Lesson Plan
Kindness Kickoff Plan
Students will explore the meaning of kindness and practice simple, daily acts of empathy through a brief presentation, a hands-on compliment chain activity, and personal reflection.
Fostering kindness builds students’ empathy and sense of belonging, creating a more supportive classroom climate where everyone feels valued.
Audience
3rd Grade Class
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Discussion, collaborative activity, journaling
Prep
Prepare Kindness Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Kindness In Action Slides
- Print enough Compliment Chain Activity strips for each student
- Ensure each student has a copy of the Daily Kindness Reflections Journal
- Familiarize yourself with the Kindness Participation Criteria Rubric
Step 1
Introduction to Kindness
5 minutes
- Greet students and explain the day’s focus on empathy and kindness
- Ask: “What does kindness mean to you?” and chart responses
- Highlight why small acts make a big difference in our classroom climate
Step 2
Kindness in Action Presentation
5 minutes
- Present key examples using the Kindness In Action Slides
- Discuss real-life scenarios: holding doors, sharing materials, giving compliments
- Invite two volunteers to role-play one example each
Step 3
Compliment Chain Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute strips from the Compliment Chain Activity
- Instruct students to write a positive message for a classmate on their strip
- Collect strips, loop them together, and hang the chain in the classroom
- Read a few compliments aloud (volunteer basis)
Step 4
Daily Kindness Journaling
5 minutes
- Hand out the Daily Kindness Reflections Journal
- Prompt: “Write about a time you were kind or received kindness today. How did it make you feel?”
- Give students quiet time to write and illustrate their reflections
Step 5
Closing & Participation Check
5 minutes
- Review the Kindness Participation Criteria Rubric
- Acknowledge students who demonstrated kindness during the lesson
- Encourage everyone to practice at least one kind act before tomorrow’s class
Slide Deck
Kindness in Action
Welcome! Today we'll explore simple ways to practice kindness every day.
Welcome students and introduce today’s focus on kindness. Explain that we will learn what kindness is and see examples we can try. Transition to first definition.
What is Kindness?
Kindness is showing you care through words and actions. It can be as simple as a smile or as helpful as sharing materials.
Ask students: “What does kindness mean?” Write a few student ideas on the board. Then share the formal definition to reinforce understanding.
Everyday Examples
- Holding the door open for others
- Sharing your supplies
- Giving a compliment to a friend
Go through each bullet. Show a quick photo or gesture for each example. Ask if anyone has tried these before.
Scenario: Helping Hand
You see a classmate struggling with their backpack. What could you do to help them?
Read the scenario aloud. Invite two volunteers to suggest and role-play ways to help. Guide them to use polite words and helpful actions.
Scenario: Words of Encouragement
A friend looks sad after missing recess. How could you use kind words to make them feel better?
Present the scenario and ask students to think for a moment. Choose one volunteer to share a kind phrase and act it out with another student.
Your Kindness Challenge
Think of one kind act you’ll do today. Share your idea with a partner!
Explain the think-pair-share process. Give students 30 seconds to think, then pair up, then share two or three responses with the whole group.
Activity
Compliment Chain Activity
Objective: Foster positive peer interactions by having students write and share compliments, creating a visual chain of kindness.
Materials:
- Colored paper strips (one per student)
- Markers or pens
- Stapler or tape
- Display area (wall or bulletin board)
Prep (5 minutes):
- Cut colored paper into strips (approximately 2" x 8")
- Arrange markers/pens in the center of each table
- Reserve a spot on the wall or bulletin board for the chain
Instructions (10 minutes):
- Explain the Activity
Tell students they will write a kind message to a classmate on a paper strip to form a chain of compliments. - Distribute Materials
Give each student one paper strip and a marker. - Model a Compliment
Write an example on the board: “I appreciate how you help others learn.” Emphasize using specific, positive words. - Write a Compliment (3 minutes)
Students write one compliment for a classmate whose name they choose. Encourage neat handwriting and use of kind words. - Peer Check (2 minutes)
Have students pair up, read each other’s strips, and ensure spelling and clarity. - Assemble the Chain (2 minutes)
Collect the strips, staple or tape ends together, and link them to the existing chain on the display area. - Share & Celebrate (3 minutes)
Invite volunteers to read their compliments aloud. Point out how each link makes the chain—and our classroom—stronger.
Facilitation Tips:
- Remind students to be genuine and specific: “I noticed you helped me pick up papers” feels more meaningful than “You’re nice.”
- Circulate to support students who may struggle with wording.
Assessment:
- Observe participation and enthusiasm.
- Check that each strip contains an appropriate, thoughtful compliment.
Extension:
Encourage students to add new compliments throughout the week whenever they notice acts of kindness. Watch the chain grow!
Journal
Daily Kindness Reflections
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
-
Describe a time today when you experienced or witnessed kindness. What happened?
-
How did this act of kindness make you feel? Explain why.
-
How do you think the person receiving kindness felt? Describe their reaction.
-
What is one kind thing you plan to do tomorrow to make someone’s day better?
-
Draw a picture of this act of kindness or how it made you feel.
Rubric
Kindness Participation Criteria Rubric
Use this rubric to assess students’ engagement, quality of contributions, and reflection during the Cultivating Kindness lesson.
| Criteria | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion & Role-Play | • Volunteers often with insightful ideas | |||
| • Listens and builds on peers’ contributions | • Shares relevant ideas when prompted | |||
| • Listens respectfully to others | • Contributes occasionally but ideas lack detail | |||
| • Needs reminders to listen | • Rarely contributes | |||
| • Distracted or off-task | ||||
| Compliment Chain Contribution | • Writes a highly specific, genuine compliment | |||
| • Uses positive language and neat handwriting | • Writes a clear, sincere compliment | |||
| • Language is positive and legible | • Compliment is generic (e.g., “You’re nice”) | |||
| • Some spelling or legibility issues | • Incomplete or off-topic message | |||
| • Minimal effort | ||||
| Reflection Journal | • Completes all prompts with thoughtful detail | |||
| • Drawing illustrates feelings or scenarios | • Answers all prompts with adequate explanation | |||
| • Drawing relates to the prompt | • One or two prompts only partially answered | |||
| • Drawing is missing or unrelated | • Most prompts left blank | |||
| • No drawing | ||||
| Empathy & Kindness Commitment | • Demonstrates empathy throughout activities | |||
| • Articulates a clear, actionable kindness plan for tomorrow | • Shows empathy in at least two activities | |||
| • States a simple kindness plan | • Shows empathy in one activity only | |||
| • Plan for tomorrow is vague | • Little to no demonstration of empathy | |||
| • No plan identified |
Scoring Guide:
• 16–14 points: Exemplary Engagement & Understanding
• 13–11 points: Proficient Participation & Reflection
• 10–7 points: Developing Skills; Some Support Needed
• 6–4 points: Beginning; Additional Guidance Required
Review the rubric with students at the end of the lesson to celebrate successes and set kindness goals for the next day.