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Fostering a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment in California’s PreK-12 Schools – Grades 3-5

This lesson of the SIRS initiative helps upper elementary students build emotional safety and resilience through a trauma-informed approach. It focuses on:

  • Context & Purpose: Designed for immigrant and refugee students who may have experienced trauma, the module promotes safety, trust, voice, and empowerment, aligned with CASEL social-emotional learning principles.
  • Community Norms: Teachers and students collaboratively establish respectful group norms (e.g., active listening, confidentiality) in a circle setting to foster authenticity and trust.
  • Structure & Connection: Each activity builds resilience and self-regulation skills ahead of a literature-based discussion in Lesson 2.

This module offers educators robust, trauma-aware strategies to cultivate emotional well-being and prepare classrooms for deeper empathy-building lessons.

Find additional resources on: Support for Immigrant and Refugee Students -