Term

Summer 2026

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAT

Facilitator(s)

Julia Reimer, R.A. Neal, and Karen Moroz

Content Expert

Vanessa Nicpon

Abstract

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began operating in Minnesota in early 2026; this paper provides evidence that educators saw immediate negative impacts on students' academic performance and overall well-being. This capstone project investigated the question: What social-emotional learning (SEL) resources can teachers implement during times of community unrest that affect students' emotional regulation and sense of safety? The research examined the immediate and lasting impacts on students who experience and/or witness unrest in their community, analyzed the use of popular SEL curricula as interventions for civil unrest, and identified specific intervention areas useful for students experiencing civil unrest. This research inspired the creation of the capstone project, a website that houses SEL resources for upper-elementary (grades 3-5) students experiencing and/or witnessing civil unrest, with the goal of helping students identify and process their emotions related to unrest in their communities. This project aims to equip teachers with resources to use during times of crisis. Furthermore, this capstone project seeks to give students a space to feel heard, supported, and in control, no matter how turbulent the world becomes.

Project Type

Website Creation and SEL Resources

Keywords

At-risk Students, Social Justice, Teachers/ Teaching, Social-Emotional Learning

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

Included in

Education Commons

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