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Compassion Quest

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Lesson Plan

Compassion Quest Day 1

Students will explore the concept of kindness through a Catholic lens by watching The Good Samaritan, reflecting on its meaning, and completing a worksheet to identify ways to show kindness in their community.

Understanding kindness rooted in Catholic values fosters empathy and community spirit; this lesson helps students connect faith to real-world actions.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Multimedia reflection and guided discussion

Materials

The Good Samaritan Video, Kindness Reflection Worksheet, Whiteboard and Markers, and Exit Ticket Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce today’s objective: understanding kindness through Catholic teachings.
  • Ask: “What does kindness mean to you?” and record responses on the whiteboard.
  • Connect student answers to acts of kindness found in Catholic tradition.

Step 2

Video Viewing

10 minutes

  • Play The Good Samaritan Video.
  • Ask students to note examples of compassion shown in the story.
  • After viewing, invite 2–3 volunteers to summarize the key acts of kindness they observed.

Step 3

Guided Discussion

5 minutes

  • Lead discussion with prompts:
    • How did the Samaritan show compassion?
    • Why is this story important for our faith?
  • Highlight Catholic values: mercy, love, and service.

Step 4

Worksheet Activity

7 minutes

  • Distribute Kindness Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students complete prompts: “One way I can show kindness is…,” and “When I feel called to help….”
  • Circulate to support and encourage deeper reflection.

Step 5

Closing Reflection

3 minutes

  • Hand out Exit Ticket Cards.
  • Students write one concrete act of kindness they will perform this week.
  • Collect cards as an informal assessment of understanding.
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Slide Deck

Compassion Quest: Day 1

Today’s Objective:

  • Understand kindness through Catholic teachings

Agenda:

  1. Introduction: What is kindness?
  2. Video Viewing: The Good Samaritan
  3. Guided Discussion
  4. Worksheet Activity
  5. Closing Reflection

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Say: “Today we begin our Compassion Quest by exploring kindness through our Catholic faith. We’ll watch, discuss, reflect, and plan how to live kindness in our community.”

What is Kindness?

Prompt:

  • What does kindness mean to you?

Record student responses and highlight connections to Catholic values.

Ask: “What does kindness mean to you?” Invite several volunteers. Record their answers on the board. Then connect their ideas to examples in Scripture and Church teachings on mercy.

Play the video. Before starting, ask students to watch for examples of compassion. After viewing, invite 2–3 volunteers to share the moments that stood out to them.

Guided Discussion

Discussion Prompts:

  • How did the Samaritan show compassion?
  • Why is this story important for our faith?

Highlight Catholic values: mercy, love, service.

Lead a whole-class discussion using these prompts. Emphasize how Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor without exception.

Worksheet Activity

  1. Complete the Kindness Reflection Worksheet:
    • “One way I can show kindness is…”
    • “When I feel called to help…”
  2. Share one idea with a partner.

Distribute the Kindness Reflection Worksheet. Circulate to encourage deeper thinking and tie students’ ideas back to Church calls to serve others.

Closing Reflection

  • Write one act of kindness you will perform this week on an Exit Ticket Card.
  • Submit your card as you leave.

Pass out Exit Ticket Cards. Ask students to write down one concrete act of kindness they will do this week. Collect the cards to gauge understanding and commitment.

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Worksheet

Kindness Reflection Worksheet

Directions: Watch The Good Samaritan Video and think about what kindness looks like in action. Then answer the questions below.

  1. In your own words, what does kindness mean? Give an example from everyday life.






  1. Describe one moment in the video when you saw kindness. What made it an act of compassion?









  1. One way I can show kindness to someone in my school or community is…






  1. When I feel called to help someone, I can…









  1. Why is the story of the Good Samaritan important for our Catholic faith?











Bonus: Share one of your answers with a partner and discuss how you might turn your idea into a concrete act of kindness this week.

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Lesson Plan

Compassion Quest Day 2

Students will plan and commit to concrete acts of kindness by brainstorming community service ideas, creating kindness posters, and reflecting on how these actions live out Catholic values.

Engaging students in actionable kindness projects deepens their understanding of service rooted in Catholic teaching, builds empathy, and fosters a caring school community.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Collaborative brainstorming and creative reflection

Materials

On Loneliness and the Power of Connection Video, Kindness Action Brainstorm Sheet, Markers and Poster Paper, and Community Kindness Journal

Prep

Set Up Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Recap

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and briefly recap Day 1’s key lesson: kindness in action grounded in the Good Samaritan.
  • Explain today’s goal: plan real acts of kindness and share them through posters and journal reflections.

Step 2

Video Viewing and Discussion

7 minutes

  • Play On Loneliness and the Power of Connection Video.
  • Ask students to note one idea from the video about how small acts of connection combat loneliness.
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their observations post‐viewing, linking back to Christian service.

Step 3

Community Service Brainstorm

8 minutes

  • Distribute Kindness Action Brainstorm Sheet.
  • Students work individually to list 3–5 service ideas they can do at school or in the neighborhood (e.g., reading to younger students, organizing a food drive).
  • Circulate to prompt deeper thinking and connect ideas to Catholic teachings on serving others.

Step 4

Kindness Poster Creation

8 minutes

  • Provide each student with Markers and Poster Paper.
  • Students select one idea from their brainstorm sheet and design a poster illustrating the act of kindness and its impact.
  • Encourage use of Scripture verses or Catholic symbols (cross, heart) to reinforce faith connections.

Step 5

Journal Reflection and Closing

2 minutes

  • Ask students to open their Community Kindness Journal.
  • Write one paragraph: “How will my chosen act of kindness reflect God’s love and serve our community?”
  • Collect journals to review students’ commitments and provide encouragement.
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Slide Deck

Compassion Quest: Day 2

Today’s Objective:

  • Plan and commit to concrete acts of kindness rooted in Catholic values

Agenda:

  1. Day 1 Recap
  2. Video Viewing
  3. Community Service Brainstorm
  4. Kindness Poster Creation
  5. Journal Reflection and Closing

Welcome students and introduce today’s session. Recap Day 1: we explored kindness through the Good Samaritan. Explain that today we’ll plan and commit to real acts of kindness.

Day 1 Recap

• The Good Samaritan showed mercy and service
• We identified ways to show kindness in our community
• We committed to performing at least one act of kindness this week

Briefly review the Good Samaritan story and key takeaways from Day 1. Highlight examples of kindness students shared and how these reflect our faith.

Before playing, ask students to note one idea from the video about how small acts of connection combat loneliness. After viewing, invite volunteers to share.

Community Service Brainstorm

  1. Open your Kindness Action Brainstorm Sheet.
  2. List 3–5 acts of service you can do at school or in the neighborhood.
  3. Consider how each idea reflects God’s love and mercy.

Distribute the Kindness Action Brainstorm Sheet. Encourage students to think creatively about service ideas that align with Catholic teachings on helping others.

Kindness Poster Creation

  1. Select one idea from your brainstorm sheet.
  2. On poster paper, draw or write about the act and its impact.
  3. Add a scripture verse or symbol (cross, heart) to show your faith inspiration.
  4. Use markers to make your poster vibrant and clear.

Provide markers and poster paper. Guide students to illustrate their chosen idea, including scripture or Catholic symbols to reinforce faith connections.

Journal Reflection and Closing

In your Community Kindness Journal, write a paragraph responding to:

“How will my chosen act of kindness reflect God’s love and serve our community?”

Be specific about your plan and the difference it will make.

Ask students to open their Community Kindness Journal and reflect. Collect journals to review commitments and provide feedback.

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Worksheet

Kindness Action Brainstorm Sheet

Directions: Think of ways you can serve others at school or in your neighborhood. For each prompt below, write your ideas and reflections.

  1. List 3–5 acts of kindness or service you could do this week. For example: helping a classmate, writing thank-you notes, or organizing a small food drive.











  1. Choose one idea from your list above. Describe the action in detail and explain why you picked it.











  1. How does this act of kindness reflect a Catholic value (mercy, love, service)? You may include a Scripture verse, prayer, or symbol (cross, heart).














  1. What steps will you take to carry out this act? List materials you’ll need and any people you plan to involve.












Bonus: Sketch a simple logo or symbol for your act of service below.











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Journal

Community Kindness Journal

Directions: Use this journal to reflect deeply on the act of kindness you plan to carry out. Answer each prompt fully, using the space provided to write thoughtful responses.

  1. Describe your chosen act of kindness. What specific action will you take, and who will benefit from it?











  1. Why did you select this particular act? Explain how it connects to Catholic values such as mercy, love, and service. You may include a Scripture verse, prayer, or symbol to illustrate your reflection.











  1. What potential challenges or obstacles might you face when carrying out this act? How can you prepare to overcome these difficulties?











  1. Reflect on how performing this act of kindness might impact you personally. In what ways could it help you grow in empathy, faith, and understanding of God’s love?











  1. After you complete your act of kindness, write a summary of what happened. How did people respond? How did you feel during and after the experience?














  1. Looking ahead, set a goal for practicing kindness in the coming weeks. What is one concrete step you will take to continue serving others and living out our Catholic call to love?











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