Standards & alignment
SEL Teddy Connections transforms social-emotional learning into a hands-on experience children can understand, practice, and remember. Each teddy lesson is intentionally connected to one of the five core SEL competency areas identified in the CASEL framework.
View Standards & AlignmentOur five SEL competency connections
Designed around the CASEL 5 social-emotional learning competencies.
Self-Awareness
Confident Bear · Yellow
Confident Bear helps children explore who they are, identify their feelings and strengths, develop positive self-talk, and build confidence in themselves.
Sample learning objective
“Students will identify personal strengths and describe at least one quality that makes them unique.”
Learning connections
Self-Management
Calm Bear · Brown
Calm Bear helps children understand strong emotions and practice healthy strategies for managing their feelings and responses.
Sample learning objective
“Students will identify a strong emotion and practice at least one age-appropriate strategy for calming their body and mind.”
Learning connections
Social Awareness
Kind Bear · Green
Kind Bear helps children understand the feelings and perspectives of others while practicing empathy, compassion, and kindness.
Sample learning objective
“Students will recognize how another person may be feeling and identify a kind or empathetic response.”
Learning connections
Relationship Skills
Friendship Bear · Blue
Friendship Bear helps children practice the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build and maintain healthy relationships.
Sample learning objective
“Students will practice communication, listening, cooperation, and positive ways to respond during common friendship situations.”
Learning connections
Responsible Decision-Making
Wise Bear · Charcoal
Wise Bear helps children slow down, consider choices and consequences, solve problems, and make thoughtful decisions.
Sample learning objective
“Students will identify possible choices, consider what may happen next, and practice making a safe, kind, and responsible decision.”
Learning connections
SEL Teddy Connections at a glance
| Bear | Color | SEL Competency |
|---|---|---|
| Confident Bear | Yellow | Self-Awareness |
| Calm Bear | Brown | Self-Management |
| Kind Bear | Green | Social Awareness |
| Friendship Bear | Blue | Relationship Skills |
| Wise Bear | Charcoal | Responsible Decision-Making |
Our instructional approach
SEL Teddy Connections is designed to help students move from understanding an SEL concept to actively practicing and remembering it.
Step 1
Students are introduced to the skill through a story and guided discussion.
Step 2
Students participate in age-appropriate activities and reflection.
Step 3
Students connect the lesson to a hands-on teddy-building experience and Heart Ceremony.
Step 4
Students leave with a tangible reminder of the skill and resources that can help continue the conversation at home.
Each lesson includes a storybook connected to the selected SEL competency, giving students relatable characters and situations that help bring the skill to life.
Storybook IncludedTwo ways to bring SEL Teddy Connections
Schools have two clear options: order a Classroom SEL Kit and lead the lesson with your own students, or request a Hosted SEL Workshop facilitated by our team where available.
Classroom SEL Kits give educators the materials needed to facilitate a structured SEL experience with their own students. Each kit combines educator guidance, story-based learning, student activities, reflection, teddy-building, and family connection resources.
Designed for
Ideal for classrooms, counseling groups, SEL programming, and school-wide initiatives. Classroom kits can be ordered without booking an in-person workshop.
Explore Classroom KitsHosted workshops provide a facilitated SEL Teddy Connections experience for schools, organizations, and special events in select service areas.
Availability depends on
Availability depends on location, group size, program selection, and scheduling. In-person hosted workshops are available in select areas; Southern California is our primary in-person service area. Contact us for current availability.
Request Workshop InformationLearning objectives
Each SEL Teddy Connections lesson includes age-appropriate objectives designed to help children understand, practice, and apply a specific social-emotional skill. Activities and discussion can be adapted based on student age and developmental level.
Lesson materials may include
California SEL connections
SEL Teddy Connections can support social-emotional learning priorities reflected in California’s Transformative SEL guidance, including opportunities for self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, relationship-building, student voice, reflection, and responsible decision-making.
Schools and districts may request additional alignment information for their local SEL goals or instructional priorities.
English & Español
English + EspañolEducator materials, student-facing stories, and family connection resources are available in English and Spanish to help schools extend SEL learning across classroom and home environments.
English and Spanish materials available. Availability may vary by resource — contact us for current bilingual material options.
About the CASEL framework
SEL Teddy Connections is structured around the five core social-emotional learning competency areas identified in the CASEL framework. This connection is designed to make lesson planning simpler for educators who already use CASEL-aligned language in their schools and districts.
CASEL is an independent organization and does not endorse or certify SEL Teddy Connections.
See how classroom kits, story-based lessons, hands-on activities, and bilingual family resources can support your school’s social-emotional learning goals.
Need help choosing a program? Call 1-844-TEDDYCO (1-844-833-3926) or email info@selteddyconnections.com.