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Trying New Things

Second graders explore that nervous flutter you feel before something new, learn it is a normal sign you are growing, and discover small, brave ways to try new things anyway.

Grade 2CASEL: Self-Awareness35 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Notice your comfort zone.
  • ✓See why new things feel scary.
  • ✓Take a small brave step.
  • ✓Pick one new thing to try.
Essential Question

The first day of something new, your stomach can flutter. That feeling is normal and does not mean stop. What helps you try new things anyway?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore Being Brave · Interactive

Explore Being Brave

Project this and open each card to explore why new things feel scary and brave ways to try them anyway.

🌱 Explore brave ways to try new thingsTry it

The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — That Nervous Flutter

5 min

The first day of something new, a class, a sport, a food, your stomach can flutter. That feeling is normal. It does not mean stop. What helps you try the new thing anyway?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name something new you tried.
  • Ask how it felt at first.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Explore Being Brave

12 min

Students explore ways to try new things.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Explore Being Brave.
  • Open each card.
  • Note the ideas.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explore.
  • Read.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Name the Feeling

13 min

Students name what trying new things feels like.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Picture a new thing.
  • Name the feeling in your body.
  • Say one brave step.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Picture.
  • Name.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Brave Goal

15 min

Students pick a new thing to try.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick one new thing to try.
  • Write the first small step.
  • Name who can help.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Write.
  • Name.
5

Reflect — Growing by Trying

5 min

Students reflect on trying new things.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why do new things often feel scary at first?
  • What is one small step that makes trying easier?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Recognize your own feelings, including nervousness about new things.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Notice the edge of your comfort zone and name it.

CASEL
Self-Management

Take a small, brave step toward a new experience.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Develop a growth mindset about trying and learning.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Feeling picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Trying ___ feels ___ , so I will ___ .”
  • Explore one idea at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with naming the feeling.
  • Share one new thing the class tried.
  • Explore one card before the next.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a comfort-zone circle and add new goals.
  • Plan the small steps for one new thing.
  • Talk about a time trying got easier with practice.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🦋Feeling picture cards
  • 💻Explore Being Brave
  • 🎯A brave-goal card
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

self-awarenessnoticing your own thoughts and feelingscomfort zonethe things that already feel easy and safe to youbravechoosing to try even when you feel nervousnervousa worried, fluttery feeling before something newsmall stepone little part of a bigger new thingbeginnersomeone who is just starting to learn somethinggrowthgetting better and braver through practiceencourageto cheer someone on and help them feel brave
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Why do new things often feel scary at first?
Because they are unfamiliar, so your body feels nervous. That feeling is normal and means you are growing, not that you should stop.
QUESTION 2
What is one small step that makes trying a new thing easier?
For example, watching first, trying for just a minute, or asking someone to help or stay nearby.
QUESTION 3
What happens to your comfort zone each time you try something new?
It gets a little bigger, so new things feel easier the more you practice being brave.

Create: my brave goal.

Have students pick one new thing to try, write the first small step, and name who can help, so being brave becomes a real plan. A printable trying-new-things worksheet is in the Social-Emotional Learning library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Self-Awareness: Trying New ThingsFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Self-Awareness: Trying New ThingsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Self-Awareness: Trying New ThingsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: beginner, brave, comfort zone, encourage, growth, nervous, self-awareness, small step
  1. a worried, fluttery feeling before something new
  2. one little part of a bigger new thing
  3. getting better and braver through practice
  4. to cheer someone on and help them feel brave
  5. choosing to try even when you feel nervous
  6. someone who is just starting to learn something
  7. noticing your own thoughts and feelings
  8. the things that already feel easy and safe to you

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Why do new things often feel scary at first?
  2. What is one small step that makes trying a new thing easier?
  3. What happens to your comfort zone each time you try something new?
Answer key — Part A: 1) nervous · 2) small step · 3) growth · 4) encourage · 5) brave · 6) beginner · 7) self-awareness · 8) comfort zone
Part B: 1) Because they are unfamiliar, so your body feels nervous. That feeling is normal and means you are growing, not that you should stop. 2) For example, watching first, trying for just a minute, or asking someone to help or stay nearby. 3) It gets a little bigger, so new things feel easier the more you practice being brave.