Fostering Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Elementary Music: Journeying to Create a Songbook and Teaching Resource

• Amenah Ghani, Music Education, University of Delaware
• Georgia Canty, Music Education, University of Delaware
• Dario Cinaglia, Music Education, University of Delaware
• Emily Bachl, Music Education, University of Delaware

• Aimee Pearsall-Kramer, Music Education, University of Delaware

This project is a collaborative effort to create a book of original songs and classroom activities centered around Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for elementary music students in grades K–5. Under the guidance of Dr. Pearsall-Kramer, our team of undergraduate students worked together to write songs that foster self-awareness, empathy, and emotional expression within students. These songs are paired with detailed activities for use in elementary general music classrooms, providing teachers with accessible tools to integrate SEL principles into their musical instruction. The team began the process by studying the Social Emotional Learning Framework by CASEL (The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning). They focused on meaningful objectives within each competency: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Songs were composed individually, followed by weekly feedback sessions to refine content. The songbook draft is finished, but the team is working on edits to make it ready to publish. Currently, they have sent a proposal to send to a digital publisher for a two part songbook for K-5 highlighting the SEL competencies through a variety of music and activities. This resource aims to provide accessible, arts-integrated tools to promote SEL development in elementary music classrooms.