Kindness Connects Us All Script

Warm-Up: Think Positive! (3 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 1 - Kindness Connects Us All)

"Good morning, everyone! Or good afternoon! Today, we're going to talk about some really important things: positive thinking and empathy. These are huge superpowers that we all have inside us.

Let's start with a quick warm-up. Look at the slide. I want you to take a moment and think: What's one positive thing that happened to you recently, or one thing you're really looking forward to today or this week? It could be anything! Maybe you had a yummy breakfast, or you're excited for art class, or you're going to play with a friend after school.

Think for a moment. If you want to, you can quickly jot it down in your notebook, or just keep it in your head. And then, I'd love for a few volunteers to share."

(Teacher calls on a few students to share.)

"Wonderful! It's great to start our day by focusing on the good things. That's a little bit of what positive thinking is all about."

Introduction to Empathy (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 2 - What Are We Talking About?)

"So, today we're going to dive deeper into two big ideas: positive thinking and empathy. You just practiced positive thinking by sharing something good. Positive thinking is about seeing the bright side, looking for the good, and having a hopeful attitude, even when things are tough. It helps us feel happier and more resilient.

Now, let's talk about empathy. Has anyone heard that word before? What do you think it means?"

(Teacher listens to student responses, affirming correct ideas and guiding them.)

"You've got some great ideas! Empathy is really about understanding how someone else feels. It's like trying to put yourself in their shoes and imagine what it's like to be them. When you see a friend looking sad, and you try to understand why they might be sad and how you might feel in that situation, that's empathy.

Why do you think it's important to understand how other people feel? How does it help us?"

(Teacher facilitates a brief discussion on the importance of empathy, linking to kindness, problem-solving, and friendship.)

"Exactly! Empathy helps us be better friends, solve problems, and make our classroom, our school, and even our homes more kind and understanding places."

Reading & Discussion: The Power of Perspective (7 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 3 - The Power of Perspective and distributes Reading: The Power of Perspective)

"Now, to help us think more about empathy, we're going to read a short piece called Reading: The Power of Perspective. This reading will give us some scenarios where we can practice thinking about different viewpoints.

As we read, I want you to think about these questions: How do the different characters feel? What would you do if you were in their situation?

(Teacher either reads the Reading: The Power of Perspective aloud or has students read silently/in pairs.)

(After reading, teacher uses questions from Discussion Guide: Sharing Our Shine to facilitate a brief discussion.)

"Thank you for that thoughtful reading. Let's discuss a few things from our Reading: The Power of Perspective."

• "In the story, when character X did Y, how do you think character Z felt? Why?"
  
  
  
• "Has anyone ever been in a situation similar to one in the reading? How did it feel?"
  
  
  
• "What did the story teach us about seeing things from another person's point of view?"
  
  
  

Activity: Empathy in Action Worksheet (7 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 4 - Empathy in Action! and distributes Worksheet: Empathy in Action)

"That discussion was excellent! Now it's your turn to really put your empathy skills into action. I'm handing out a Worksheet: Empathy in Action.

On this worksheet, you'll find a few different scenarios. Your job is to read each situation carefully, imagine how the person in that scenario might be feeling, and then write down an empathetic response. What would you say or do to show that you understand and care?

Remember, there's no single 'right' answer, but the goal is to show genuine understanding and kindness. I'll be walking around if you have any questions or want to bounce ideas off me."

(Students work on the Worksheet: Empathy in Action. Teacher circulates, provides support and encourages deep thinking.)

Wrap-up and Reflection (3 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 5 - Keep the Kindness Going!)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. You've all done a fantastic job today thinking about positive attitudes and how we can truly understand others.

Can anyone share one new thing they learned about positive thinking or empathy today? Or, one way you plan to practice empathy in your life today or this week?"

(Teacher calls on a few students for quick shares.)

"Excellent ideas! Remember, your thoughts have power. Choosing to think positively can change your whole day. And choosing to be empathetic, to really try and understand others, can make the world a much kinder and more connected place for everyone.

Keep the kindness going, everyone! Great job today!"

Think Positive! Warm-Up

Welcome to class! To get our minds ready for some positive thinking and understanding others, let's start with a quick reflection.

Your Task:

Think about one positive thing that happened to you recently. It could be yesterday, this morning, or even just a small moment that made you smile. Or, think about one thing you are really looking forward to today or this week!

Write down your positive thought below, or just think about it silently.

Share (Optional): We will share a few of these positive thoughts with the class!

The Power of Perspective

Sometimes, things aren't always what they seem at first glance. Our own feelings and experiences can make us see things one way, but if we take a moment to imagine someone else's feelings, the whole picture can change.

The Mystery of the Missing Ball

Leo loved playing soccer. Every day at recess, he was the first one on the field, dribbling and passing with his friends. One sunny Tuesday, Leo brought his brand new, bright red soccer ball to school. It was his favorite! During recess, he was having a fantastic game. He kicked the ball hard towards the goal, and it sailed over the fence into Mrs. Davison's prize-winning flower garden.

Leo's heart sank. Oh no! He knew Mrs. Davison loved her flowers more than anything. He worried she would be very angry. He quickly ran to the fence, trying to see if he could retrieve his ball without bothering her. He saw Mrs. Davison walking out of her back door, looking upset as she stared at a trampled patch of her beautiful tulips where his ball had landed. She picked up the ball with a sigh.

From his side of the fence, Leo felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration. He just wanted his ball back, but he also felt really bad about her flowers. He knew he didn't mean to kick it that far.

Mrs. Davison, on the other hand, had spent months caring for those tulips. She was looking forward to showing them off at the neighborhood garden show. When she saw the bright red ball in the middle of her squashed flowers, she felt a wave of disappointment. She didn't know who kicked it or why, but her hard work seemed ruined.

If Leo had stayed hidden, he might have thought Mrs. Davison was just a mean grown-up who didn't understand how important a new soccer ball was. And Mrs. Davison might have thought the person who kicked the ball was careless and didn't respect other people's property. But what if they talked?

Leo took a deep breath and walked over to Mrs. Davison's gate. "Mrs. Davison?" he called softly. "I am so, so sorry about your flowers. My soccer ball went over the fence, and I didn't mean for it to land in your garden." He looked down at his shoes.

Mrs. Davison looked at Leo, saw his sincere face and the genuine regret in his eyes. Her initial frustration began to soften. "Oh, Leo," she said. "I understand accidents happen. I was just very sad about my tulips. They were nearly ready for the show." She handed him the ball. "Next time, maybe aim a little higher or play further from the fence?"

Leo nodded. "I will! And... can I help you fix your garden? Maybe I can help you plant some new flowers?"

Mrs. Davison smiled. "That would be very kind, Leo. Thank you." They both realized that by talking and trying to understand each other, a potentially angry situation turned into an opportunity for kindness and help. They saw things from each other's perspective, and it made all the difference.

Sharing Our Shine: Empathy Discussion Guide

Use these questions to guide a discussion after reading "The Power of Perspective" and to encourage deeper thinking about empathy.

Questions about "The Power of Perspective":

1. How do you think Leo felt when his soccer ball went into Mrs. Davison's garden? Why?
   
   
   
2. How do you think Mrs. Davison felt when she saw her trampled tulips? Why?
   
   
   
3. If Leo hadn't apologized, what do you think might have happened? How might Mrs. Davison have felt then?
   
   
   
4. How did Leo showing his regret and offering to help change Mrs. Davison's feelings? What does this tell us about empathy?
   
   
   
5. Can you remember a time when you accidentally damaged something or upset someone, and how you handled it? What did you learn?
   
   
   
   
   
   

General Empathy Questions:

1. What does it mean to "put yourself in someone else's shoes"? Why is this helpful?
   
   
   
2. Why is empathy considered a superpower when we are trying to solve problems or help friends?
   
   
   
3. What are some ways we can show empathy to others in our classroom or at home?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Empathy in Action!

Instructions: Read each scenario below. Imagine how the person in the scenario might be feeling. Then, write an empathetic response – what would you say or do to show you understand and care?

Scenario 1: Lost Toy

Your classmate, Sarah, accidentally left her favorite toy at the park yesterday. She looks really sad and is telling her friend that she misses it a lot. You know how much that toy meant to her.

How might Sarah be feeling?

What empathetic thing could you say or do?

Scenario 2: Tough Game

During kickball, your team lost by a lot of points. Your friend, Tom, is usually a great player, but he missed a really important catch. Now he looks frustrated and like he wants to cry.

How might Tom be feeling?

What empathetic thing could you say or do?

Scenario 3: New Kid

A new student, Maria, just joined your class today. During lunch, you see her sitting alone, looking a little shy and nervous, while everyone else is chatting with their friends.

How might Maria be feeling?

What empathetic thing could you say or do?

El Poder de la Perspectiva: Resumen

Este cuento trata sobre Leo, un niño al que le encantaba jugar fútbol. Un día, su nuevo balón rojo se fue volando por encima de la cerca y cayó en el jardín de la Sra. Davison, justo en sus preciados tulipanes.

Leo se sintió avergonzado y frustrado, pensando en cómo recuperar su balón sin molestar a la Sra. Davison. La Sra. Davison, por su parte, se sintió muy decepcionada al ver sus flores estropeadas, las cuales había cuidado durante meses para un concurso de jardinería.

Inicialmente, ambos podrían haber juzgado al otro negativamente. Sin embargo, Leo se acercó a la Sra. Davison y se disculpó sinceramente por lo sucedido. La Sra. Davison, al ver su arrepentimiento, comprendió que fue un accidente. Leo incluso se ofreció a ayudar a arreglar el jardín.

Al hablar y tratar de entender los sentimientos del otro, una situación que podría haber terminado en enojo se convirtió en una oportunidad para la amabilidad y la cooperación. El cuento nos enseña que ver las cosas desde la perspectiva de otra persona puede cambiar completamente la situación.