Seal Program (Social Emotional Learning)

A deep-dive into social skills using stories and adventures

Engaging Social Emotional Learning and self-regulation strategies for Preps to Year 2 in Melbourne. The Seal Program—filled with adventures and stories.

Suitable for:

Prep to Year 2

Available in:

Melbourne

Also available in: Sydney

Duration:

5 lessons x 50 minutes

Book this incursion

Links to:

VIC Curriculum

Primary School: Foundation-Year 2 - SEL Program
- Drama
- English
- Ethical Capability
- Health and Physical Education
- Personal & Social Capability

Foundation
Introduction to Wild Primary Series

This series introduces the children to the key characters starting at Wild Primary School and sets the scene for self-awareness and social-awareness. Self-regulation strategies are introduced in this series and further reinforced in the other series.

Lesson 1:

First Day Jitters

Seal is the new kid at Wild Primary and it’s her first day learning how to fit into her new environment. Seal wants to make friends with the other animals but it seems like everything she does is going wrong! Seal is feeling very sad until the kind turtles decide to help her communicate with the other animals about how they can work and play together.

Primary Focus: Anxiety associated with starting school.

This lesson is available as a stand-alone workshop and sets the scene of the Seal Program as a required lesson for all students participating.

Lesson 2:

Building Bridges Between Friends

Seal is excited to go on her first excursion at Wild Primary. Some of the other animals aren’t quite as excited and some are a little overexcited! Now it’s Seal’s turn to help her friends practice their social management skills as they head off to Adventure Island.

Primary Focus: Leadership and working as a team.

Lesson 3:

Overcoming Obstacles

The Wild Primary animals have arrived on Adventure Island! Seal and her animal friends will be challenged by obstacles as they identify some of their strengths and weaknesses, leading to greater self-awareness.

Primary Focus: Mindfulness and recognition of emotions.

Bonus classroom video included.

Lesson 4:

An Adventure Island Mystery

The Wild Primary animals have discovered their belongings have disappeared on Adventure Island! Who could be responsible? At first the friends are angry and upset and start arguing about who is to blame but then they remember about what they have learned about working together and managing themselves.

Primary Focus: Resilience and growth mindset.

Lesson 5:

Friends Are The Best Teachers

The Wild Primary animals have made a new friend, Chimp, who is facing similar challenges that our friends have been exploring on their adventures. Now it’s the animals turn to use their new skills and help someone else.

Primary Focus: Reflection.

Years 1&2
Facing Our Feelings Series 2026

The Seal Program runs in two rotating 5-lesson series: “Facing Our Feelings” (even years: 2024/2026) and “Filling Our Bucket” (odd years: 2025/2027). Both series support SEL development and lessons are identical for both Year 1 and 2 students.
New classes must begin with Lesson 1 from the “Introduction to Wild Primary” series.

students learning social emotional learning strategies

Lesson 1:

Just A Joke

The newest and youngest student at Wild Primary is up to some cheeky tricks. Chimp loves to have fun and has come up with some tricks and jokes which she thinks are hilarious! Unfortunately, some of her friends don’t see the jokes in the same way and they help Chimp to understand how they are feeling.

Primary Focus: Considering the feelings of others.

Lesson 2:

Into The Woods

The Bears are feeling left out and go off in search of a special friend of their own. On their journey the Bears will remember their special talents. The other animals are concerned that the Bears are missing and start to search for clues to find them. A new found friend shares some interesting ideas.

Primary Focus: It’s OK to be different.

Lesson 3:

Changing Places

New friend Owl is coming to Wild Primary. To help Owl feel at home, the friends will help create a welcoming environment. Owl is a very different animal with very different needs. The friends will need to practice their skills of empathy and compromise.

Primary Focus: Belonging and including others.

Lesson 4:

Mouse Mischief

Strange rumours and wild accusations are swirling around Wild Primary! The mice are feeling jealous of the time and attention being given to exchange student Owl. Poor Owl has no idea that the Mice are so upset and is confused by the behaviour of some of her new friends. Will the friends remember Stop, Think and Breathe? Will they remember to ask for help?

Primary Focus: Conflict resolution strategies.

Bonus classroom video included.

Lesson 5:

Facing Our Fears

The Wild Primary friends are very excited to attend the school fun fair! The animals are looking forward to trying activities such as dodgem cars, a roller coaster and even the Tunnel of Terror! However, when it is time to actually participate, some of the animals start to feel less excited and more angry, anxious and pressured.

Primary Focus: Self-awareness, Emotional reactions and management strategies including “Stop, Think and Breathe”.

social emotional learning in primary schools

Years 1&2
Filling our Bucket Series 2027

Lesson 1:

Filling Our Bucket

The Turtles have left in their annual migration and we meet a new group of friends. The new students are strong and clever and seem very confident, but will they be good friends? Will they be open to new ideas? How will their attitudes and ideas change and grow? The animal friends will learn about ‘Bucket Filling’ as a method of caring for themselves and others. What does each animal need to fill their bucket?

Primary Focus: Appreciating diverse perspectives.

Lesson 2:

Good Sports

The animal friends are looking forward to the School Games Day. The activities will be challenging as well as fun, but how confident and enthusiastic will the friends be about trying new things? Working in a team can be fun and supportive, but it can also be a potential source of conflict and stress. Who will work easily with others and who will find it a challenge? Will everyone know how to be a ‘good sport’? What does it mean to be a good sport?

Primary Focus: Working collaboratively.

Lesson 3:

Join The Club

The Octopods have been learning about how to be Bucket Fillers, but the lessons are put to the test when they build a cool cubby and have a new ‘must-have’ accessory. The Octopods promise to share, but only in exchange for treasures. Will they keep their promise? How will the Wild Primary friends manage the demands of the Octopods?

Primary Focus: Managing Relationships

Bonus classroom video included.

Lesson 4:

Annoying The Big Kids

Chimp has taken a shine to the new kids and wants to do everything that they do, following them around and never leaving them alone. The new kids are not interested in Chimp, she’s just a little kid and can’t keep up with them. So annoying! How will the big kids manage this problem? Will they be kind?

Primary Focus: Conflict management.

Lesson 5:

Party Time

The Octopods have learned so much about being Bucket Fillers since arriving at Wild Primary! They have asked the animal friends to help them plan a party and everyone is invited and excited! The friends are keen to help, but thinking about different aspects of the party leads to feelings of anxiety. How will the friends manage their feelings and refill their buckets?

Primary Focus: Managing Anxiety

Gallery

children learning social emotional learning skills

Curriculum Suitability

Introduction to Wild Primary Series for Preps - Outcomes

Preps- English

Interact in informal and structured situations, using appropriate voice levels and listening while others read or speak (VC2EFLY01)
Respond to stories and share feelings and thoughts about the events and characters depicted (VC2EFLE02)

Preps- Drama

Explore ideas for characters and situations through dramatic play (VC2ADRFE02)
Use play and imagination to discover possibilities and ideas for characters and situations (VC2ADRFD01)
Share their drama stories with audiences (VC2ADRFP01)

Preps- Personal and Social Capacity

Verbal and non-verbal ways to recognise and identify emotional responses and situations associated with them (VC2CPFS01)
Verbal and non-verbal language to identify responses when experiencing personal interactions, including conflict (VC2CPFO04)
Examples of different personal strengths and interests; examples of when and how personal strengths are used (VC2CPFS03)
Actions required to include and care for others and make friends with peers, teachers and other adults (VC2CPFO02)
Simple skills required for collaboration with peers (VC2CPFO03)
Strategies for identifying and coping with negative emotions, and for considering the feelings of others (VC2CPFS02)
Actions required to include and care for others and make friends with peers, teachers and other adults(VC2CPFO02)

Preps- Ethical Capability

Ethical concepts including right, wrong, better and worse, and behaviours associated with these (VC2CE2U01)
How emotions and dispositions including honesty and kindness influence ethical perspectives (VC2CE2U03)

Preps- Health and Physical Development

Practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (VC2HPFP03)
Identify emotions they experience (VC2HPFP04)

Facing Our Feelings 2026 Series for Years 1&2 - Outcomes

Grade 1- English

Explore how language, facial expressions and gestures are used to interact with others when asking for and providing information, making offers, exclaiming, requesting and giving commands (VC2E1LA01)
Use interaction skills including turn-taking, speaking clearly, using active listening behaviours and responding to the read or spoken contributions of others, and contributing ideas and questions (VC2E1LY01)

Grade 2- English

Use interaction skills when engaging with topics and texts, actively listening to others, receiving instructions and extending their own ideas, speaking appropriately, expressing and responding to opinions, making statements, and giving instructions (VC2E2LY01)

Grade 1 and 2- Drama

Develop practices for creating and performing, using the elements of drama (VC2ADR2D01)
Use a variety of dramatic forms and elements of drama to create real and imagined stories (VC2ADR2C01)
Present and share drama that communicates ideas to audiences in informal settings (VC2ADR2P01)

Grade 1 and 2- Personal and Social Capability

Verbal and non-verbal ways to recognise, name and describe emotional responses and situations associated with them (VC2CP2S01)
Situations where conflicts might occur between individuals, and appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and attitudes (VC2CP2O05)
Simple help-seeking and other productive coping strategies, and when and how to use them; verbal and non-verbal ways to express emotions and empathise with the feelings of others (VC2CP2S02)
Actions for supporting personal strengths useful for school and broader life; actions for supporting developing awareness of personal interests (VC2CP2S03)
The importance of continued effort when faced with unfamiliar or challenging situations, including how it can help to try new things (VC2CP2S04)
The importance of active listening for building awareness of different perspectives (VC2CP2O02)
Strategies for making and keeping friends; how actions and words can help or hurt others; and when, how and why behaviour should be modified (VC2CP2O03)
Situations where conflicts might occur between individuals, and appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and attitudes (VC2CP2O05)

Grade 1 and 2- Ethical Capability

Ethical concepts including right, wrong, better and worse, and behaviours associated with these (VC2CE2U01)
How emotions and dispositions including honesty and kindness influence ethical perspectives (VC2CE2U03)

Grade 1 and 2- Health and Physical Education

Identify how different situations influence emotional responses (VC2HP2P04)

Identify and explore personal and social skills and strategies to develop respectful relationships (VC2HP2P03)

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Reviews of this Incursion

This program used hands-on, experiential learning to practice social skills through storytelling. The kids were very engaged and used the ideas from the program later on in the yard to navigate social issues.

Haileybury College Primary, Berwick Campus

We have employed the services of The Drama Toolbox for many years and will continue to in the future. The students made incredible progress in their understanding of social and emotional needs of themselves and others. The staff are incredible at engaging our Year 1 students and they continue to rave about it for the rest of the year.

McKinnon Primary School

Seal Program (Social Emotional Learning)

A deep-dive into social skills using stories and adventures

Suitable for:

Available in:

Duration:

Links to:

Foundation Introduction to Wild Primary Series

Lesson 1:

First Day Jitters

Lesson 2:

Building Bridges Between Friends

Lesson 3:

Overcoming Obstacles

Lesson 4:

An Adventure Island Mystery

Lesson 5:

Friends Are The Best Teachers

Years 1&2 Facing Our Feelings Series 2026

Lesson 1:

Just A Joke

Lesson 2:

Into The Woods

Lesson 3:

Changing Places

Lesson 4:

Mouse Mischief

Lesson 5:

Facing Our Fears

Years 1&2 Filling our Bucket Series 2027

Lesson 1:

Filling Our Bucket

Lesson 2:

Good Sports

Lesson 3:

Join The Club

Lesson 4:

Annoying The Big Kids

Lesson 5:

Party Time

Gallery

Curriculum Suitability

Reviews of this Incursion

This program used hands-on, experiential learning to practice social skills through storytelling. The kids were very engaged and used the ideas from the program later on in the yard to navigate social issues.

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Foundation
Introduction to Wild Primary Series

Years 1&2
Facing Our Feelings Series 2026

Years 1&2
Filling our Bucket Series 2027