Getting Started

SEL Kernels are a low-cost and flexible way to integrate SEL into the daily routines and activities of schooling. They can be used by teachers, or any other school adult, with the students in their care. There are Kernels on this site designed for use with students, and there are Kernels for teachers to use to build their own social and emotional skills and wellbeing.

Learn about the different skill areas targeted by Kernels in the SEL Kernels for Ukraine: Domains and Skills Overview.

Implementing Kernels

During the 2023-2024 school year, SEL Kernels were piloted in 51 classrooms in five regions across Ukraine. Pilot teachers shared feedback and advice for other teachers using Kernels in their classrooms. To learn more about their advice, download the Tips from Pilot Teachers for Implementing Kernels.

Choosing Kernels

When deciding which Kernels to use, consider your students’ skills and interests. Pick Kernels that align with what you are noticing in your classroom. For example, if students are struggling with building friendships, try Cooperation Kernels that target relationship building, such as Question Quest. If they are finding it hard to focus, pick Cognitive Skills Kernels, such as Abracadabra. For additional ideas for getting started in your classroom see Roadmaps for Kernels. Each Roadmap is focused on a common classroom situation, including creating a positive classroom community, talking about emotions, navigating difficult moments, initiating communication between peers, and building relationships.

Kernels are organized into three stages that are labeled Learn, Grow, Expand. Choose Kernels that match your students’ abilities and watch how they build skills over time:

• Learn Kernels are a great place to start. These Kernels work well for younger students or those who are just starting Kernels.
• Grow Kernels build on the Learn Kernels and are more complex. These Kernels include more complex steps or more challenging concepts and activities and may be more engaging for older students or those familiar with Learn Kernels.
• Expand Kernels are the most complex Kernels in the set. These Kernels include more challenging activities such as role-play or independent practice. Choose Kernels that match your students’ abilities and watch how they build skills over time.

If you need more support selecting Kernels to use in your first week, use this “Getting Started” calendar that has suggestions for one Kernel per day for the first week.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Belly Breathing	Our Body’s Clues	Sharing Our Interests	Masha Says	Rules for Our Cool Community

Play Kernels in 3 Steps

Each Kernel has three steps:

• In step 1, introduce the target skill for the activity. By introducing the skill, you make the skill explicit, an essential component to building skills of all kinds.
• In step 2, complete the activity with your students to practice using the skill. You can find strategies to adapt the activity based on the age of your students in the “Ideas for Adaptation and Elaboration” section of the Kernel card. These ideas can also be used to adapt the Kernel so students can play it in many ways.
• In step 3, children reflect on the skills practiced during step 2. During the reflection questions, talk with students about how hard or easy it was to play and why, which strategies they used to play, and how they might use the skill in other parts of their lives. Through reflection, students are practicing metacognitive strategies and are learning to apply the skill in new ways. Example reflection questions are listed on each card.

Keep Track of Kernels

After using a Kernel with your students, document what you played using the Kernels Tracker. Tracking the Kernels you play gives you helpful information you can use to plan which Kernels to use in the future.

There are many ways you can track Kernels use. For more ideas on using the Kernels Tracker, download Tips for Using the Kernels Tracker.

Repeat and Adapt Kernels

Kernels work best when used daily. With repetition, children understand the structure of the activities and have more opportunities to practice the targeted skills, and they can share ideas for how they would like to play in the future—continuing to grow and develop their skills in new ways over time. Use a variety of Kernels and reuse Kernels that align with your goals and your students’ needs and interests. You may find that some Kernels are easy to repeat frequently – these Kernels may become classroom routines. By using some Kernels routinely and interspersing new Kernels along the way, students will have many opportunities to build social and emotional skills!

In addition to repeating Kernels, adapt them to keep students interested and their skills growing. For ideas of ways to adapt Kernels, consider reading More Ways to Play, which offers ideas for adaptation based on the principles of the Lego Foundation’s Learning through Play framework.