Kindness

Every year, when February rolls around, I do a unit on Kindness!  It is one of my favorite lessons.  I am stretched Kinder-7^th grade with guidance lessons, so this is one topic I use for every grade level.  Taking a general topic like Kindness can be tweaked to reach various age levels.

Valentine’s is one of my favorite holidays!

{I know, I know, I know…. Romantic at heart!}

The core of the lesson!

For every grade level we discuss:

What is Kindness?

How do we show Kindness?

When and where can we be Kind?

With my little bitties, we discuss and I write either on butcher paper or the board.

With my older students, I have each student or group write something for each topic and we discuss.

{Writing variations: Hand out Sticky Notes, different colored HeArTs, let each group create a chart on butcher paper, etc.}

Originally I started Kindness during February because Random Acts of Kindness typically falls during that month.  I have had the Principal read Kindness Quotes each day during announcements.  I have had Random Acts of Kindness stickers that we have handed out.  Check out the site for great ideas:

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Create a School Wide Kindness Environment!

Create a tree and when a child is caught doing an act of Kindness they can add a leaf to the tree!  I am thinking of doing a Heart Tree this year!

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Then, each grade level creates a Valentine Craft!

Why? Because isn’t kindness --- LOVE???

I have learned that when my students come to me for a guidance lesson, the topic sticks when they have visuals or create!

Then, we take every craft and place in the library hall.

Every grade level completes something different!

Kinder: Caterpillar

1^st grade: Ladybug

2^nd grade: Frogs

3^rd grade: Butterfly

4^th grade: Crabs

5^th grade: Monkey

6^th grade: Create a heart collage.  They take old magazines and cut out pictures of Kindness.  We glue them on butcher paper and I cut it out in the shape of a VERY large heart!

7^th grade: Crayon Hearts

I tape all the critters on the ceiling!

The kids love it!

{Counselor 2 Counselor}