Lesson Plan
Kindness Champions
Students will learn to recognize unkind behavior, name their feelings, and practice simple kindness actions to help friends and build a caring classroom.
At this age, children are developing social skills and empathy. Teaching them to spot unkindness early and use fun, age-appropriate kindness strategies helps create a safe, supportive environment.
Audience
1st–2nd Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Storytelling, guided drawing, sorting game, and partner practice
Materials
Kindness Champions Story Slide Deck, Spot the Unkindness Scenario Cards, Feelings Faces Drawing Sheet, Kindness Pledge Coloring Worksheet, Whiteboard and markers, and Crayons or colored pencils
Prep
Review & Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Kindness Champions Story Slide Deck
- Print and cut apart the Spot the Unkindness Scenario Cards
- Make copies of the Feelings Faces Drawing Sheet and Kindness Pledge Coloring Worksheet
- Arrange seating in a circle for story time and breakout pairs for activities
- Ensure whiteboard, markers, and crayons are ready
Step 1
Welcome & Story Time
10 minutes
- Gather students in a circle and display the first slides of the Kindness Champions Story Slide Deck
- Read a short story about two friends who face unkind words and learn to help each other
- Ask: “How did Sam feel when Alex was unkind? How did kindness help?” Record simple feelings words on the whiteboard
Step 2
Spot Unkindness Game
8 minutes
- In pairs, give each duo a small stack of Spot the Unkindness Scenario Cards
- Show two sample cards and model sorting into “Kind” vs. “Unkind” piles
- Let pairs sort their cards, then share one example of each with the class
Step 3
Draw Your Feelings
10 minutes
- Hand out the Feelings Faces Drawing Sheet
- Prompt students: “Draw a face for how someone feels when they are treated unkindly, and one for when they feel kindness.”
- Invite volunteers to show and name the emotion they drew
Step 4
Kindness Role-Play
10 minutes
- Pair students and assign one to be the “Friend” and one the “Helper”
- Give each pair a prompt card (e.g., someone is left out at recess)
- Helpers practice offering kind words (e.g., “Will you join our game?”)
- Swap roles and try a new prompt
Step 5
Pledge & Closing
7 minutes
- Distribute the Kindness Pledge Coloring Worksheet
- Read aloud a simple pledge statement (e.g., “I will use kind words every day.”)
- Students trace, color, and decorate their pledge
- Conclude by having each child share one kindness promise
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Kindness Champions
Recognize, Feel, Act
Become a Kindness Champion!
Welcome everyone! Today we’re becoming Kindness Champions. Read the title and explain that we’ll learn how to spot unkind behavior, talk about feelings, and practice being kind.
Meet Our Friends
This is Sam.
This is Alex.
They like to play together at school.
Introduce the story characters. Point to the images of Sam and Alex and ask: Who are these friends?
Oh No… Unkind Words!
One day Alex said, “You’re so silly!” to Sam.
That was unkind.
Read with emotion: show Alex’s speech bubble. Ask: Was that kind or unkind?
Sam Feels…
Sad 😢
Left Out 😔
Ask students to share how Sam might feel. Point to each face and have kids name the feeling.
What Is Kindness?
Kindness is doing something nice for someone.
It makes others feel happy!
Explain kindness in simple terms. Ask for examples: “What is something kind you can do?”
3 Steps to Help
- Notice when someone needs help.
- Use kind words.
- Do something nice (share, play, help).
Walk through each step slowly and have students repeat: “Notice… Use kind words… Do something nice.”
Let’s Practice!
• Sort cards: Kind vs. Unkind.
• Role-play being helpful friends.
Prepare students for the Spot Unkindness game and role-play activity. Explain how they’ll practice sorting and acting.
Worksheet
Empathy Journal Worksheet
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. For each scenario, write or draw:
• What happened (Scenario Description)?
• How the person feels and why those feelings matter.
Use words, sentences, or a quick sketch in each box.
| Scenario Description | Feelings & Why? |
|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
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Group Discussion: How can understanding these feelings help you act when you see bullying?
Reflection: Why is empathy important in preventing bullying?
Activity
Bullying Action Plan Template
Use this template to plan safe, respectful steps when you see bullying. Work with your group to fill in each section.
| Section | Your Response |
|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 1. What happened? Describe the bullying situation. |
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| 2. Who was involved? List people and their roles. |
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| 3. Who can help? Identify trusted adults or friends. |
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| 4. Safe Step 1: What will you do or say first? |
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| 5. Safe Step 2: What will you do or say next? |
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| 6. Safe Step 3: How will you follow up in the moment? |
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| 7. Follow-up: How will you check in afterward? |
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Game
Empathy Role-Play
Objective: Practice recognizing emotions and using empathetic language when someone is in a difficult situation.
Time: 15 minutes
Group Size: 3 students per group (Target, Helper, Observer)
Materials:
- Bullying Scenarios Cards
- Observer Feedback Worksheet (optional handout)
Instructions
1. Setup & Assign Roles (2 minutes)
- In each group of three, assign roles:
• Target: Reads and acts out the scenario
• Helper: Responds with empathy and support
• Observer: Takes notes on feelings and responses - Each group selects one scenario card from the pile.
2. Role-Play (5 minutes)
- Target reads the scenario quietly and then begins the scene.
- Helper practices using supportive phrases, for example:
• “I’m sorry that happened to you. How are you feeling?”
• “That sounds really tough. What can I do to help?”
3. Observer Feedback (3 minutes)
Observer shares with the group:
- How did the Target seem to feel?
- Which Helper responses felt most caring?
- What suggestion would make the response even more supportive?
Observer Notes:
4. Rotate Roles & Repeat (1 minute)
- Switch roles so each student practices being the Target, Helper, and Observer at least once.
5. Class Debrief (4 minutes)
- Invite a few students to share:
• A phrase that showed real empathy.
• One tip they’ll use next time a friend feels hurt. - Discuss:
• Why is it important to notice someone’s feelings?
• How can empathy help stop bullying before it gets worse?
Reflection: What is one thing you’ll say or do to show empathy the next time you see someone upset?
Activity
Spot the Unkindness Scenario Cards
Cut apart along the lines. Read each card and decide: Kind or Unkind?
Ben says to Sam, “You’re so silly!”
Lily shares her crayons with Mia.
Tom tells Max, “You can’t play with us.”
Emma helps Noah pick up his books.
A group laughs when Alex trips.
Mia says, “Let’s play tag together!”
Leo takes Liam’s pencil without asking.
Grace says, “Nice drawing!” to Sam.
Worksheet
Feelings Faces Drawing Sheet
We all have feelings when people are kind or unkind. Let’s draw faces to show those feelings!
1. Draw a face for someone who feels sad when treated unkindly:
2. Draw a face for someone who feels happy when treated kindly:
Worksheet
Kindness Pledge Coloring Worksheet
I am a Kindness Champion!
Trace the pledge below:
I w i l l u s e k i n d w o r d s e v e r y d a y .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Write your own kindness promise:
_________________________________________________________________
Draw and color a picture of you doing something kind: