sex ed site keeps it real for teens

Bottom Line: An engaging and informative destination for sex ed teachers and students.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free

Please Knock on My Door

Effective and affecting game about dealing with depression

Bottom Line: A slow-paced SEL game for helping students understand the nuances of managing mental health.

Grades: 9–12
Price:
Paid

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