Teach SEL through Teleporting Videos!

Imagine being able to teleport out of a tough situation, seek advice from a trusted person, and return equipped to resolve the problem. Sounds like science fiction, right? In this 5th and 6th-grade lesson, students bring this concept to life through video creation, blending social-emotional learning (SEL) with digital storytelling. By using simple video editing effects, students practice self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills—all while having fun!

Learning Objective

Students will role-play challenging situations and use the metaphor of teleportation to practice seeking help, managing emotions, and resolving conflicts.

Success Criteria

✅ Students can identify and express emotions in challenging situations.

✅ Students create a short video demonstrating a problem, teleporting for advice, and implementing a solution.

✅ Students use basic video editing techniques to create teleportation effects.

Why This Project?

SEL is essential for helping students navigate challenges, communicate effectively, and make thoughtful decisions. By combining SEL with video creation, students collaborate, build confidence, and gain video skills in a way that feels exciting and engaging.

The Power of Undercover Learning

An added bonus? Undercover learning—students absorb critical SEL skills without even realizing it! To make it even more meaningful, have students create their videos for a younger audience. Knowing their work will help younger peers makes them take their roles seriously, and once finished, these videos can become in-building resources, fostering connections between different grade levels.

The Process: How It All Comes Together

Warm-Up: Recognizing Emotions & Coping Strategies (15 min)

Students brainstorm real-life challenges they might face at school or home. Discuss:

• “What makes these moments difficult?”
• “What are some positive ways to handle them?”

Then introduce teleportation as a metaphor for stepping away, gaining perspective, or seeking help. Students create a class list of people who could help them out in a variety of scenarios, from parents, to teachers, counselors, coaches and more!

Group Work: Role-Playing Scenarios (10 min)

Students break into small groups, each receiving a real-life scenario (see below). Their task? Act out a challenge, teleport for advice, and return with a solution.

Planning & Storyboarding (20 min)

Students sketch out their videos in three parts:

1. The challenge (a tough moment at school)

2. Teleporting for help (jump-cut effect + advice from a trusted adult or friend)

3. Returning & solving the problem

Editing Magic: Teleportation Effects (30 min)

Using the Create Editing Effects lesson from Apple’s Everyone Can Create series, students practice making characters disappear and reappear using iMovie or Clips. Jump cuts and fade transitions are key to teleportation magic!

Filming & Editing (30 min)

Students record their scenes and edit their videos, adding sound effects, text overlays, or reaction shots to enhance storytelling.

Sharing & Reflection (15 min)

Students present their videos to the class, followed by a discussion:

• “What emotions were shown?”
• “What strategies helped solve the problem?”
• “How can you use these strategies in your own life?”

Scenario Ideas for SEL Role-Play

📌 Peer Conflict – Two friends argue over a group project. Teleport to a teacher for advice on compromise.

📌 Test Anxiety – A student struggles before a big test. Teleport to a friend who teaches calming techniques.

📌 Bullying Awareness – A student witnesses bullying but doesn’t know how to respond. Teleport to a counselor for advice.

📌 Managing Frustration in Sports – A student gets upset after a mistake in gym class. Teleport to a coach to learn teamwork strategies.

📌 Asking for Help with Homework – A student is stuck on math homework. Teleport to a sibling for a new way of thinking.

Reflection: What We Learned

Tips & Tricks: Encourage creativity! Costumes, props, and dramatic acting make for engaging videos.

Differentiation: Struggling students can focus on acting, while tech-savvy students can take the lead on editing.

Inclusion & Accessibility: Provide written scripts or audio descriptions for students who need extra support.

Assessment: Use a simple rubric measuring creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and video editing skills.

This lesson blends SEL and technology in a creative, hands-on way. By acting out real-life challenges and “teleporting” to solutions, students gain practical coping skills, collaborate with peers, and develop storytelling abilities. The best part? They create something meaningful to share with younger students, reinforcing their learning by teaching others.

Would you try this in your classroom? What other creative ways do you teach SEL? Let’s keep the conversation going! 🚀🎬