Acts of Kindness Countdown

Mitzi Ray

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Acts of Kindness Countdown

Encourage kindness and community spirit

This lesson involves a daily countdown to winter break featuring small acts of kindness that students can perform. Each day, students will engage in a brief discussion about the act of kindness they will perform, fostering a positive atmosphere and encouraging community spirit. This activity helps students develop empathy, cooperation, and a sense of community, which are essential social-emotional skills.

Audience

Students in Grades 1-4

Time

10 minutes daily

Approach

Encourage kindness and community spirit

Materials

Printable Kindness Cards, and Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

Briefly introduce the concept of kindness and its importance.
Explain that each day until winter break, students will perform a small act of kindness.

Step 2

Daily Kindness Activity

5 minutes

Present the day's act of kindness using the Printable Kindness Cards.
Discuss how students can perform this act in their school or home environment.

Step 3

Reflection and Sharing

3 minutes

Encourage students to share their thoughts on the day's activity.
Ask students how they felt performing the act of kindness and any reactions they noticed from others.

Worksheet

Printable Kindness Cards

These cards list daily acts of kindness for students to perform. Each card contains a simple, actionable kindness task that students can easily complete.

Smile at three people today.

Help a classmate with their work.

Say thank you to the cafeteria staff.

Pick up litter around the school.

Write a kind note to a friend.

Share a toy or book with someone.

Compliment someone sincerely.

Hold the door open for others.

Draw a picture for a family member.

Tell someone why they are special.

Discussion

Discussion Questions

These questions guide a brief discussion about the daily act of kindness, encouraging students to reflect on their experiences and share with the class.

What act of kindness did you perform today?

Encourage students to describe their actions and the context in which they performed them.

How did performing this act of kindness make you feel?

Guide students to reflect on their emotions and any positive feelings they experienced.

Did you notice any reactions from others?

Ask students to share any feedback or reactions they observed from others when they performed their act of kindness.