15 Easy Ideas for Teaching Life Skills During the School Day
A survey by Panorama Education found that 91% of U.S. adults—both parents and non-parents—believe schools should be teaching life skills.
Similarly, the Committee for Children found that teaching personal and interpersonal life skills helps students focus, creates a positive classroom environment, and improves their chances of reaching academic goals.
91% of people agree that schools should teach life skills.
Traditional academic subjects are undeniably important, but life skills matter too. A report from the International Association of Administrative Professionals found that 67% of HR managers would hire someone with strong soft skills, even if they lacked technical abilities. Meanwhile, only 9% said they would hire a candidate with exceptional technical skills but weak soft skills.
The pressure to cover subject content and prepare students for tests is real, and finding time for life skills can be tough. That’s where a good "sponge activity" comes in. It keeps students engaged, helps with classroom management, and takes the stress out of timing. No more panicking when a lesson wraps up 20 minutes early on a Friday afternoon!
I remember one particular day—perilously close to winter break—when my lesson ended early, and I had 32 teenagers, zero backup plan, and 15 minutes to fill. In my personal life, I was in the middle of a move, so I asked, “Does anyone know what a lease is?”
Cue the floodgates: rent, roommates, frozen pipes, pet rent, landlord horror stories—they couldn’t stop talking. That fifteen-minute filler turned into a full-on life skills discussion and one of our most engaging class periods all semester.
(p.s. If you ever find yourself in that situation, this free Reading and Signing a Lease activity is a total lifesaver.)
Soft skills are critical to successful adulting!
What Counts as a Life Skills Lesson?
That moment reminded me how hungry students are for real-world knowledge—and how easy it can be to turn everyday topics into teachable moments.
In this context, teaching life skills means helping students prepare for life after high school—whether that’s college, a job, or living on their own. Topics can include everything from budgeting and job readiness to self-advocacy, communication, and conflict resolution.
These are essential life skills for young adults, and what makes them so powerful is their real-world relevance. Most teens—whether they’re excited or overwhelmed by the idea of adulthood—have tons of questions. That natural curiosity makes “adulting” lessons especially engaging, even if you only have five or ten minutes to spare.
15 Times You Can Weave Life Skills Into the School Day
Here are practical, teacher-tested ways to integrate life skill topics into your daily schedule—without needing to reinvent your curriculum:
1. Bell Work
Start class with a quick life skills tip. Try prompts about goal-setting, time management, or self-care.
2. Transition Times
Use those in-between moments to introduce short discussions on things like filling out job applications or understanding credit cards.
3. Unplanned Free Periods
When a lesson ends early, pop in a mini-lesson on budgeting, conflict resolution, or home maintenance. You can also try a few “Would You Rather” questions to get them thinking and talking. No prep needed—and they spark great conversations.
4. Advisory or Homeroom
A great time to build soft skills like professionalism, networking, or job readiness.
5. Group Work
Encourage students to practice teamwork, time management, and public speaking during collaborative assignments. You can also assign small group research using the Exploring Life After High School lesson, where students discuss training, apprenticeships, college, and more.
More Moments for Teaching Life Skills
6. Field Trips
Use travel time to discuss navigating public transportation, budgeting, or reading maps
7. Before or After Breaks
Ease back into routines with chats about balancing school and work, or how to hunt for a part-time job.
8. Standardized Testing Days
Once testing is done, fill the time with real-life topics like financial aid, scholarships, or even car-buying basics. The Credit Card Lesson works great here—it’s real-world, discussion-friendly, and teaches practical financial literacy.
9. Special Events or Spirit Weeks
Use these low-pressure days to cover investing, building credit, or understanding insurance.
10. End of the School Year
Perfect time to talk about summer jobs, career planning, or choosing classes that align with goals.
Don't Forget These Bonus Opportunities
11. Brain Breaks
Drop in a fast tip on budgeting, how to get a driver’s license, or opening a bank account.
12. When Half the Class Is Gone
Dig into more personalized topics like college searches, financial literacy, or career interests. This is a great time for a low-key, independent activity like the Banking Puzzle Set—it reinforces real-life vocab without requiring direct instruction.
13. Senior Skip Day
Underclassmen can explore college application strategies, training options, or career exploration.
14. Substitute Teacher Days
Leave sub-friendly life skill games on topics like resumes, job interviews, or soft skills.
15. Study Hall
Host short workshops on stress management, study strategies, or test prep. Study hall is a great time to introduce job-search skills. Try the Finding a Job Lesson that walks students through where to look, what to watch out for, and how to decode job titles.
Take those little bonus moments in your teaching day to work in some life skills!
Use Student Input to Make It Count
One key to success? Ask students what they want to know. You can use this free tool to guide the way:
👉 Free Adulting 101: Knowledge and Skills Inventory
This quick checklist helps students reflect on their current abilities and interests so you can tailor your lessons to what matters most to them—which means they're more engaged, and you're spending way less time putting out fires. (Buy-in = classroom management magic.)
Teacher Tip: Try a Life Skills Game Day
Need something more engaging? Try a no-prep, high-impact classroom game like this:
🎲 The Adulting Game Show
It’s a fun, quiz-style activity that covers life skills in five areas: education, employment, housing, transportation, and finance. Perfect for sub plans, Fridays, or anytime you need to fill space with something entertaining (but still educational).
Want Even More Daily Ideas?
Check out my post on 101 Adulting Warm-Ups to Teach Life Skills. It’s packed with ways to use life skills as bell ringers, transitions, and brain breaks all year long.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a dedicated class period to start teaching life skills. Even 5–10 minutes here and there can add up to something powerful. Whether you’re working with high school students, adult learners, or transition-age youth, these small moments can make a big difference.
If there's a topic you wish you had a resource for, let me know! The Life Beyond High School library is always growing—and it’s built to support real teachers doing real work.
A quick assessment to help students identify the life skills they have and those they still need to work on!
