SEL Curriculum for Grades 6–12

What does SEL look like in middle and high school?

In grades 6–12, SEL means explicit lessons on skills teenagers use every day: handling stress, managing emotions, building friendships, resisting peer pressure and making decisions. In Ori Learning’s curriculum, middle school lessons focus on identity, friendships and pressure. High school lessons revisit the same skills in more complex situations, ending with planning for life after high school.

What topics does the curriculum cover?

The most frequent topics across the 175 lessons are empathy, decision making, identity, healthy relationships, gratitude, emotional regulation, teamwork, communication, growth mindset, peer pressure, stress management and conflict resolution. The scope and sequence lists every lesson title for grades 6–12.

How long are lessons, and where do they fit in the school day?

Core lessons take 20 minutes, and extension activities add more when a period allows. The curriculum is built to fit advisory, homeroom, health classes or a standalone course. Teachers can present from the front of the room, run a live session where students follow on their own devices, or assign lessons for students to complete at their own pace.

Is it aligned to CASEL?

Yes. The curriculum is aligned to CASEL’s five competencies: every grade has one unit each for Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision-Making. That alignment is Ori Learning’s own mapping of units and lessons to the CASEL framework, not a designation from CASEL. The scope and sequence shows which lessons sit under each competency.

What evidence supports it?

A recent third-party study following ESSA Level III standards included 1,829 students in grades 9–12 in a suburban New Jersey high school district. Students who completed all 25 lessons had 11% higher well-being scores than students who completed 5. The lesson design draws on the SAFE and 5E instructional models and research on adolescent development.

What can families see about what students learn?

The full scope and sequence for grades 6–12 is free to download from our website, with every unit and lesson title. The lessons teach skills: managing stress, making decisions, building healthy relationships and planning for the future. Districts can share the scope and sequence with families and school boards, so conversations about the curriculum start from what students are actually taught.

How is it different from Second Step?

Second Step spans PreK–12, and its high school program combines schoolwide practices, educator practices and student activities. Ori Learning’s Emotional Well-Being Curriculum covers grades 6–12 only and is taught as a sequence of 25 lessons in each grade. Our comparison of Second Step and Ori Learning sets out the differences, with sources, including which requirements may favor each program.

How is it priced and funded?

Ori Learning prices the Emotional Well-Being Curriculum per school, and we provide quotes on request. Title IV-A, which includes Safe and Healthy Students funding, is a common funding source for SEL instruction. Request a quote and we can help you identify the right funding source.

Does it work with Clever, ClassLink or Google Classroom?

Yes. Schools can roster through Clever or ClassLink, and users can sign in with Google or Microsoft single sign-on. Teachers can share lessons to Google Classroom. Administrators get reports that compare pre- and post-assessment scores, and every report exports to Excel for district reporting.