Warm Up: Happy Hearts and Kindness Song

Objective: Students will identify feelings associated with kindness and engage with a song about kind actions.

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "Good morning, friends! Let's start our day with a happy song about kindness! We're going to sing a song called 'The Kindness Song'. Listen and sing along!"

   (Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")

   • Kindness, kindness, all around,
   • Happy feelings can be found.
   • Sharing toys and gentle hands,
   • Helping friends across the lands.
   • Kindness, kindness, all around,
   • Happy feelings can be found.

2. Teacher: "That was a wonderful kindness song! Now, let's get our happy hearts ready for learning. Can you show me a happy face?" (Pause for responses)

3. Teacher: "When someone is kind to you, how does it make your heart feel? Does it feel warm? Does it feel sunny?" (Encourage students to put hands on their chests or make a 'sunny' gesture).

4. Teacher: "Think about a time you were kind to someone. How did that make your heart feel?"

5. Teacher: "Today, we're going to plant a 'Kindness Garden' with our hearts! Let's get ready!"

The Little Seed of Kindness

Once upon a time, in a bright, green garden, lived a tiny, tiny seed. This wasn't just any seed; it was a Kindness Seed.

The Kindness Seed wished to grow into a beautiful flower, but it needed something special to help it sprout: kindness.

One sunny morning, a little bird saw the seed looking sad. The bird chirped a sweet song, hoping to cheer it up. That was an act of kindness! The seed felt a little warmth.

Soon, a gentle breeze blew by. It whispered, "Don't worry, little seed, you'll grow big and strong." That was another act of kindness! The seed wiggled a tiny root.

Then, a friendly cloud floated above and sprinkled soft, cool rain on the seed. More kindness! The seed began to stretch.

Every time someone was kind – sharing a smile, helping a friend, saying nice words – the Kindness Seed grew a little bit more. It grew a stem, then leaves, and finally, a beautiful bud.

And one day, with the biggest act of kindness from the sun shining brightly, the bud opened up into the most colorful, fragrant flower the garden had ever seen. It was a Kindness Flower, and it smelled wonderful, reminding everyone that kindness helps everything beautiful grow.

Kindness Discussion: How Can We Be Kind?

Objective: Students will articulate what kindness means and identify ways to show kindness.

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "In our story, 'The Little Seed of Kindness' Reading: The Little Seed of Kindness, what kind things did the bird, the breeze, and the cloud do to help the little seed grow?" (Allow students to recall and share.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Teacher: "What does it mean to be kind? Can you use your own words to describe kindness?"
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Teacher: "How do you feel when someone is kind to you? (Encourage sharing of feelings).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Teacher: "How do you feel when you are kind to someone else?"
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Teacher: "What are some kind things we can do right here in our classroom? (Prompt for examples like sharing toys, using gentle hands, saying 'please' and 'thank you', helping a friend).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Teacher: "Let's try to do one kind thing for someone else today! What kind thing will you try?"

Activity: Our Kindness Garden

Objective: Students will creatively express and contribute acts of kindness to a shared classroom display.

Materials: Small paper 'flower petals' or 'leaves', markers/crayons, glue/tape, large paper/board for 'Kindness Garden' display.

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "Now that we've talked about all the wonderful ways to be kind, we're going to make our very own Kindness Garden! Just like the little seed in our story Reading: The Little Seed of Kindness grew with kindness, our garden will grow with all the kind things we do."
2. Teacher: "Each of you will get a paper petal or a leaf. On your petal or leaf, I want you to draw or tell me one kind thing you can do or have done for someone else." (Provide individual support as needed, helping students draw or writing down their ideas for them.)
   • Examples: "Share my toys," "Help clean up," "Give a friend a hug," "Say nice words."
3. Teacher: "When you're finished, bring your kindness petal/leaf to our big garden paper. We will add it to our Kindness Garden!"
4. Teacher: (As students come up) "What kind thing did you put on your petal/leaf? Let's glue/tape it to our garden." (Help students attach their contributions, creating a growing, colorful garden display.)
5. Teacher: "Look at our beautiful Kindness Garden! Every petal and leaf shows an act of kindness. We can always look at our garden to remember how to be kind to each other."

Game: Kindness Freeze Dance

Objective: Students will actively demonstrate kind actions in a playful, engaging way.

Materials: Music player (optional).

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "Who's ready to dance? We're going to play a Kindness Freeze Dance! When the music plays, I want you to dance and show me a kind action. When the music stops, you 'freeze' in your kind action pose!"
2. Teacher: "Let's practice! If I say 'share a toy,' what would that look like?" (Model sharing an imaginary toy.) "If I say 'give a high-five,' what would you do?" (Practice a few actions).
3. Teacher: "Okay, let's start the music! When it plays, dance and when it stops, FREEZE in your kind action!"
4. (Play music for 10-15 seconds, then pause.)
5. Teacher: "FREEZE! Show me how you can give a hug to a friend (to an imaginary friend, or air hug if comfortable)."
6. (Play music, then pause.)
7. Teacher: "FREEZE! Show me how you can help a friend pick up blocks."
8. (Play music, then pause.)
9. Teacher: "FREEZE! Show me how you can share your snack (pretend to share).
10. (Continue with different kind actions, such as: saying 'please,' saying 'thank you,' drawing a picture for someone, offering a smile, waiting your turn, using gentle hands, etc.)
11. Teacher: "Wow, you are all so good at showing kindness! Remember, we can show kindness every day!"

Cool Down: Kindness Reflection

Objective: Students will reflect on the lesson and identify one way they can practice kindness.

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "Let's take a deep breath together. In... and out. In... and out. Now, let's think about all the amazing things we learned about kindness today."
2. Teacher: "Can you give me a thumbs up if you learned a new way to be kind?"
3. Teacher: "Think in your head: What is one kind thing you will try to do before you go home today, or when you get home?" (Pause for reflection. Encourage a few students to share if they are eager, but emphasize that it's okay to just think about it).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Teacher: "Remember our beautiful Kindness Garden Kindness Garden Activity? Every time we are kind, we help our classroom garden grow. Great job being kind today, everyone!"