Grade Overview

Lincoln Public Schools utilizes the Second Step program to teach your student age-appropriate lessons related to Social Emotional Learning. These lessons build on each other each quarterly and continue yearly through seveth grade. Your student will gain skills like self-awareness, relationship building and problem solving. This curriculum aims to develop and reinforce these skills to prepare students for success in school and beyond. 

Preschool through Second Grade

Overview

Lincoln Public Schools uses the Second Step program for our preschool and elementary students. Second Step is a research-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum used in districts nationwide.

Lessons include skills for learning, empathy, emotion management and friendship skills. Lessons are taught daily in every LPS preschool classroom.

Elementary lessons include growth mindset, goal setting, emotion management, problem solving, and kindness and empathy.

Lessons about bullying prevention and safety are also taught.

Our goal is to aid students in developing these skills and promote academic success, while creating safe and respectful learning environments for all students.

Bully Prevention Unit

During the Bullying Prevention unit, your child will learn specific skills to help prevent and stop bullying.

Your child will learn how to:

  • Recognize when bullying is happening
  • Report bullying to a caring adult
  • Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
  • Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

These lessons are taught to students in grades K through 5 during the first quarter.

Child Protection Unit

In the Child Protection unit, students will learn specific skills to help keep them safe.

Your child will learn how to:

  • Recognize ways to stay safe
  • Ask for permission from adults before doing certain tasks
  • Identify safe and unsafe touches on their body
  • Speak up when they feel unsafe

These lessons are taught to students in grades PreK through 1 during the second quarter.

Questions?

Preschool

Contact Angie Battles, Early Childhood Social Worker at abattles@lps.org

Elementary

Contact Carrie Erks LPS School Social Worker at cerks@lps.org.

Preschool

Quarter 1: Skills for Learning

This unit teaches preschoolers skills to prepare them to be learners, such as focusing, listening and asking for help.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “Welcoming”
    • Takeaway: Greeting others.
  • Lesson 2: “Listening”
    • Takeaway: Following rules.
  • Lesson 3: “Focusing Attention”
    • Takeaway: Paying attention.
  • Lesson 4: “Self-Talk”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing self-talk to help you focus and pay attention.
  • Lesson 5: “Following Directions”
    • Takeaway: Listening and doing what you’re instructed to do.
  • Lesson 6: “Asking for What You Need or Want”
    • Takeaway: Asking for your needs.

*Lessons from the child protection unit are also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Empathy

This unit teaches preschoolers how to identify their own and others’ feelings, taking others’ perspectives and showing care and concern for others.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 7: “Identifying Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Learning to tell people’s feelings by their faces and body language.
  • Lesson 8: “More Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Paying attention to situations to help learn people’s feelings.
  • Lesson 9: “Identifying Anger”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing and understanding anger.
  • Lesson 10: “Same or Different Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Understanding different emotions.
  • Lesson 11: “Accidents”
    • Takeaway: Identifying and responding to mistakes.
  • Lesson 12: “Caring and Helping”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating care and helping others.
  • Lesson 13: “We Feel Feelings in Our Bodies”
    • Takeaway: Identify bodily clues to help recognize certain emotions.

*Lessons from the child protection unit are also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 3: Emotion Management, Friendship Skills and Problem Solving

This unit teaches preschoolers how to understand, identify and calm strong feelings.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 14: “Strong Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Understanding the power of our emotions and how to manage them.
  • Lesson 15: “Naming Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing emotions and calming techniques.
  • Lesson 16: “Managing Disappointment”
    • Takeaway: Understanding disappointment and the best ways to deal with it.
  • Lesson 17: “Managing Anger”
    • Takeaway: Understanding anger and the best ways to deal with it.
  • Lesson 18: “Managing Waiting”
    • Takeaway: Learning patience.
  • Lesson 19: “Fair Ways to Play”
    • Takeaway: Playing fairly and sharing.
  • Lesson 20: “Having Fun with Friends”
    • Takeaway: Problem solving, compromising and understanding others’ differences.
  • Lesson 21: “Inviting to Play”
    • Takeaway: Including others in activities

*Lessons from the child protection unit are also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 4: Friendship Skills, Problem Solving and Transitioning to Kindergarten

This unit teaches preschoolers how to make and keep friends, calm down and how to use problem-solving steps.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 22: “Joining in with Play”
    • Takeaway: Learning techniques to join others in play.
  • Lesson 23: “Saying the Problem”
    • Takeaway: Defining the problem as a step toward solving it.
  • Lesson 24: “Thinking of Solutions”
    • Takeaway: Brainstorming ways to solve problems.
  • Lesson 25: “Speaking Up Assertively”
    • Takeaway: Communicating needs and wants in a strong and respectful way.
  • Lesson 26: “Learning in Kindergarten”
    • Takeaway: Reviewing skills that will help preschoolers be successful Kindergarten learners.
  • Lesson 28: “Making New Friends in Kindergarten”
    • Takeaway: Developing skills to make new friends.

*Lessons from the Child Protection Unit are also taught during this quarter.

Questions?

Please contact Angie Battles, Early Childhood Social Worker at abattles@lps.org

Kindergarten

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit is focused on teaching kindergarteners to pay attention, be resilient after making mistakes and practice new skills.

Research shows that children are more likely to seek challenges, perform better academically and handle transition easier after these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “We Watch. We Listen. We Learn.”
    • Takeaway: Paying attention means watching, listening and thinking carefully.
  • Lesson 2: “Why We Pay Attention”
    • Takeaway: Paying attention helps us learn and stay safe.
  • Lesson 3: “Mistakes Are Okay!”
    • Takeaway: Remembering mistakes is part of learning and encouraging themselves and others while learning.
  • Lesson 4: “Practice Makes Better”
    • Takeaway: Practicing new skills helps us learn them better.
  • Lesson 5: “Let’s Practice and Learn!”
    • Takeaway: Trying and showing how to pay attention, practice and learn from mistakes.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit teaches kindergarten students how to handle theirs and others’ feelings and navigate difficult ones.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better, build strong relationships, improve their self-esteem and problem-solve effectively through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “Sometimes We Feel Happy”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about people’s happiness.
  • Lesson 7: “Sometimes We Feel Sad”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about people’s sadness.
  • Lesson 8: “Sometimes We Feel Mad”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about people’s anger.
  • Lesson 9: “We Can Feel Calm”
    • Takeaway: Calming techniques when dealing with strong emotions such as asking for help and breathing slowly.
  • Lesson 10: “What Are They Feeling?”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing body language and context to learn others’ feelings and calming techniques.

*The child protection unit is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help kindergarteners learn and practice how to care for others through kindness.

Research shows children are more likely to demonstrate more empathy, partake in positive behaviors and minimize aggressive ones through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “We Can Be Kind”
    • Takeaway: Learning and practicing kind acts.
  • Lesson 12: “Why Kindness?”
    • Takeaway: Benefits of showing kindness.
  • Lesson 13: “Showing Kindness”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating kindness such as sharing or offering comfort.
  • Lesson 14: “Kindness at School”
    • Takeaway: Practicing kind acts in the classroom.
  • Lesson 15: “Demonstrating Kindness”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing kindness and showcasing its power.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps kindergarteners learn techniques to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to show empathy, better well-being, and better school environments through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “We Can Say the Problem”
    • Takeaway: Stating the problem without blaming or name-calling.
  • Lesson 17: “Ready to Solve Problems”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing when you are emotionally capable of addressing issues.
  • Lesson 18: “Apologizing can Help”
    • Takeaway: Apologizing can be a problem-solving tool.
  • Lesson 19: “Taking Turns and Sharing”
    • Takeaway: Practicing sharing.
  • Lesson 20: “We Can Solve Problems”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating new problem-solving skills and practicing them in different scenarios.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

First Grade

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit is focused on teaching first-grade students to pay attention, manage distractions and refocus.

Research shows that children are more likely to seek challenges, perform better academically and handle transition easier after these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “Time to Pay Attention”
    • Takeaway: Paying attention looks different depending on the situation.
  • Lesson 2: “Everyone Gets Distracted”
    • Takeaway: Defining distractions and managing them.
  • Lesson 3: “You Did It! ”
    • Takeaway: Reflecting and practicing skills from the two previous lessons.
  • Lesson 4: “Helpful Thoughts”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing helpful thoughts for encouragement.
  • Lesson 5: “We Can Do It!”
    • Takeaway: Practicing paying attention and managing distractions.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit teaches first-grade students how to recognize difficult feelings and navigate them.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better, build strong relationships, improve their self-esteem and problem-solve effectively through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “Noticing Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about people’s emotions.
  • Lesson 7: “Sometimes We Feel Worried”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about worry.
  • Lesson 8: “Feeling Calm”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about calmness.
  • Lesson 9: “Feeling Frustrated”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn about frustration.
  • Lesson 10: “Noticing Clues”
    • Takeaway: Learning body language and context clues to learn emotions and demonstrating calming techniques for strong feelings.

* The child protection unit is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help first-grade students learn and practice how to care for others through kindness.

Research shows children are more likely to demonstrate empathy, partake in positive behaviors and minimize aggressive ones through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “The Power of Kind Acts”
    • Takeaway: Defining kindness.
  • Lesson 12: “Ways to Be Kind”
    • Takeaway: Learning and practicing kind acts.
  • Lesson 13: “Offering Kind Acts”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating kindness such as helping and including others
  • Lesson 14: “Practicing Kind Acts”
    • Takeaway: Practicing kindness.
  • Lesson 15: “Demonstrating Kind Acts.”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing kindness in various scenarios.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps first-grade students learn techniques to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to make better choices, have better well-being and better their school environments through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “How to Say the Problem”
    • Takeaway: Stating the problem respectfully.
  • Lesson 17: “Was it an Accident?
    • Takeaway: Recognizing accidents and how to respond to them.
  • Lesson 18: “Ask for What You Need”
    • Takeaway: Asking for your needs to solve problems.
  • Lesson 19: “We Can Make it Better”
    • Takeaway: Learning and practicing ways to resolve problems.
  • Lesson 20: “Solving Problems”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing problem-solving skills learned in previous lessons.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Second Grade

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit teaches second graders to ways to improve their skills and work through mistakes.

Research shows that children are more likely to make better choices, have greater well-being, and improve their school environments through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “How to Get Good at Something”
    • Takeaway: Trying, practicing and asking for help to improve skills.
  • Lesson 2: “What Mistakes Tell Us”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing mistakes as a learning tool.
  • Lesson 3: “Helpful and Unhelpful Thoughts ”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing negative thinking and using positive thoughts for encouragement.
  • Lesson 4: “We Can Change Our Thoughts”
    • Takeaway: Learning to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
  • Lesson 5: “Learn and Get Better
    • Takeaway: Encouraging others during challenges.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit focuses on teaching second grade students how to recognize their feelings and navigate them.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better, build strong relationships, improve their self-esteem and problem-solve effectively through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “Feeling Proud”
    • Takeaway: Learning the positive emotional effects when achieving something or helping someone.
  • Lesson 7: “Feeling Disappointed”
    • Takeaway: Understanding disappointment.
  • Lesson 8: “Help Yourself Feel Better”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing positive thinking to help manage negative emotions.
  • Lesson 9: “Different Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Understanding different feelings.
  • Lesson 10: “How Do You Feel?”
    • Takeaway: Learning and expressing different emotions.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help second graders learn and practice how to be empathetic and kind.

Research shows children are more likely to create stronger bonds, partake in positive behaviors, minimize aggressive ones and show more compassion through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “What’s Empathy?”
    • Takeaway: Defining empathy.
  • Lesson 12: “Empathy in Action”
    • Takeaway: Understanding empathy and its impact on our emotions.
  • Lesson 13: “Having Empathy”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating kindness through empathetic acts.
  • Lesson 14: “Empathy at School”
    • Takeaway: Practicing empathy in the classroom.
  • Lesson 15: “Empathy and Kindness.”
    • Takeaway: Brainstorming empathetic acts.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps second graders learn techniques to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to make better choices, have better well-being and improve their school environments through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “The Way to Say a Problem”
    • Takeaway: Stating the problem respectfully.
  • Lesson 17: “Thinking of Solutions”
    • Takeaway: Identifying ways to solve problems.
  • Lesson 18: “Which Solution?”
    • Takeaway: Deciding the best solution for a problem.
  • Lesson 19: “What Would I Want?”
    • Takeaway: Learning how to resolve conflicts after mistakes.
  • Lesson 20: “Be a Problem-Solver”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing problem-solving skills learned in previous lessons.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Third through Fifth Grade

Overview

Lincoln Public Schools uses the Second Step program for all elementary students. Second Step is a research-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum used in districts nationwide.

LPS elementary students learn about growth mindset, goal setting, emotion management, problem-solving, and kindness and empathy.

We also teach your child about Bullying Prevention.

Our goal is to instruct your child in developing these skills to promote academic success, school belonging and safe and respectful learning environments.

Bully Prevention Unit

In the Bullying Prevention unit, your child will learn specific skills to help stop bullying.

Your child will learn how to:

  • Recognize when bullying is happening
  • Report bullying to a caring adult
  • Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
  • Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

These lessons are taught to students in grades kindergarten through 5 during the first quarter.

Click on the links below to see more details about what your child is learning based on grade level.

Questions?

Please contact LPS School Social Worker Carrie Erks at cerks@lps.org

Third Grade

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit teaches third-graders how to improve their skills through practice and learn through their mistakes.

Research shows that children are more likely to be better learners, more adaptable and capable to face challenges through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “Changing Your Brain”
    • Takeaway: Brain changes while learning something new.
  • Lesson 2: “Getting Better with Practice”
    • Takeaway: Practicing helps the brain send better messages for those new skills.
  • Lesson 3: “More than Practice ”
    • Takeaway: Learning different methods of picking up a new skill other than practice.
  • Lesson 4: “Planning for Practice”
    • Takeaway: Partnering with a peer to develop a plan for learning a new skill through practice.
  • Lesson 5: “Make a Practice Plan”
    • Takeaway: Developing a plan to practice.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit teaches third-grade students how to use their feelings to give them context about situations and calming techniques.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better coping skills, problem solving techniques, make wiser decisions and develop stronger relationships through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “Why Emotions?”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing feelings gives us context about our needs.
  • Lesson 7: “How Angry?”
    • Takeaway: Understanding various levels of anger.
  • Lesson 8: “Take a Break”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing and understanding how to use breaks to manage strong feelings.
  • Lesson 9: “How Happy?”
    • Takeaway: Understanding various levels of happiness.
  • Lesson 10: “Strength of Feelings”
    • Takeaway: Identifying the depths of certain emotions.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help third graders learn how to use empathy and kindness in relationship building.

Research shows children are more likely to create stronger bonds, fix conflicts more effectively, demonstrate positive behaviors and boost their empathy through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “Kindness and Friendship”
    • Takeaway: Defining empathy and using kindness to make new friends.
  • Lesson 12: “Building a Friendship”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing empathy to strengthen friendships
  • Lesson 13: “My Kind of Kindness”
    • Takeaway: Demonstrating kindness in various ways.
  • Lesson 14: “Asking Questions”
    • Takeaway: Learning to ask questions as a technique to discover someone’s feelings and ways to help.
  • Lesson 15: “Do Something Kind”
    • Takeaway: Showing kindness and empathy through acts.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps third graders learn a four-step process to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to have better mental health, make wiser decisions and solve conflicts better through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “STEP by Step”
    • Takeaway: Learning a new process for solving a problem called “STEP.”
  • Lesson 17: “S: Say the Problem”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing the first step of solving a problem is identifying the problem.
  • Lesson 18: ‘T: Think and E: Explore”
    • Takeaway: Analyzing possible problem solutions and their outcomes for those involved.
  • Lesson 19: “P: Pick a Solution”
    • Takeaway: Learning how to choose solutions using kindness or compassion.
  • Lesson 20: “Solving Problems
    • Takeaway: Applying the “STEP” problem-solving process.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Fourth Grade

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit teaches fourth graders about goal setting and achieving goals.

Research shows that children are more likely to have more independence, stronger relational bonds, greater empathy and better problem-solving skills when learning these skills.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “Setting a Good Goal”
    • Takeaway: Setting a goal that is specific, challenging and doable.
  • Lesson 2: “Making a Plan”
    • Takeaway: Partnering with a peer to make a goal plan.
  • Lesson 3: “Checking Our Progress”
    • Takeaway: Identifying challenges that may affect goal progress and how to navigate through them.
  • Lesson 4: “Reflecting On Our Journey”
    • Takeaway: Reflecting on their goal progress.
  • Lesson 5: “Ready, Set, Goal”
    • Takeaway: Practicing the goal-setting process.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit teaches fourth-grade students how to handle strong feelings and use calming techniques.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better coping skills, problem-solving techniques, make wiser decisions and develop stronger relationships through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “The Balanced Brain”
    • Takeaway: Learning the importance of the brain balancing logic and emotions.
  • Lesson 7: “What is Rethinking?”
    • Takeaway: Understanding reframing situations can help manage emotions.
  • Lesson 8: “How to Rethink”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing questions to reframe situations.
  • Lesson 9: “Take Another Look”
    • Takeaway: Practicing reframing situations.
  • Lesson 10: “Rethink It”
    • Takeaway: Identifying ways to reframe situations with a partner.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help fourth graders learn how to understand others’ perspectives.

Research shows children are more likely to create stronger bonds, fix conflicts more effectively, demonstrate positive behaviors and boost their empathy through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “The Same, But Different”
    • Takeaway: Learning that offers can have different perspectives on the same topic.
  • Lesson 12: “Ask, Listen, Learn”
    • Takeaway: Asking questions, listening and watching others to learn and understand others better.
  • Lesson 13: “Seeing It Differently”
    • Takeaway: Practicing listening, asking and observing to learn more about others’ perspectives.
  • Lesson 14: “Changing Your Mind”
    • Takeaway: Understanding how learning others’ perspectives can change your views and actions.
  • Lesson 15: “A New Point of View”
    • Takeaway: Asking questions to understand someone’s perspective better when it’s harder to empathize.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps fourth graders learn a four-step process to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to have better mental health, make wiser decisions and have greater connections and compassion through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “A Good Problem-Solver”
    • Takeaway: Learning ways to improve problem-solving skills such as stating needs and remaining calm.
  • Lesson 17: “Saying It Respectfully”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing a four-step process to solve interpersonal problems respectfully and without placing blame.
  • Lesson 18: ”Exploring Outcomes”
    • Takeaway: Discovering how to think through the positives and negatives of possible situations while considering others’ perspectives.
  • Lesson 19: “A Good Solution”
    • Takeaway: Learning how to choose solutions that work best for everyone.
  • Lesson 20: “STEP into Problem Solving”
    • Takeaway: Practicing the “STEP” problem-solving process.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Fifth Grade

Quarter 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

This unit teaches fifth graders about goal setting and achieving goals.

Research shows that children are more likely to have more independence, stronger relational bonds, greater empathy and better problem-solving skills.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1: “The Right Goal for Me”
    • Takeaway: Setting a goal that is specific, challenging, doable and motivating.
  • Lesson 2: “My Plan”
    • Takeaway: Learning how to develop an effective goal plan.
  • Lesson 3: “Changing My Plan”
    • Takeaway: Evaluating goal progress and recognizing when to change their plan.
  • Lesson 4: “Time to Reflect”
    • Takeaway: Reflecting on their goal progress.
  • Lesson 5: “My 10-Minute Goal”
    • Takeaway: Applying the goal-setting process.

*Bullying prevention is also taught during this quarter.

Quarter 2: Emotion Management

Emotions are a part of our daily lives. This unit teaches fifth-grade students how to identify situations that produce strong feelings and techniques to handle them.

Research shows children are more likely to learn better coping skills, problem-solving techniques, make wiser decisions and develop stronger relationships through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 6: “Strong Emotions”
    • Takeaway: Anticipating strong emotions in common situations to plan how to manage them.
  • Lesson 7: “What Is Stress?”
    • Takeaway: Identifying stress, stress-causing situations and managing them.
  • Lesson 8: “Planning for Change”
    • Takeaway: Practicing reframing situations and identifying small changes that could help better manage emotions.
  • Lesson 9: “What Can I Change?”
    • Takeaway: Understanding what can be changed in situations and redirecting focus to those things.
  • Lesson 10: “Making a Change”
    • Takeaway: Practicing identifying changes in a situation to manage strong emotions better.

Quarter 3: Empathy & Kindness

This unit will help fifth graders learn how to use empathy as a problem-solving technique.

Research shows children are more likely to create stronger bonds, fix conflicts more effectively, demonstrate positive behaviors, increase connectedness and compassion and boost their empathy through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 11: “Empathy in the Community”
    • Takeaway: Describing how empathy can be used to identify and solve problems.
  • Lesson 12: “What’s the Problem?”
    • Takeaway: Using empathy to identify the issues and thinking about the effects.
  • Lesson 13: “A Different Point of View”
    • Takeaway: Practicing developing empathy for different groups affected by a community problem.
  • Lesson 14: “Community Solutions”
    • Takeaway: Evaluating possible solutions to community problems by thinking about various points of view.
  • Lesson 15: “Your Solution”
    • Takeaway: Choosing a solution for a community problem and explaining its effects on the groups affected.

Quarter 4: Problem-Solving

The final unit helps fifth graders learn a four-step process to solve interpersonal problems.

Research shows children are more likely to have better mental health, make wiser decisions and greater connections and compassion through these lessons.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 16: “Beginning to STEP”
    • Takeaway: Discovering how to problem solve.
  • Lesson 17: “When? Where? Who?
    • Takeaway: Thinking through the logistics of solving a problem.
  • Lesson 18: “Solutions Web”
    • Takeaway: Evaluating solutions to interpersonal problems by thinking about different people’s perspectives.
  • Lesson 19: “Let’s Reflect”
    • Takeaway: Reflecting on solutions and their effectiveness.
  • Lesson 20: “Putting It All Together”
    • Takeaway: Practicing the “STEP” problem-solving process.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Sixth through Seventh Grade

Overview

Lincoln Public Schools uses the Second Step program for our middle students. Second Step is a research-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum used in districts nationwide.

LPS middle school students learn about mindset and goals, recognizing bullying and harassment, thoughts, emotions and decisions and managing relationships and social conflict.

Our goal is to instruct your child in developing these skills to promote academic success and safer, welcoming school environments while fostering emotion management, impulse control, problem-solving and empathy.

Our educators will teach these lessons in four quarters and cover 26 lessons total.

Click on the links below to see more details about what your child is learning based on grade level.

Questions?

Please contact LPS Health Curriculum Specialist Matt Avey at mavey@lps.org.

Sixth Grade

Unit 1: Mindsets and Goals

This unit teaches sixth graders about developing a growth mindset and goal setting.

These lessons will help your student identify common social challenges among teens, gain a growth mindset and create personal goals with plans to achieve and track their progress of them.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1a: “Starting Middle School”
    • Takeaway: Identifying possible challenges in middle school and resources for help.
  • Lesson 1b: “Helping New Students”
    • Takeaway: Thinking of ways to aid new students.
  • Lesson 2: “How to Grow Your Brain”
    • Takeaway: Learning about the brain’s growth ability when practicing new skills.
  • Lesson 3: “Trying New Strategies”
    • Takeaway: Identifying new ways of trying a new challenging skill.
  • Lesson 4: “Making Goals Specific”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing and setting goals that are specific.
  • Lesson 5: “Breaking Down Your Goals”
    • Takeaway: Managing your goals by breaking them into smaller ones.
  • Lesson 6: “Monitoring Your Progress”
    • Takeaway: Tracking your goals’ progress and assessing if you need a new plan.
  • Lesson 7: “Bringing It All Together”
    • Takeaway: Creating a goal plan based on previous lessons.

Unit 2: Recognizing Bullying and Harassment

This unit teaches sixth-grade students skills to recognize and stop bullying.

These lessons will help your student identify common types of bullying, learn its negative effects, and understand how to respond to harassment safely.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 8: “Common Types of Bullying”
    • Takeaway: Identifying types of bullying to raise awareness.
  • Lesson 9: “Recognizing Bullying”
    • Takeaway: Understanding the difference between joking and bullying.
  • Lesson 10: “Responding to Online Bullying”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing online bullying and applying best practices to stop it.
  • Lesson 11: “How to Be an Upstander”
    • Takeaway: Learning “upstander strategies” to help respond to bullying.
  • Lesson 12: “Standing Up and Staying Safe”
    • Takeaway: Assessing the best methods to respond to bullying safely.
  • Lesson 13: “Raising Awareness About Bullying”
    • Takeaway: Increasing awareness about bullying and prevention among peers.

Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions and Decisions

This unit will help sixth graders recognize strong emotions and negative thinking while developing skills to manage their feelings and stress better.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 14: “What Emotions Tell You”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing what our emotions communicate to us.
  • Lesson 15: “Emotions and Your Brain”
    • Takeaway: Understanding how different parts of the brain regulate emotions.
  • Lesson 16: “How Emotions Affect Your Decisions”
    • Takeaway: Analyzing the impacts of emotions on decision-making and relationships.
  • Lesson 17: “Managing Your Emotions”
    • Takeaway: Learning and applying emotional management strategies to make better decisions.
  • Lesson 18: “What Works Best for You?”
    • Takeaway: Identifying what emotional management strategy works best for you.
  • Lesson 19: “Raising Awareness About Managing Emotions”
    • Takeaway: Educating peers about the benefits of emotion management.

Unit 4: Managing Relationships and Social Conflict

The final unit helps sixth graders learn techniques for building and nurturing healthy relationships, perspective-taking and conflict resolution.

These lessons will help your student identify the differences between minor and major social conflicts, communicate people’s different points of view during conflicts and utilize strategies to resolve interpersonal problems.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 20 “You’re Changing”
    • Takeaway: Examining personal changes and their influences on relationships.
  • Lesson 21: “Why Conflicts Escalate”
    • Takeaway: Identifying behaviors that can increase conflicts.
  • Lesson 22: “Considering Multiple Perspectives”
    • Takeaway: Viewing multiple perspectives during conflicts to prevent or resolve them.
  • Lesson 23: “Respectful Communication”
    • Takeaway: Practicing respectful language and not assigning blame while fixing interpersonal problems.
  • Lesson 24: “Resolving Challenging Conflicts”
    • Takeaway: Thinking of various ways to resolve conflicts and pick the best solution.
  • Lesson 25: “Making Amends”
    • Takeaway: Learning conflict resolution techniques to resolve the issue and maintain relationships.
  • Lesson 26: “Conflict Solvers”
    • Takeaway: Practicing the conflict resolution skills learned in previous lessons.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.

Seventh Grade

Unit 1: Mindsets and Goals

This unit teaches seventh graders about developing a growth mindset and goal setting.

These lessons will help your student identify common social challenges among teens, try new opportunities and challenges, and adapt after mistakes or changes.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 1a: “Starting Middle School”
    • Takeaway: Identifying possible challenges in middle school and resources for help.
  • Lesson 1b: “Helping New Students”
    • Takeaway: Thinking of ways to aid new students.
  • Lesson 2: “Creating New Pathways in Your Brain”
    • Takeaway: Learning about the brain’s ability to change and develop new skills.
  • Lesson 3: “Learning from Mistakes and Failure”
    • Takeaway: Understanding mistakes and failures are learning opportunities.
  • Lesson 4: “Identifying Roadblocks”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing hurdles to goals.
  • Lesson 5: “Overcoming Roadblocks 1”
    • Takeaway: Learning to apply alternative plans to reach goals.
  • Lesson 6: “Overcoming Roadblocks 2”
    • Takeaway: Practicing applying an alternative plan to reach a set goal.
  • Lesson 7: “Advice on Roadblocks”
    • Takeaway: Advising peers how to overcome goal obstacles.

Unit 2: Recognizing Bullying and Harassment

This unit teaches seventh-grade students skills to recognize and stop bullying and forms of harassment.

These lessons will help your student identify the difference between harassment and bullying, the individual and collective impacts of both and their rights to protect themselves and others from harassment.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 8: “What is Harassment?”
    • Takeaway: Understanding the differences between bullying and harassment.
  • Lesson 9: “What is Sexual Harassment”
    • Takeaway: Identifying the difference between flirting and sexual harassment.
  • Lesson 10: “The Effects of Sexual Harassment”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing the impacts of sexual harassment and learning about school-provided resources.
  • Lesson 11: “Gender-Based Harassment”
    • Takeaway: Defining gender-based harassment such as being teased or bullied based on gender or gender stereotypes.
  • Lesson 12: “Our Rights and Responsibilities”
    • Takeaway: Understanding your protections against harassment at school and their responsibility to not harass others.
  • Lesson 13: “Preventing Harassment”
    • Takeaway: Increasing awareness about bullying and prevention among peers.

Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions and Decisions

This unit will help seventh graders recognize strong emotions and negative thinking while developing skills to manage their feelings and stress better.

These lessons will help your student acknowledge underlying feelings that fuel negative thoughts, recognize negative thinking and utilize emotion management techniques.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 14: “Emotions Matter”
    • Takeaway: Recognizing how the brain processes strong emotions and thinking of ways to handle them.
  • Lesson 15: “Feel, Think, Do”
    • Takeaway: Distinguishing thoughts from feelings and analyzing how feelings influence decision-making.
  • Lesson 16: “Unhelpful Thoughts”
    • Takeaway: Identifying positive and negative thoughts and their influence on decision-making.
  • Lesson 17: “Reframe the Situation”
    • Takeaway: Learning the impact of reframing negative thoughts into positive ones.
  • Lesson 18: “Practicing Positive Self-Talk”
    • Takeaway: Talking positively to yourself to change your perspective during challenges.
  • Lesson 19: “Making Better Decisions”
    • Takeaway: Educating peers about techniques to manage strong emotions and combat negative thinking.

Unit 4: Managing Relationships and Social Conflict

The final unit helps seventh graders learn techniques for building and nurturing healthy relationships, perspective-taking and conflict resolution.

These lessons will help your student identify signs of conflict escalation, communicate different points of view during conflicts, solve interpersonal problems and take accountability in situations.

Here’s a breakdown of the unit lessons:

  • Lesson 20 “What Makes a Conflict Escalate”
    • Takeaway: Examining reasons why conflicts escalate.
  • Lesson 21: “Keeping Your Cool in a Conflict”
    • Takeaway: Utilizing emotion management techniques to prevent conflict escalation.
  • Lesson 22: “Conflicts and Perspectives”
    • Takeaway: Listening to multiple perspectives during conflicts.
  • Lesson 23: “Resolving Conflict part 1”
    • Takeaway: Describing conflicts while remaining respectful and non-judgmental.
  • Lesson 24: “Resolving Conflict part 2”
    • Takeaway: Thinking of various ways to resolve conflicts and choosing the best solution.
  • Lesson 25: “Taking Responsibility for Your Actions”
    • Takeaway: Learning personal accountability in conflicts and how to resolve them.
  • Lesson 26: “Tips for Resolving Conflicts”
    • Takeaway: Practicing the conflict resolution skills learned in previous lessons.

Want to practice these new skills at home? Visit our resources page to learn how to incorporate these lessons with at-home activities.