December: Kindness Lessons
Grades K Lesson Plan
Definition of Kindness - Being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others. Showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Treating others as you would like to be treated.
Objectives:
To learn the definition of the character trait, kindness.
To encourage students to show kindness and consideration in their daily lives.
To understand that kindness can be shown to anyone, anywhere!
Materials:
Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
Poster with definition of kindness
Activity:
Lead discussion with students. What do you think it means to be kind? What do you think is the definition of kindness? Why do we want to show kindness towards others?
Display definition and discuss.
Introduce book. What do you think this story will be about? What predictions can you make?
Read the book, stopping periodically to discuss whether behaviors were kind, and how the behaviors made others feel.
After reading the book, discuss what lesson the students in Mrs. Ruler’s class learned.
Tell students that it is very important that we show kindness at MCE and at home. Brainstorm on the board ways to show kindness
Evaluation:
Students will draw a picture of them showing kindness. Allow students to share the different ways they thought of to show kindness at home and school.
December: Kindness
The ABC’s of Kindness
Submitted by Kathleen; Lacey, WA
This lesson plan encourages students to work on their writing skills while simultaneously helps them brainstorm their own kindness ideas.
Objective:
To have the kids think of their own Random Acts of Kindness ideas and at the same time, work on their writing skills.
Grade 1
Time Frame:
30-60 minutes
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pencil
Crayons
Construction paper
Procedure:
1. Have each child choose a letter of the alphabet for this activity. (Teacher can provide colorful die-cut letters for this activity.)
2. Have each child write a sentence of a random act of kindness idea, using the letter they chose as a word in the sentence.
Example:
A I will share a stuffed animal with my sister
B I will help my mom bring in the groceries
C I colored a picture for my grandma
3. Next, have the child draw a picture that illustrates their RAK described in their letter sentence.
4. Mount each child’s picture and sentence on construction paper and bind it to make a book!
December: Kindness
Grades 3-5 Lesson Plan
Definition of Kindness - Being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others. Showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Treating others as you would like to be treated.
Objectives:
To learn the definition of the character trait, kindness.
To encourage students to show kindness and consideration in their daily lives.
To understand that kindness can be shown to anyone, anywhere!
Materials:
If Everyone Did by Jo Ann Stover
Poster with definition of kindness
Handouts: “If Everyone Did. . .”
Activity:
Lead discussion with students. What do you think it means to be kind? What do you think is the definition of kindness? Why do we want to show kindness towards others?
Display definition and discuss.
Introduce story entitled If Everyone Did. What do you think this story will be about? What predictions can you make?
Read the book.
After reading the book, discuss: What the world would be like if everyone were kind?
What would the world be like if everyone were unkind? What are ways we can show kindness to people at school? At home? In the community?
Brainstorm ways to be kind on the board.
Evaluation:
Distribute “If Everyone Did. . .” sheets. Have students create posters showing what the world would be like if everyone did the right thing and were kind. Allow students to share posters, and take up posters so that they can be displayed on a bulletin board.
February - Integrity Lessons
Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fibbing
•Grade: K, 1
•Standards: A:A3.1, PS:B1.2, PS:B1.3, PS:B1.4, PS:B1.5
•Objective: (1) Students will identify why honesty is important. (2) Students will identify consequences of choices. (3) Students will identify ways to solve problems.
•Lesson:
1. Discuss honesty, including why it is important and what happens when we are dishonest. Read book.
2. Discuss the consequences of Piglet’s dishonesty and how he could have solved the problem instead of lying.
3. Talk about trust and ways to build trust.
4. Color honey pot, then have adult “break” the honey pot (cut it) into several pieces. Challenge students to solve the puzzle.
•Evaluation: pre/post questions about honesty (thumbs up/down)
•Materials: Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fibbing, honey pot paper, crayons, scissors, glue
The Honest to Goodness Truth
Grade 2
Book: The Honest –to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack is a humorous tale of good intentions gone awry when a little girl decides to tell nothing but the truth. After being punished by her mother for telling a fib, Libby vows to only tell the truth. Soon she’s spreading the truth all over town and she can’t figure out why everyone is so offended. It seems that telling the truth isn’t always so simple. Libby struggles to figure out that even though it’s always wrong to tell a lie, there’s a right and wrong way to tell the truth. She learns that honesty can be displayed with tact and kindness in an “honest to goodness” fashion.
Before Reading –
1. What does the word “integrity” mean?
2. Give examples of times when it’s hard to be honest.
3. Give examples of times when it’s easy to be honest.
During Reading –
1. Is it possible to be “too honest”?
2. How do you think the characters felt after Libby was honest?
3. Have you ever felt the same way or made someone uncomfortable with your honest remarks?
After Reading –
1. Do you feel there are times one should be honest and times that one should be more careful about what they say?
2. Give an example of when it might be okay not to tell the honest-to-goodness truth.
3. What does Libby learn about honesty?
Activity: Role Play Situations
Materials Needed: Role play cards in an envelope (make up different scenarios)
Have students volunteer to come to the front of the room and draw a card from the envelope. Assist the student in reading the situation on the card. Encourage the student to tell how the student in the situation could show integrity. Continue until all the cards have been drawn.
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and “The Untangle Game”
Grade Level
3/4
Overview
A lesson that introduces the concept of honesty as a character trait- it includes
discussion of HONESTY as well as two activities to choose from. The activities
include the story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” as well as “The Untangle Game”.
Procedures:
1. Define Honesty (Discussion)-Ask the kids what honesty means to them.
Write their answers on the board and come up with a working definition
(i.e. “Telling the truth; not lying”)
2. Understand why people lie. Have a discussion about this. You might want
to get the ball rolling by sharing what has tempted you to lie in the past,
or why you feel others have lied to you. Some possible reasons to point
out in discussion:
a. They are about to get into trouble so they lie and say, “I didn’t do
it!”
b. They want attention, so they tell lies to impress people: “Over
Christmas, I jumped out of a helicopter and skied down a steep
mountain causing an avalanche!”
c. To make interesting conversation, they pass on information that
might not be true, as if they know it to be true: “Did you hear
about Jenny? She stole a watch from Sears and got caught!”
3. Understand how dishonesty hurts those who are lied to and those who
lie. Try to move the students beyond understanding lies to FEELING how it
hurts them and others.
a. How does lying hurt people who are lied to? (Give example of
sharing how gossip once hurt you)
b. Have you ever been hurt by a rumor that went around about you?
Can you tell about it? How did it feel?
c. How does lying hurt people who tell lies? If the person is caught
even just once, people will have a hard time trusting them in the
future.
d. When they really need people to believe them, they might not.
“Wink the Truth” Game
Grade Level
Can be adapted for grades 4-8
Overview
The purpose of this game is to create a group story that’s half true and half
lies-and to discover how hard it is to keep a story straight if you need to
remember many facts and lies.
Materials Needed
None
Procedures
1. With a group of at least four students, begin by agreeing on what the
story will be about. Try to keep the topic simple. Examples: A day at
school: something specific that happened at school or near the school;
how the holiday show went.
2. The first player starts the game by saying two sentences about the topic.
One sentence is true, and the other is a lie. It doesn’t matter what order
the player says these comments, but he or she must wink when telling
the lie. Example: “Dr. Wiemer was standing at the front door of the
school this morning when we arrived.” (True.) “She was wearing pink
shoes.” (A lie: wink.)
3. The second player repeats the first player’s sentences, and adds two
more sentences to the story, winking for each lie.
4. The third player repeats all four sentences said by the first two players,
adds two more sentences, and winks three times.
5. Continue until the story gets too complicated and students start
forgetting which parts are true and which parts are lies. Conclude by
talking about the game and asking if it is hard to keep a story straight if
you have to remember many facts and lies.
Assessment
Observe to make sure all students are participating and are having fun!
Source
What Do You Stand For? A Kid’s Guide to Building Character by Barbara A. Lewis
March- Perseverance
Kindergarten- First Grade Lesson
Book: Give Maggie a Chance by Frieda Wishinsky. Here is a summary of the book:
“Maggie perseveres through what is one of children’s greatest fears—freezing up in front of their classmates. The little cat wishes herself whisked away to Mars, among other things, when she finds herself unable to read in front of her class. Kimberly is a surly gray Persian who eagerly volunteers and succeeds in reading aloud.” Maggie finds ways to overcome her fear and the book ends with success.
Before the story:
- Write the word perseverance on the board, say the word, and have class repeat the word.
- “Who thinks they know what the word perseverance means?”
- Give students a chance to answer. (not giving up, keep trying)
After the story:
“What was Maggie’s problem?”
“How did she feel standing in front of the class?”
“Have you ever felt the same way?”
“How did Maggie show perseverance?”
“What did she tell herself?”
“When have you kept trying and shown perseverance?”
Activity:
1) Perseverance Phrases. Use the envelope provided that says “Think About It”. Call on students to come to the front and pull out a phrase. Assist students in reading the phrase. Have the class decide if the phrase shows perseverance and is helpful, give a thumbs up; or is not helpful, give a thumbs down.
2) Who Keeps Trying? Use the envelope provided that says “Who Keeps Trying?” Call on students to come to the front and pull out a situation. Assist the student in reading the situation and the two choices. Have the class decide which choice shows perseverance.
March- Perseverance
Second Grade Lesson
Book: Give Maggie a Chance by Frieda Wishinsky. Here is a summary of the book:
“Maggie perseveres through what is one of children’s greatest fears—freezing up in front of their classmates. The little cat wishes herself whisked away to Mars, among other things, when she finds herself unable to read in front of her class. Kimberly is a surly gray Persian who eagerly volunteers and succeeds in reading aloud.” Maggie finds ways to overcome her fear and the book ends with success.
Before the story:
- Write the word perseverance on the board, say the word, and have class repeat the word.
- “Who thinks they know what the word perseverance means?”
- Give students a chance to answer. (not giving up, keep trying)
After the story:
“What was Maggie’s problem?”
“How did she feel standing in front of the class?”
“Have you ever felt the same way?”
“How did Maggie show perseverance?”
“What did she tell herself?”
“When have you kept trying and shown perseverance?”
Activity:
1) “Who Keeps Trying?” Use the envelope provided that says “Who Keeps Trying?” Call on students to come to the front and pull out a situation. Assist the student in reading the situation and the two choices. Have the class decide which choice shows perseverance.
2) “People Who Don’t Give Up”
Prepare 10 small envelopes and label them “People Who Don’t Give Up”. Group students in small groups of 2-3 students each. Pass out one small envelope to each group of students. The small envelopes contain strips of words that will match up to make the 5 sentences below. Tell the students to work together to make matches and put the sentences in order. When all groups finish matching the sentences, call on groups to share out a sentence they matched. Provide the answers for the sentences:
Grades K Lesson Plan
Definition of Kindness - Being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others. Showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Treating others as you would like to be treated.
Objectives:
To learn the definition of the character trait, kindness.
To encourage students to show kindness and consideration in their daily lives.
To understand that kindness can be shown to anyone, anywhere!
Materials:
Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
Poster with definition of kindness
Activity:
Lead discussion with students. What do you think it means to be kind? What do you think is the definition of kindness? Why do we want to show kindness towards others?
Display definition and discuss.
Introduce book. What do you think this story will be about? What predictions can you make?
Read the book, stopping periodically to discuss whether behaviors were kind, and how the behaviors made others feel.
After reading the book, discuss what lesson the students in Mrs. Ruler’s class learned.
Tell students that it is very important that we show kindness at MCE and at home. Brainstorm on the board ways to show kindness
Evaluation:
Students will draw a picture of them showing kindness. Allow students to share the different ways they thought of to show kindness at home and school.
December: Kindness
The ABC’s of Kindness
Submitted by Kathleen; Lacey, WA
This lesson plan encourages students to work on their writing skills while simultaneously helps them brainstorm their own kindness ideas.
Objective:
To have the kids think of their own Random Acts of Kindness ideas and at the same time, work on their writing skills.
Grade 1
Time Frame:
30-60 minutes
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pencil
Crayons
Construction paper
Procedure:
1. Have each child choose a letter of the alphabet for this activity. (Teacher can provide colorful die-cut letters for this activity.)
2. Have each child write a sentence of a random act of kindness idea, using the letter they chose as a word in the sentence.
Example:
A I will share a stuffed animal with my sister
B I will help my mom bring in the groceries
C I colored a picture for my grandma
3. Next, have the child draw a picture that illustrates their RAK described in their letter sentence.
4. Mount each child’s picture and sentence on construction paper and bind it to make a book!
December: Kindness
Grades 3-5 Lesson Plan
Definition of Kindness - Being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others. Showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Treating others as you would like to be treated.
Objectives:
To learn the definition of the character trait, kindness.
To encourage students to show kindness and consideration in their daily lives.
To understand that kindness can be shown to anyone, anywhere!
Materials:
If Everyone Did by Jo Ann Stover
Poster with definition of kindness
Handouts: “If Everyone Did. . .”
Activity:
Lead discussion with students. What do you think it means to be kind? What do you think is the definition of kindness? Why do we want to show kindness towards others?
Display definition and discuss.
Introduce story entitled If Everyone Did. What do you think this story will be about? What predictions can you make?
Read the book.
After reading the book, discuss: What the world would be like if everyone were kind?
What would the world be like if everyone were unkind? What are ways we can show kindness to people at school? At home? In the community?
Brainstorm ways to be kind on the board.
Evaluation:
Distribute “If Everyone Did. . .” sheets. Have students create posters showing what the world would be like if everyone did the right thing and were kind. Allow students to share posters, and take up posters so that they can be displayed on a bulletin board.
February - Integrity Lessons
Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fibbing
•Grade: K, 1
•Standards: A:A3.1, PS:B1.2, PS:B1.3, PS:B1.4, PS:B1.5
•Objective: (1) Students will identify why honesty is important. (2) Students will identify consequences of choices. (3) Students will identify ways to solve problems.
•Lesson:
1. Discuss honesty, including why it is important and what happens when we are dishonest. Read book.
2. Discuss the consequences of Piglet’s dishonesty and how he could have solved the problem instead of lying.
3. Talk about trust and ways to build trust.
4. Color honey pot, then have adult “break” the honey pot (cut it) into several pieces. Challenge students to solve the puzzle.
•Evaluation: pre/post questions about honesty (thumbs up/down)
•Materials: Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fibbing, honey pot paper, crayons, scissors, glue
The Honest to Goodness Truth
Grade 2
Book: The Honest –to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack is a humorous tale of good intentions gone awry when a little girl decides to tell nothing but the truth. After being punished by her mother for telling a fib, Libby vows to only tell the truth. Soon she’s spreading the truth all over town and she can’t figure out why everyone is so offended. It seems that telling the truth isn’t always so simple. Libby struggles to figure out that even though it’s always wrong to tell a lie, there’s a right and wrong way to tell the truth. She learns that honesty can be displayed with tact and kindness in an “honest to goodness” fashion.
Before Reading –
1. What does the word “integrity” mean?
2. Give examples of times when it’s hard to be honest.
3. Give examples of times when it’s easy to be honest.
During Reading –
1. Is it possible to be “too honest”?
2. How do you think the characters felt after Libby was honest?
3. Have you ever felt the same way or made someone uncomfortable with your honest remarks?
After Reading –
1. Do you feel there are times one should be honest and times that one should be more careful about what they say?
2. Give an example of when it might be okay not to tell the honest-to-goodness truth.
3. What does Libby learn about honesty?
Activity: Role Play Situations
Materials Needed: Role play cards in an envelope (make up different scenarios)
Have students volunteer to come to the front of the room and draw a card from the envelope. Assist the student in reading the situation on the card. Encourage the student to tell how the student in the situation could show integrity. Continue until all the cards have been drawn.
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and “The Untangle Game”
Grade Level
3/4
Overview
A lesson that introduces the concept of honesty as a character trait- it includes
discussion of HONESTY as well as two activities to choose from. The activities
include the story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” as well as “The Untangle Game”.
Procedures:
1. Define Honesty (Discussion)-Ask the kids what honesty means to them.
Write their answers on the board and come up with a working definition
(i.e. “Telling the truth; not lying”)
2. Understand why people lie. Have a discussion about this. You might want
to get the ball rolling by sharing what has tempted you to lie in the past,
or why you feel others have lied to you. Some possible reasons to point
out in discussion:
a. They are about to get into trouble so they lie and say, “I didn’t do
it!”
b. They want attention, so they tell lies to impress people: “Over
Christmas, I jumped out of a helicopter and skied down a steep
mountain causing an avalanche!”
c. To make interesting conversation, they pass on information that
might not be true, as if they know it to be true: “Did you hear
about Jenny? She stole a watch from Sears and got caught!”
3. Understand how dishonesty hurts those who are lied to and those who
lie. Try to move the students beyond understanding lies to FEELING how it
hurts them and others.
a. How does lying hurt people who are lied to? (Give example of
sharing how gossip once hurt you)
b. Have you ever been hurt by a rumor that went around about you?
Can you tell about it? How did it feel?
c. How does lying hurt people who tell lies? If the person is caught
even just once, people will have a hard time trusting them in the
future.
d. When they really need people to believe them, they might not.
“Wink the Truth” Game
Grade Level
Can be adapted for grades 4-8
Overview
The purpose of this game is to create a group story that’s half true and half
lies-and to discover how hard it is to keep a story straight if you need to
remember many facts and lies.
Materials Needed
None
Procedures
1. With a group of at least four students, begin by agreeing on what the
story will be about. Try to keep the topic simple. Examples: A day at
school: something specific that happened at school or near the school;
how the holiday show went.
2. The first player starts the game by saying two sentences about the topic.
One sentence is true, and the other is a lie. It doesn’t matter what order
the player says these comments, but he or she must wink when telling
the lie. Example: “Dr. Wiemer was standing at the front door of the
school this morning when we arrived.” (True.) “She was wearing pink
shoes.” (A lie: wink.)
3. The second player repeats the first player’s sentences, and adds two
more sentences to the story, winking for each lie.
4. The third player repeats all four sentences said by the first two players,
adds two more sentences, and winks three times.
5. Continue until the story gets too complicated and students start
forgetting which parts are true and which parts are lies. Conclude by
talking about the game and asking if it is hard to keep a story straight if
you have to remember many facts and lies.
Assessment
Observe to make sure all students are participating and are having fun!
Source
What Do You Stand For? A Kid’s Guide to Building Character by Barbara A. Lewis
March- Perseverance
Kindergarten- First Grade Lesson
Book: Give Maggie a Chance by Frieda Wishinsky. Here is a summary of the book:
“Maggie perseveres through what is one of children’s greatest fears—freezing up in front of their classmates. The little cat wishes herself whisked away to Mars, among other things, when she finds herself unable to read in front of her class. Kimberly is a surly gray Persian who eagerly volunteers and succeeds in reading aloud.” Maggie finds ways to overcome her fear and the book ends with success.
Before the story:
- Write the word perseverance on the board, say the word, and have class repeat the word.
- “Who thinks they know what the word perseverance means?”
- Give students a chance to answer. (not giving up, keep trying)
After the story:
“What was Maggie’s problem?”
“How did she feel standing in front of the class?”
“Have you ever felt the same way?”
“How did Maggie show perseverance?”
“What did she tell herself?”
“When have you kept trying and shown perseverance?”
Activity:
1) Perseverance Phrases. Use the envelope provided that says “Think About It”. Call on students to come to the front and pull out a phrase. Assist students in reading the phrase. Have the class decide if the phrase shows perseverance and is helpful, give a thumbs up; or is not helpful, give a thumbs down.
2) Who Keeps Trying? Use the envelope provided that says “Who Keeps Trying?” Call on students to come to the front and pull out a situation. Assist the student in reading the situation and the two choices. Have the class decide which choice shows perseverance.
March- Perseverance
Second Grade Lesson
Book: Give Maggie a Chance by Frieda Wishinsky. Here is a summary of the book:
“Maggie perseveres through what is one of children’s greatest fears—freezing up in front of their classmates. The little cat wishes herself whisked away to Mars, among other things, when she finds herself unable to read in front of her class. Kimberly is a surly gray Persian who eagerly volunteers and succeeds in reading aloud.” Maggie finds ways to overcome her fear and the book ends with success.
Before the story:
- Write the word perseverance on the board, say the word, and have class repeat the word.
- “Who thinks they know what the word perseverance means?”
- Give students a chance to answer. (not giving up, keep trying)
After the story:
“What was Maggie’s problem?”
“How did she feel standing in front of the class?”
“Have you ever felt the same way?”
“How did Maggie show perseverance?”
“What did she tell herself?”
“When have you kept trying and shown perseverance?”
Activity:
1) “Who Keeps Trying?” Use the envelope provided that says “Who Keeps Trying?” Call on students to come to the front and pull out a situation. Assist the student in reading the situation and the two choices. Have the class decide which choice shows perseverance.
2) “People Who Don’t Give Up”
Prepare 10 small envelopes and label them “People Who Don’t Give Up”. Group students in small groups of 2-3 students each. Pass out one small envelope to each group of students. The small envelopes contain strips of words that will match up to make the 5 sentences below. Tell the students to work together to make matches and put the sentences in order. When all groups finish matching the sentences, call on groups to share out a sentence they matched. Provide the answers for the sentences:
- The world needs people who don’t– give up when things get hard.
- Inventors make mistakes—but they keep trying.
- People keep working to—make the world better.
- Explorers keep going even though—their job is hard.
- Builders keep working for– years on big jobs.