It teaches skills such as resolving conflicts, managing anger, respecting others and playing fairly.
The Department for Education and Skills says pilot schemes have had very positive results in primary schools.
A DFES spokesperson said that support would be available for secondary schools wanting to use this approach to improving how children behave.
Teachers' union conferences at Easter heard a series of warnings about the levels of violence and abuse faced by teachers from badly-behaved pupils.
And this "Seal" project is designed to teach pupils about the need to show respect to others and to give them the skills to avoid aggression and confrontation.
The DFES says that primary schools have reported a decrease in problems such as bullying and fighting where the emotional intelligence lessons have been taught.
The type of subject areas covered would include developing empathy - such as showing how someone else might feel.
