I developed this curriculum kit between 2018 and 2025 — wearing a few different hats in the process. Years of designing the Kelso brand gave me a deep understanding of the product. Market trends were embracing mindfulness and talking more about the nervous system in K-5 education. My personal mindfulness practice was fairly advanced, and I had a related interest in the nervous system. So, I started pitching ideas internally. I thought that we could grow the original K-5 conflict management program by integrating emotional fluency, mindfulness, and character traits.
After winning approval for this project I began researching Casel's Social Emotional Learning framework, metacognition for K–5, and Paul Ekman's work on universal emotions. I wrote stories for the kids and lessons for school counselors. I worked closely with a pair of illustrators, drawing detailed sketches for the storybook. Finally, I finished the project as a graphic designer; laying out the books I had written, designing posters, and branding the program.
Packaging and Bee Branding — A hive of bees, each one gathering tiny bits of pollen to make honeycombs, is an apt metaphor for a school community slowly growing, gradually building over time.
The meditating Lily mark represents the self-regulated student staying calm in the midst of a buzzing school community. Bright colors in the honeycomb pattern speak to the individuality of each student within the classroom structure. The garden metaphor is extended with minimalist flowers, geometric grass, beetles, bugs, and bricks.
In the Leader's Guide — This introductory spread builds the narrative of the bee branding visually, and sets the tone with a Gabor Maté quote.
"The physiology of one individual can't be separated from the psychological and social environment. We can't separate the mind from the body, and you can't separate the individual from the environment."
Lily Chooses Storybook — Three stories that blend emotional fluency, mindfulness, positive character traits, and conflict management strategies. I was the author, art director, and colorist for this book. Illustrator Jim Kettner drew the BW line work.
Students are introduced to the program with the first story, The Leapfrog Competition.
Spreads from the Lily Chooses Emotional Regulation storybook.
Process — Sketches from me, BW illustrations by Jim Kettner, color by me.
Leader's Guide — This book contains implementation guidelines for school counselors and lessons for K–5 students. I was the lead author and graphic designer. Framing this as a "holistic conflict management" program was important for the integrity of the Kelso's Choice brand overall.
Spreads from the Leader's Guide.
This is the structure of the curriculum. Lessons
start at the base and finish at the top.
start at the base and finish at the top.
Introductory graphic for the breathwork section summarizing the mind-body connection.
Leader's Guide iconography — Part branding, part wayfinding for the book.
Mindful Moods iconography — These four categories define types of self care for different types of feelings.
50-Card Set — Each card deep dives into a specific feeling, and includes contextualizing information. I art directed the illustrations and wrote half the backs. Illustrators Steve Harpster and Jim Kettner drew the BW line art, I did the color.
50-Card Set — These cards are color coded to align with the Mindful Moods framework.
Mindful Moods posters — These four categories define types of self care for different types of feelings. Students can refer to the 50-card set for more detailed information or different feelings that also fit the mood they are in.
