How to address violence in the news with your students.
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Great Resources for Teaching Life Skills
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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
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
Straightforward finance site brimming with resources for teachers
Bottom line: This is a useful, high-quality, well-organized resource for teachers putting together short personal finance lessons or entire curricula.
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 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–5
Price: Free, Paid
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
Community in Crisis
Game shows real-world uses for literacy and decision-making skills
Bottom line: A clever, real-world, and civic-minded context to learn and practice ELA skills.
Grades: 5–9
Price: Free
Vital Signs
ELA game set in a medical clinic shows the value of literacy skills
Bottom line: Great ELA lessons that realistically integrate literacy skills into the simulated day-to-day of a medical clinic.
Grades: 6–8
Price: Free
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, funny videos give thoughtful answers to kids' sex-ed questions
Bottom line: An appealingly down-to-earth way to help kids face tough questions about navigating the challenges of puberty.
Grades: 5–8
Price: Free
Roadtrip Nation
Outstanding site motivates kids to follow dreams, work hard
Bottom line: Incredibly inspirational, fun, and helpful guide for kids trying to figure out a sustainable, happy future.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $20-$25 per student
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
