Social-emotional skills on-command

Young students and their teacher gathered on a classroom carpet for an early-learning music activity

Young students and their teacher gathered on a classroom carpet for an early-learning music activity. Photo: US Department of Education, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Go Ask My Class helps busy K-5 teachers respond to the social-emotional needs of students in real time, with free activities that fit in the five minutes between lessons.

Use it with a whole class, a small group or one child. Free, every day.

Browse the quick activities

No sign-up, no app, no subscription.

New to SEL? Start with what social-emotional learning is and CASEL's five competencies.

Here’s how you can support students exactly when they need it, from anywhere in the room.

Ask: name the moment

Restless after lunch, nervous before a test or stuck on a disagreement.

Hand-drawn loudspeaker icon

Hear the activity

Read out a guided breath, a sharing question, a scenario or a countdown.

Hand-drawn icon of a child following along with arrows

Follow along or interact

Do it together, talk about it and reflect. Most activities take one to five minutes.

Differentiate SEL activities for every student.

Own emotions and behavior

  • Emotion management
  • Mindfulness
  • Daily affirmation
  • Energy management
  • Inspirational quotes

Empathy and working with others

  • Social skills scenarios
  • Small group work
  • Sharing questions
  • Reflection questions

Setting goals and overcoming obstacles

  • Time management
  • Growth mindset
  • On-task focus music
  • One-to-one support

SEL can be taught anytime, anywhere —
even in the five minutes between lessons.

“Ask my class…

to calm down”A young child drawing with crayons in a sketchbook at a tablefor a morning meeting”A kindergarten teacher telling a story to children gathered around her, 1959for a mindful minute”School children in uniforms meditating with their eyes closedfor a dance break”Two elementary students playing an active jumping game outside their schoolfor a sharing question”A school staff member chatting with elementary students around a classroom tableto set a goal”A young girl writing in her workbook with a pencilfor a quote of the day”A child drawing on a classroom chalkboard with chalkfor a role-play”Children playing outside during recess at an elementary school

No one knows your students better than you.

Students gain…

  • Social problem-solving skills
  • Listening skills
  • A break from screens
  • Agency and ownership

Teachers love…

  • Less digging for new ideas
  • Safe, curated activities
  • Whole class, groups or 1:1
  • Quicker behavior management

Social-emotional learning happens in context.
Many times a day. Not once a week.

Ready-to-use activities and routines, at your command.

Hand-drawn alarm clock iconCountdowns and timersVisual countdowns and timers that keep changes calm and quick.Hand-drawn icon of dots joined by curved arrowsTransition timeSignals, music cues and jobs that move a class in seconds.Hand-drawn icon of a figure stretchingBrain breaksDance, stretch or calm-down breaks matched to the class's energy.Hand-drawn open book iconPrompts and reflection questionsSharing and end-of-day questions that include every student.Hand-drawn icon of a seedling in a potEmotional supportFeelings check-ins, a calm-down corner and calm-down prompts.

Build routines your class can run on its own,with a handful of five-minute habits.

Hand-drawn school bell iconClass directionsMorning meeting greetings and routines that start the day well.Hand-drawn treble clef and staff iconMusic cuesWhat to play for focus, and when silence works better.Hand-drawn numbered list iconGoals and listsKid-sized goals, first-then boards and plans for obstacles.Hand-drawn daily planner iconDaily class planWhere the five-minute SEL moments fit in a school day.

Keep a five-minute SEL menu by your desk

with a ready answer for every gap in the school day.

Arrival, after recess, waiting in line, after a conflict and the last five minutes of the day.

See the menu

Fresh ideas from the staff room

Go Ask My Class is written for teachers, by editors who spend their time with classroom research and real routines. New guides arrive every week, from morning meeting greetings to the adult corner we call Off Duty.

Educators and school leaders meeting around tables in an elementary classroomBringing SEL to the Whole School: A Plan for Principals and TeamsTeacher WellbeingA five-card poker hand with two aces and two twos fanned out on a dark green tableTilt, Triggers and Self-Control: SEL Skills at the Poker TableOff DutyAn empty classroom for young students, ready for the next school dayTeacher Wellbeing: Small Habits for a Big JobTeacher WellbeingA parent reading a book with two children on a sofa at homeSEL at Home: Simple Routines Parents Can Borrow From SchoolClassroom & TechStacks of coins with seedlings and a jar of coins, a picture of savings growingBudgeting Summer Pay: Planning a Casino Weekend Without RegretOff DutyThe top of a smart speaker, with the microphone mute button on the leftSmart Speaker Privacy in the Classroom: A Teacher's ChecklistClassroom & TechA small smart speaker with control buttons on topVoice Assistants in the Classroom: What They Can and Can't DoClassroom & TechClose-up of the numbered pockets of a roulette wheelThe Math Behind Casino Games: House Edge Explained for AdultsOff DutyA wooden hourglassTransitions, Countdowns and Timers: Classroom Management Without ShoutingClassroom & TechA kindergarten teacher leading her class in a music lesson, 1965On-Task Focus Music for the Classroom: What to Play and WhenAll ActivitiesA player checking two cards beside stacks of poker chipsA Teacher's Guide to Hosting Poker Night With ColleaguesOff DutyA kindergarten teacher telling a story to children gathered around her, 1959Morning Meeting Ideas: Greetings, Sharing, Activities and MessagesAll Activities

“Three slow breaths before a spelling test take less than a minute and can change the mood of the whole room.”

From our guide to mindfulness for kids

The ultimate extra pair of hands for teachers costs nothing.

Every activity on this site is free to use with your own class.

Print the menu, pin it by the door and pick an idea whenever a gap opens up.

Five-minute SEL menu

5 minutes or less
ArrivalGreeting and colour check-in
After recessBalloon breathing or mindful listening
Between lessonsDance or stretch brain break
In lineA light sharing question
After a conflictSocial skills scenario role-play
End of dayClosing reflection question

School or district

Bringing SEL to every classroom in the building
Read the plan

Have an activity idea or a correction?

We read every message from teachers, parents and school leaders.

Write to the editors

Common questions

Do I need a device or an app?

No. Every activity on this site can be read aloud by the teacher. Timers and music are optional extras, and our technology guides are vendor-neutral.

What about data and privacy?

Our activities need no student names, accounts or recordings. If you use classroom tech, follow your district's rules and check the privacy settings first.

Who writes the activities?

The Go Ask My Class editors, an independent team, drawing on published SEL research and everyday classroom practice.

Other questions

What is social-emotional learning?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is how children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set goals, show empathy, keep up positive relationships and make responsible decisions. Most US schools use CASEL's framework of five competencies.

How long does an activity take?

Most take one to five minutes: a greeting, a breathing exercise, a sharing question or a short role-play. Longer options, such as a ten-minute body scan or a full morning meeting, are clearly marked.

Which grades are the activities for?

They are written for kindergarten to fifth grade. Many work with older students too if you adjust the language and the examples.

Can I use the activities with a small group or one child?

Yes. Every guide notes how an activity works for the whole class, a small group or one-to-one support, for example during a calm-down break.

Is Go Ask My Class connected to a company or app?

No. goaskmyclass.com is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with AskMyClass, Amazon or any other company, product or school district, and it sells nothing.

Can parents use these routines at home?

Absolutely. Our Classroom & Tech section includes simple SEL routines families can borrow for after school, homework time and bedtime.

How can I suggest an activity or report a mistake?

Write to the editors through the contact page. We read every message and update articles when something changes.