Meet Kana and Earl: This New Video Series Helps Fifth Graders Set and Reach Their Goals

What if goal-setting didn’t feel like a lesson but more like your favorite show?

That’s exactly the idea behind the Second Step® Elementary digital program’s newest curriculum innovation: an episodic video series built to teach fifth graders the fundamentals of setting and achieving goals. Launching in the 2025–2026 school year, this storytelling-based format is turning traditional instruction on its head, and students are in for a treat.

Instead of being led through a standard classroom lesson, students now follow along with Kana and Earl, two animated characters navigating everyday ups, downs, and challenges that feel just like real life. Through their adventures, conversations, and choices, students see goal-setting not as a school assignment but as something meaningful, personal, and even fun!

A lesson format that looks (and feels) different

Each episode introduces students to a new scenario that reflects common challenges and aspirations kids face in real life—challenges like making new friends, sticking with a tough task, or practicing a favorite hobby. The shift from teacher-led instruction to story-driven learning allows students to see themselves in the characters and build an emotional connection alongside cognitive understanding.

In one episode, Earl tells Kana that he’s not really a “make goals type of person,” and she replies, “Everybody has things they want to get better at—whether it’s school or fitness or friendships or a hobby, anything you personally care about.” This dialogue distills a core idea into a kid-friendly, relatable moment.

And that’s the magic of the series: it meets students where they are. The characters talk like them, act like them, and face decisions they understand. By watching Kana and Earl tackle their own goals, students internalize strategies for achieving theirs without it feeling like work.

The brain behind the story

The series was created by Alex Brown, a Second Step instructional designer who drew directly from his own life when developing the concept.

“I thought about the goals I wanted to reach and what helped me stick with them—or not,” says Brown. “I wanted to create something that felt real, where kids could see goal-setting not just as a school thing but as something they do every day. It’s a skill set they’ll take with them beyond the classroom. Goals evolve throughout our lives, so learning how to set and follow through with them early is critical.”

That desire for realness led to the development of Kana and Earl as fully fleshed-out, emotionally grounded characters. Inspired by family and friends in Alex’s own life, their personalities and experiences are intentionally crafted to feel authentic—never scripted. They make mistakes. They question themselves. They problem-solve. And by being rooted in real people, they model what genuine persistence, self-awareness, and growth look like in action.

From story to self-discovery

After each episode, students move into reflection and practice. They might be asked to write out their goals in different categories—from personal growth to community impact—or identify their favorite goal of the day. These post-episode activities help translate the on-screen lessons into real-world planning and doing.

Here are some excerpts from the lessons:

• Goals are something you choose!
• Being proactive means thinking about things ahead of time and then taking action.
• Start small, stick with it, and when you are ready, challenge yourself a little more (That’s how good habits grow).

The format is intentionally simple, but it’s powerful. Students absorb not just the “what” of goal-setting but also the “how” and, more importantly, the “why.”

Because of the episodic nature, students stay engaged and look forward to what happens next. But the true payoff comes in how they begin to apply these lessons outside the classroom—in their day-to-day decisions and friendships.

The next chapter in human skills development

Second Step programs have always focused on helping students strengthen human skills—skills like empathy, resilience, communication, and emotion regulation. With this new video series, those skills are rooted in personal stories, turning abstract concepts into tangible behaviors.

This series is a natural evolution of the curriculum, and it’s one that reflects what educators know: students learn best when they connect emotionally and see relevance in what they’re learning.

For educators, the series is easy to integrate. It’s less about standing in front of a room lecturing and more about guiding reflection and discussion after the episode ends. And for students, it’s a bridge between their inner world and the goals they’re just beginning to name.

A new model, a lasting impact

As the 2025–2026 school year rolls out, fifth-grade classrooms across the country will meet Kana and Earl for the first time. But the larger goal goes beyond this duo: it’s about laying the foundation for a generation of young learners to see themselves as capable, self-directed, and ready to pursue whatever matters to them most.

Whether it’s learning a new skill, building better friendships, or contributing to their communities, students will walk away with something more lasting than just a lesson. They’ll leave with a vision for who they want to become.

And it all starts with a story.

Learn more about the Second Step Elementary digital program.

Request a free consultation to discuss how the program can align with your district’s needs.