Kindergarten and 1st grade are more than just the first steps in school, they’re foundational years where children begin to understand themselves, navigate emotions, and form early relationships with peers and teachers. At this age, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is essential.
To meet this pivotal moment, we set out to design a curriculum specifically for these young learners, building from the success of our 2nd–3rd grade program, Labyrinth Adventures.
This time, we started with a story.
Stories with Heart (and Purpose)
Mind Body Align created relatable, age-appropriate narratives shaped by the real-life experiences of our teachers in the classroom, and infused them with emotional insight, body awareness, and imaginative adventures.
They also introduced three new characters who help bring each lesson to life:
Oliver the owl, the thoughtful listener
Cleo the caterpillar, the curious problem solver
Lily the ladybug, the gentle explorer
Each character is crafted to reflect the diverse strengths and sensitivities of early learners, helping children see and understand themselves and each other with empathy.
Once the stories were written, we collaborated with Michelle Anderson of Flowing Pages. Michelle and her team of curriculum writers helped shape the 16 lessons with precision, care, and heart.
One of the writers shared: “Working on this project has inspired me to reconnect with my own practices for focus and calm—especially starting my mornings with breath and gentle movement. I’m already feeling the benefits.”
Why SEL for K–1?
At ages 5–7, children are learning how to name their feelings, manage impulses, and build basic relationship skills. Developmentally, they’re just beginning to:
- Recognize and regulate big emotions
- Pay attention for longer periods
- Navigate social play and fairness
- Reflect on their internal experiences
These are big developmental leaps! Our curriculum is designed to support children with strategies that feel safe, fun, and engaging.
A Sneak Peek into Lesson One: Lily’s Special Compass
In the opening lesson, young learners meet Lily the ladybug, whose bright yellow compass, a gift from the wise Tree, glows with her emotions. It’s a joyful day, and Lily is excited to share her glowing compass with her friend, Oliver. But when she reaches the center of the labyrinth, she realizes the compass is missing. Panic takes over.
Tree gently guides Lily to pause, breathe, and use her five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to retrace her steps. Through this mindful process, Lily begins to calm down. She recalls the sparkle of flowers, the drip-drop sound of rainwater, and the scent of honeysuckle. Then, as she touches her torn satchel, she realizes where the compass must have fallen.
Together with Oliver, Lily walks back along the path, slowly and with intention, until something shiny catches her eye. She finds her compass.
The lesson ends with a quiet moment of reflection as Tree reminds Lily, “When we pause to breathe and notice, we can find more than lost compasses. We can find calm and clear thinking.”
Lily learns that pausing to take a moment to calm herself helped her solve a problem, and it helped her feel safer and more confident. It shares a meaningful message for students and teachers alike that when emotions feel overwhelming, focused attention and gentle awareness can help us find our way back.
Here’s A Practice You Can Use Right Now: The Five Senses Check-In
Want to try what Lily learns in the story? Here’s a simple exercise you can do with children, or even for yourself.
The Five Senses Check-In
- Look around and name 5 things you see
- Listen for 4 sounds you can hear
- Touch 3 things you can feel
- Smell 2 scents around you
- Taste 1 thing (or imagine a favorite flavor)
It’s a calming activity that brings awareness back to the body and breath—and it only takes a minute.
What’s Next?
Our new Kindergarten–1st Grade curriculum will be available to purchase in June and ready to ship in July – just in time for the 2025–2026 school year.
Whether you’re a district leader, teacher, or counselor, we’re here to help you bring these tools for attention and calm into your classroom.
If you’d like to be the first to know when we release the new curriculum be sure to send us an email and get ready to meet Lily, Oliver, and Cleo in the labyrinth!
