Comparing the Second Step® "Digital Elementary" and "Elementary Classroom Kit" (2011) Programs

Program Element

Classroom Kits
Released 2011

Digital Program
Released 2021, updated 2025

Delivery

Printed classroom kits with puppets (K-1) and posters. Other media, training, and implementation resources online.

Full digital delivery. All media, training, and implementation resources online. 

Lesson Format

Student facing content delivered by the teacher from fully scripted lesson cards and lesson media (CD/DVD or Streaming).

Student facing content delivered by the teacher using fully scripted lesson plans and the lesson presentation slides (streaming).

Number of Lessons

Kindergarten: 25 lessons in 4 units

Grades 1-3: 22 lessons in 4 units

Grades 4-5: 22 lessons across 3 units

K-5 – Four (4) units with five (5) lessons each across all grades

• 4 lessons per unit provide direct instruction and skill development
• Lesson 5 of each unit is a Performance Task, an informal opportunity for students to demonstrate learning and for teachers to observe student progress.

Time to Teach

Kindergarten: 20-25 minutes

Grade 1: 25-30 minutes

Grades 2-3: 30-35 minutes

Grades 4-5: 35-40 minutes

Grades K-1: 15-20 minutes

Grades 2-5: 25-30 minutes

Lesson Content

Grades K-3:

Unit 1: Skills for Learning

Unit 2: Empathy

Unit 3: Emotion Management

Unit 4: Problem Solving

Grades 4-5:

Unit 1: Empathy and Skills for Learning

Unit 2: Emotion Management

Unit 3: Problem Solving

All grades:

Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

Unit 2: Emotion Management

Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness

Unit 4: Problem Solving

All lessons written using the Understanding by Design framework.

Lesson Interactivity

• Interaction with the teacher
• Interaction with fellow students
• Puppets (K-1)
• Videos, songs (CD/DVD & online)
• Attention signals

• Interaction with the teacher
• Interaction with fellow students
• Lesson interactives (e.g. drag and drop, multiple choice)
• Videos, songs, animations, motion graphics
• Student handouts (some lessons)
• Attention signals

Tiered Interventions

• Tier 2 lessons for K-2 and 3-5 grade-bands 
• Optional assessment/screening tool
• Training and supports for tiered intervention use

Program Training

• Staff overview kick-off PPT
• Teach tutorial video
• Review of research
• Logic Model
• 3 Training modules (Certificate)

• Staff overview kick-off PPT
  
• Training articles
• Teach tutorial video
• Review of research
• Logic Model
• Training videos for each unit

Family Materials

• Family letter (English and Spanish)
• Home Links for many lessons
• Online family resources

• Beginning of year Family letter (English and Spanish)
• Lesson-by-lesson communications

Planning and Reports

No reports, all offline

• Online planning toolkit with goal setting and visioning
• Online view of lesson progress
• downloadable progress reports (CSV/Excel)

Purchasing

Self-sustaining, no consumables

Renewable license (1/3/5 years)