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Kelso's Choices Battle Brackets-A Fun SEL Game

Kelso's Choices bracket game for SEL: students read a social problem, such as being teased or accused of cheating, and decide which of two problem-solving choices wins each matchup until one remains.
Grades
Grades 1–5, Elementary
File type
Google Slide
Editable
Yes

Updated Oct 26, 2026

Subject
Special Resources, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Special Education Needs (SEN), Social Skills
Topic
Kelso's Choices, SEL
Resource types
Games, Activities
Editable
Yes

About this resource

What's inside this resource

Basketball brackets can be used for anything-not just basketball! In this SEL product, students will get excited about participating in a Kelso's Choices bracket battle! Kelso's Choices are 9 ways to solve small problems. There are 5 different Kelso's Choices bracket templates and one blank one. One of the templates is nonverbal versus verbal choices. This is fully editable as it is a Google Slide Presentation. There are 24 different scenarios for students to contemplate and choose Kelso's Choices for. This can be played as a whole class or small group. To play, you give each group a certain scenario. Then they begin with discussing one of the 2 competitors among the 8 competitor choices. Students keep track of the votes and the winner moves on to the semi-final round (4 choices), then the winners of that, move on to the final round. You could even have all small groups talk about the same scenario and the whole class does a final vote for the winner. It is up to you how you wish to play the game. Some of the scenarios are; someone will not let you play, someone cut in front of you, someone teased you, someone called you a name, someone made fun of what you are wearing, someone accused you of cheating, etc. You can also edit the scenarios to make it work for your groups or class.

The key to keeping this engaging and a higher-order activity is to have students say which choice they would use and why. Students can share a time they used that particular choice, when a choice works or does not work, or the best conflicts for each choice. Students can also share a time when a particular choice did not work and that is why they did not vote for it or share a time when a particular choice worked and that is why they voted for it. Have fun with this engaging resource!

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

  • Compare two problem-solving strategies for a social situation
  • Choose a strategy that fits a specific peer problem

Skills covered

  • Strategy selection — students weigh two Kelso's Choices against a scenario and advance one through the bracket

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

What is needed to open the game?

The download links to a Google Slides presentation, so a Google account is needed to open and copy it.

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