The Empty Chair Interactive Adventure: Belonging SEL Lesson with Film and Games

An interactive, ready-to-teach 45-minute lesson about belonging for students aged 7 to 11. Students don't just watch the story, they step inside it. It runs entirely from this download: no internet connection, no accounts and no student data. How it works Unzip the folder and open one file in your web browser. The animated film pauses for Pause and Predict and Choose the Ending, then students play the Friendship Bridge story game, name feelings with the Feelings Thermometer, catch kind words in the Kindness Catcher, build their own avatar and earn the Belonging Builder badge. The story Leo is new to Maple Class, and the chair beside him stays empty. Nobody is unkind, they simply forget to include him. When a paper bridge challenge goes wrong, Leo has an idea, but will anyone listen? What's included - The full 4-minute animated film, with built-in pauses for prediction and a class vote on the ending - Present mode for the whole class: Assembly (15 minutes), Lesson starter (30 minutes) or Full lesson (45 minutes), with class votes and a talk timer - Whole-class team mode with a scoreboard, or self-paced play for pairs and small groups - The Friendship Bridge story game, Feelings Thermometer, Kindness Catcher, Story Sequencer and Class Quiz - Circle Time Wheel with talk prompts - Avatar builder, Belonging Builder certificate, Passport stamp and a printable Home Connection card - Teacher guide (PDF, 3 pages) and a Read Me First guide - Every question read aloud, with large buttons for interactive whiteboards Learning objectives - Notice when someone is left out, and how being forgotten can feel - Name feelings and choose kind, welcoming actions - Practise including others in groups, games and teamwork Technical notes The ZIP folder contains an HTML page, an MP4 film, MP3 audio, JPG and PNG images, WOFF2 fonts and PDF guides. It works best in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer or Chromebook connected to your whiteboard. Progress is saved only in that browser. Licence For one teacher to use with their own classes. Part of a series The Empty Chair is Episode 1 of Northbeam Kids: Stories That Shape Us, animated stories with recurring characters, Leo, Maya, Ben and Ms Harper. The matching printable lesson pack is sold separately in this shop.