Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Script

Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! The holiday season is here, and it’s a time many of us look forward to. But it's also a time of year where our feelings can be a bit all over the place. To start, I'd like you to take a few minutes to complete this Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Warm-Up sheet. Think about some feelings you associate with the holidays, and then recall a time you either witnessed or received an act of kindness during this season. There’s space to write down your thoughts."

(Distribute the warm-up sheets and allow students 3-4 minutes to write. Collect or have them hold onto them for a brief share-out.)

Teacher: "Who would like to share one feeling they associate with the holidays, or a quick example of kindness they remembered?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Transition to the slide deck.)

Teacher: "Great responses! Today, we're going to talk about something that truly makes the holiday season special: kindness and empathy. Let's unwrap these ideas together! Please turn your attention to the screen."

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 1: Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped!)

Teacher: "First, let's make sure we're on the same page. What do you think kindness means?"

(Allow a few student responses.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Kindness is about being friendly, generous, and considerate. It's showing care and concern for others through our actions and words."

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Kindness?)

Teacher: "Now, what about empathy? How is it different from just being kind?"

(Allow a few student responses.)

Teacher: "Fantastic! Empathy is the ability to truly understand and share the feelings of another. It's like putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Why do you think both kindness and empathy are especially important during the holiday season?"

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 3: What is Empathy?)

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 4: Kindness & Empathy: The Holiday Spirit. Facilitate a short discussion, emphasizing that holidays can be wonderful but also challenging for many.)

Activity: Spreading Holiday Kindness & Kindness Chain (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Now that we understand kindness and empathy, let's brainstorm! We're going to think about concrete ways you can spread holiday kindness. We'll divide our ideas into three areas: at home, at school, and in our community."

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 5: Kindness at Home)

Teacher: "First, at home. How can you show kindness and empathy to your family and those you live with during the holidays? Think about small actions that can make a big impact!"

(Allow 1-2 minutes for student ideas. Write keywords on the board.)

Teacher: "Excellent ideas! Now, let's think about school. Even during holiday breaks, or when we return, how can we bring kindness to our classmates, teachers, and school staff?"

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 6: Kindness at School. Allow 1-2 minutes for student ideas. Write keywords on the board.)

Teacher: "Those are wonderful ways to make our school a kinder place! Finally, what about friends, neighbors, or people you don't even know? How can you spread kindness in your neighborhood or town?"

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 7: Kindness in the Community. Allow 1-2 minutes for student ideas. Write keywords on the board.)

Teacher: "You all have fantastic ideas! Now, we're going to make a 'Kindness Chain.' I'm going to hand out some strips of paper, like you see in the Holiday Kindness Chain Activity guide. On each strip, I want you to write down one specific act of kindness or empathy that you have done recently, or that you commit to doing before the holidays. It should be something concrete and achievable!"

(Distribute strips of paper. Allow 5-7 minutes for students to write.)

Teacher: "Once you've written your act, please bring your strip up. We'll start linking them together to create a visual 'Kindness Chain' for our classroom. This will be a reminder of all the positive actions we can take this holiday season!"

(As students bring up their strips, help them link them together. This can be done quickly by stapling or taping loops together, creating a growing chain.)

Conclusion & Cool-Down (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Wow, look at our amazing Kindness Chain! It shows just how much kindness we can spread. Remember, kindness and empathy are gifts we can give to everyone, all season long. They don't cost a thing, but they mean everything!"

(Display Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Slide Deck - Slide 8: Unwrapping a Kinder Holiday)

Teacher: "For our cool-down today, I want you to make one final personal commitment. I'm handing out a sheet called Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Cool-Down. On it, I'd like you to choose one act of kindness or empathy (it can be the same one from the chain, or a new one!) that you commit to doing before the holidays, and briefly explain why you chose it. This is your 'Holiday Kindness Pledge.'"

(Distribute cool-down sheets and allow 2-3 minutes for students to write. Collect them as exit tickets.)

Teacher: "Thank you for sharing your thoughtful ideas and creating our Kindness Chain today, everyone. Let's make this holiday season extra special by unwrapping kindness wherever we go!"

Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Warm-Up

Instructions: The holiday season can bring up many different feelings. Take a moment to reflect on your experiences and thoughts.

1. List 2-3 feelings you associate with the holiday season:
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Describe a time you either witnessed or received an act of kindness or empathy during the holidays. What happened, and how did it make you or others feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Holiday Heart: Kindness Unwrapped Cool-Down

Instructions: Now that we've brainstormed many ways to spread kindness and empathy, it's time to make a personal commitment.

My Holiday Kindness Pledge:

1. What is one specific act of kindness or empathy you commit to doing before the holidays?
   
   
   
   
2. Why did you choose this particular act?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Holiday Kindness Chain Activity

Instructions:

1. On the strips of paper provided, write down one specific act of kindness or empathy you have done or plan to do during the holiday season. Make sure it's something concrete and achievable!
   
   
   
   
   
2. You can write about acts of kindness for your family, friends, school, or community.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Once you have written your act, fold or cut the strip of paper as instructed by your teacher to prepare it for linking. We will create a "Kindness Chain" together!

Example Ideas:

• Help a family member with chores without being asked.
• Write a thank-you note to a teacher or school staff member.
• Offer to help a neighbor with their holiday decorations.
• Donate an old toy or book to a charity.
• Compliment someone on their hard work or a kind action.