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SEED was created by a team of educators at a Nature Center in east-central Illinois. Our primary goal of environmental education is to give children experience in nature and teach them about the world around them through environmental education. Our team found a way to combine a school's social-emotional curriculum with environmental education. Below are a series of videos made by the education team that connects social-emotional curriculum with animals and nature! These videos are published on YouTube and are FREE for anyone to use! You can watch them in any order, but you will need journals for your kiddos! Every video ends with a journal prompt. 

How do we use SEED locally? Our local schools use SEED as a supplement to their social-emotional time each week. They watch the videos (usually around 5 minutes) and journal. Younger students may draw their journal prompts, while older will write out their thoughts. The nature center then visits the schools several times each year to conduct educational programs that are science and environmental education-focused but still include social-emotional learning! Plus, the classes visit the nature center on field trips! It's a win-win! We hope you can get use out of SEED. Subscribe to us on YouTube!

SEED VIDEOS

SECOND STEP VIDEOS

SEED #1: Be You and Unique Animals
Don't be someone you are not. Be You! What makes you - you? Stand out from others with your personality! 
SEED #2: Be Safe and Various Animals
Check out tips from animals on how to be safe at school and in your community. Don't forget the rules! 
SEED #3: Be Respectful and Primates
Primates are very respectful to others around them, especially their elders. Check out how to be respectful. 
SEED #4: Be Responsible and Ants
We all have responsibilities: homework, laundry, and more. Learn about an ant's responsibilities. 
SEED #5: Listening and Owls
Here are some tips to help you listen and focus your attention to others around you. 
SEED #6: Focusing Attention and Doug from the UP
Do you ever find your mind and attention wandering? Here are some tips and tricks to focus your attention. 
SEED #7: Self Talk and Canine Dogs
Sometimes you need to give yourself a little pep talk or self-talk, maybe about your feelings or other things. 
SEED #8: Being Assertive and Territorial Animals
There is a difference between assertive and aggressive. Assertive is when you stand up for yourself. 
SEED #9: Empathy and Elephants
Elephants are very empathetic animals, meaning they try to understand from other's perspectives. 
SEED #10: Identifying Feelings and Various Animals
You can't figure out what's going on unless you stop and identify the feelings you are having. 
SEED #11 Same and Different Feelings & Animals
You don't always have to feel the same as others, but you should always try to understand them. 
SEED #12: Compassion and Misunderstood Animals
Several animals are quick to be judged, like opossums. Learn to show compassion towards others. 
SEED #13: Feelings In My Body and Chameleons
Sometimes we keep our feelings bottled up and sometimes  our face says it all. 
SEED #14: Stop and Name Our Feelings and Dolphins
Sometimes we have so many emotions. Be sure to stop and name your feelings to help sort them out. 
SEED #15: Calming Down and Oceans
Everyone gets frustrated, but you need to find tips to help you calm down. Do you find ocean waves relaxing? 
SEED #16:  Managing Learning Difficulties
Learning can be easy or difficult for you. Let's take a look at managing learning difficulties. 
SEED #17: S: Say the Problem and Pigs
Before you can figure out a solution to the problem, take a moment to say the problem.
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SEED  #18 T: Think of Solutions and Crows
Crows are very intelligent creatures and  great problem solvers! They may think of more than one solution. 
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SEED #19 E: Explore Consequences and Hummingbirds
Follow a hummingbird and the decisions he must make. Before deciding, he thinks about the consequences. 
SEED #20 P: Pick the Best Solutions and the Western Fence Lizard
Everyone is faced with difficult decisions to make, so practice making the best solutions. 
SEED #21  Inviting to Play and Dogs
Making friends can be hard. Here are some tips on how to invite someone to play. Dogs do it all the time. They make friends wherever they go. 
SEED #22 Playing Fairly and Mutualistic Relationships/Symbiosis
Learn about playing fairly while learning about mutualistic relationships and symbiosis. 
SEED Video #23 Making Amends and Elephants
Elephants exhibit a great amount of empathy and even show signs of making amends!
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SEED Video #24 Raccoons and Name Calling
Raccoons are subject to many nicknames. Do you know the difference between nicknames and name-calling?
SEED Video #25 Chickadees and Bullying

​Chickadees follow a hierarchy or a "pecking order." How does that compare to bullying?
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SEED Video #26 Stand Tall with SEED tree

​How do you handle negative thoughts, bullying, and name-calling? Try empathy and stand tall! 
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SEED Video #27 Social Distancing and Various Animals
Social distancing is new and confusing for little ones (okay, adults too). What animals practice social distancing?

LEADER IN ME VIDEOS

LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: 7 HABITS OF HAPPY KIDS OVERVIEW
Enjoy a brief overview of the Leader in Me 7 Habits of Happy Kids and the needs of animals and plants. Check out more SEED videos for more in-depth explanations of each habit!
LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: BE PROACTIVE

Are you proactive like a lion? Learn more about what it means to 'Be Proactive' and the responsibilities of lions in their pride.

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LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

​Visualize your goals and define outcomes before you act. Think about creating a Personal Mission Statement. Did you know beavers plan ahead to build their lodge? 
LEADER IN ME/SEED: PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST
Work first and play second, just like an otter! Learn about how to 'Put First Things First' in this 'otter'ly cute video!



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LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: THINK WIN-WIN
Think Win-Win like the unlikely relationship between the Nile Crocodile and Egyptian Plover, so everyone wins! 

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LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD 
Learn how to be a good listener like a meerkat, so you can seek first to understand, then to be understood.
LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: SYNGERGIZE
Follow along to learn about what it means to synergize or work together and how nature synergizes in symbiotic relationships!

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LEADER IN ME/SEED VIDEO: SHARPEN THE SAW
Do you need help to Sharpen the Saw? Watch this video to define this Leader in Me habit, learn examples of ways to sharpen the saw, and practice with some nature yoga!

Storytime Videos

SEED Storytime #1: I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black
Everyone gets bored. Kids. Adults. So how do you handle boredom? Check out how creative one little girl gets.