Looking for special gifts for the holiday season? Check out our list below for books and activities in a jar to share with the people in your life—or add them to your own wish list.
Me and You and the Universe
Come explore the ways we are all connected and everything around us is connected—from the tiniest cells to the largest solar system. Discover new ways of opening your eyes, your mind, and your heart in this beginner’s guide to life on earth.
Mindfulness In a Jar®
Kids feel pressure too! Helping them through their day-to-day problems can be as simple as a two-minute moment of mindfulness. Bring mindfulness techniques anywhere. This inventive collection of quick and easy exercises helps kids live in the moment, de-stress, and zero in on the task at hand.
Smarts! Everybody’s Got Them
This book explains and depicts the eight ways that everyone is smart and shows kids how they can get better at each one—even when they make a mistake.
From A to Z with Energy!
Watch the alphabet come alive as children run and twirl and jump and play their way through the ABCs with energy! This picture book encourages young learners to move and have fun as they stay active and keep their bodies healthy and strong.
Gentle Hands and Other Sing-Along Songs for Social-Emotional Learning
Favorite songs like “Frère Jacques” and “B-I-N-G-O” get turned on their heads with new, easy-to-remember lyrics offering lessons on social and emotional skills, such as how to manage anger, how to ask for help, what to do when you’re afraid, how to be a good friend, when to use a quiet voice, and more.
Living on the Veg
With kid-friendly language and lots of information, longtime vegetarians Clive Gifford and Jacqueline Meldrum offer kids advice and support in this guide on going vegetarian and eating less meat. A section with simple vegetarian recipes helps kids get started. Plenty of tips—from breaking the news to parents to options for eating out—offer kids advice and support through challenges and slip-ups as they make this change.
Coloring Book and Reflections for Social Emotional Learning & Libro para colorear y reflexiones para el aprendizaje socioemocional
With a unique combination of coloring book illustrations and reflection prompts, this activity book (available in English and in Spanish) effectively combines mindfulness and SEL. Each of the SEL topics features two pages of activities and prompts. The left page includes a prompt for reflection through journaling or free-drawing, and the right page is an illustration for mindful coloring. Topics range from positive self-talk to empathy to trying your best.
What Do You Really Want?
This step-by-step guide helps teens articulate their goals and put them in writing, set priorities and deadlines, overcome obstacles, build a support system, use positive self-talk, celebrate successes, and more. Readers will find inspiring stories from teens pursuing their goals, easy-to-use tips for setting and reaching goals, and information on using technology tools to aid in goal-setting, as well as downloadable forms to use in goal-setting activities.
Dream Up Now™
Dream Up Now offers a safe space for creative self-expression of all emotions, both positive and negative. Using simple journal prompts and art project ideas, with plenty of room for writing and reflection, Dream Up Now is a powerful tool for navigating emotions and self-reflection.
The Balanced Teacher Path
It wasn’t long after being named North Carolina History Teacher of the Year that Justin Ashley started noticing signs of burnout. He knew he needed to make some radical changes in how he handled his work and personal life. With equal parts humor and wisdom, Justin analyzes four key aspects of every teacher’s life—career, social, physical/emotional, and financial—and offers practical advice to bring these areas into sync, reigniting a passion for teaching in the process.
Tips to Avoid Teacher Burnout In a Jar®
Let’s face it: teacher burnout happens. Stay fresh with these 101 tips and strategies.
Check out these books, jars, and more with Free Spirit’s holiday gift guide.
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