Lesson Plan
Kindness Is Cool!
Students will be able to define kindness and identify kind actions. Students will practice showing kindness towards themselves and others.
Learning kindness helps young children build positive relationships, develop empathy, and create a supportive environment for everyone. These skills are fundamental for social-emotional well-being and positive interactions in school and beyond.
Audience
Kindergarten Girls
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, story time, and hands-on activity.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck, Kindness Is Cool! Script, Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions, Construction paper, Scissors, and Crayons or colored pencils
Prep
Gather Materials & Review
10 minutes
- Review all generated materials: Kindness Is Cool! Lesson Plan, Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck, Kindness Is Cool! Script, and Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions.
- Prepare the whiteboard or chart paper and markers.
- Gather construction paper, scissors, and coloring supplies for the 'Kindness Catcher' activity.
- Ensure technology is ready for the slide deck presentation.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Makes You Smile?
5 minutes
- Begin with the Kindness Is Cool! Warm Up activity.
- Ask students to share one thing that makes them smile or feel happy. This can be a quick popcorn share or a show of hands.
- Connect their responses to feelings of warmth and positivity, introducing the idea of kindness.
Step 2
Introduction: What is Kindness?
5 minutes
- Use Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) and Kindness Is Cool! Script.
- Engage students in a discussion about what kindness means. Ask guiding questions: "What does it look like when someone is kind? What does it feel like to be kind? What does it feel like when someone is kind to you?"
- Introduce simple definitions and examples of kind actions.
Step 3
Story Time: Being Kind
5 minutes
- Use Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 3-4) and Kindness Is Cool! Script.
- Read a short story or scenario about kindness (teacher-provided or improvised, focusing on simple acts of kindness appropriate for Kindergarten).
- Discuss the characters' actions and feelings, reinforcing the impact of kindness.
Step 4
Activity: Kindness Catchers
10 minutes
- Introduce the Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions.
- Explain that students will create a 'Kindness Catcher' to remind them to give and receive kindness.
- Distribute materials (construction paper, scissors, crayons).
- Guide students through folding and decorating their kindness catchers, writing or drawing kind words/actions on each flap.
- Encourage sharing their creations and the kind ideas they included.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Reflection
5 minutes
- Use Kindness Is Cool! Cool Down activity.
- Have students share one way they plan to show kindness today or this week, either to themselves or to someone else.
- Reiterate that kindness starts with them and can spread to everyone around them.
- Collect their Kindness Catchers (optional) or have them take them home as a reminder.
Slide Deck
Kindness Is Cool!
What does it mean to be kind?
Welcome the girls to the group. Introduce the topic of kindness in an exciting way, asking what they think it means. The title sets a positive tone.
What Does Kindness Look Like?
- Sharing
- Helping
- Using nice words
- Listening to friends
Prompt students to think about what kindness looks like. Give examples like sharing toys, helping a friend, or saying nice words. Emphasize that kindness makes everyone feel good.
Kindness in Action!
Let's read a story about being kind! Who can spot the kind actions?
Introduce a scenario or story where kindness is shown. Ask them to identify the kind actions. This helps them connect the abstract concept to concrete examples.
How Did Kindness Make Us Feel?
- Happy
- Loved
- Safe
- Special
Discuss how the characters felt and how their kind actions impacted others. Reinforce the idea that kindness creates happy feelings for everyone involved.
Catch Some Kindness!
We're going to make something special to help us remember to be kind!
Introduce the Kindness Catcher activity. Explain that they will create something to remind them to be kind and to catch kindness from others.
Your Kindness Catcher
Draw and write kind words or actions inside your catcher!
Encourage students to decorate their Kindness Catchers with colors and drawings that represent kindness. Guide them in thinking about kind words or actions to write/draw on the flaps.
Spread the Kindness!
How will you be kind today or this week? Let's spread kindness everywhere!
Wrap up by asking each girl to share one way they will use their Kindness Catcher or show kindness this week. Emphasize that every small act of kindness matters.
Script
Kindness Is Cool! Script
Warm-Up: What Makes You Smile? (5 minutes)
"Hello, wonderful girls! I am so happy to see all of your shining faces today. To get us started, I want you to think about something that makes you super happy, something that makes you smile big! It could be a favorite toy, a yummy snack, a pet, or even a person who makes you feel good."
"Now, when I say 'go', I want you to quickly share your idea with the group. Ready? Go!"
Facilitate a quick 'popcorn' share or have students raise hands.
"Wow, those are all amazing things that bring smiles to our faces! Doesn't it feel good to think about happy things? Today, we're going to talk about something that helps us and everyone around us feel happy and warm inside. We're going to talk about kindness!"
Introduction: What is Kindness? (5 minutes)
"Look at our first slide! Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 1) - 'Kindness Is Cool!' So, what is kindness? Has anyone ever shown you kindness? Or have you shown kindness to someone else? What did that feel like?"
Allow a few moments for responses, guiding them to focus on feelings.
"Exactly! Kindness is all about being nice, caring, and friendly to others. It's doing things that make people feel good. Let's look at some examples on our next slide. Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 2) - 'What Does Kindness Look Like?'"
"Kindness can look like sharing your crayons with a friend who doesn't have any, or helping someone pick up their books if they fall. It can be using nice words when you talk to your friends or even just giving a high-five when someone does a good job! It also means listening when your friends are talking. When we are kind, we make the world a happier place!"
Story Time: Being Kind (5 minutes)
"Now, I have a little story for us today about being kind. I want you to listen carefully and see if you can spot the kind actions in the story. Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 3) - 'Kindness in Action!'"
Tell a simple story, e.g., "Lily saw her friend Maya looking sad because she dropped her ice cream. Lily didn't laugh; instead, she went and got a napkin for Maya and said, 'It's okay, Maya, accidents happen. Do you want to share my cookie?' Maya smiled and felt much better."
"So, what kind things did Lily do in our story? (Pause for responses). And how do you think Maya felt when Lily was kind to her? Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 4) - 'How Did Kindness Make Us Feel?'"
"Maya probably felt happy, loved, and special because Lily was so kind. That's the magic of kindness! It makes everyone feel good."
Activity: Kindness Catchers (10 minutes)
"Now it's your turn to be a kindness catcher! Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 5) - 'Catch Some Kindness!' We're going to make a special craft called a 'Kindness Catcher.' This will help us remember to show kindness and to notice when others are kind to us. It's like a little reminder to sprinkle kindness everywhere we go!"
"I'm going to give you some special paper, and we'll follow these instructions together. Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions"
Distribute materials and guide students through the folding and decorating process, referring to the Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions.
"Inside each flap, I want you to draw a picture or write a word about a kind action you can do, or a kind word you can say. Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 6) - 'Your Kindness Catcher'. You can also think about how you can be kind to yourself! Sometimes we need to be kind to ourselves too. Like giving ourselves a break, or saying 'I can do it!'"
Circulate and assist students, offering suggestions for kind acts.
"Look at all these wonderful Kindness Catchers! Each one is full of ideas for spreading happiness."
Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)
"To finish up our time today, let's think about how we can use our Kindness Catchers. Kindness Is Cool! Slide Deck (Slide 7) - 'Spread the Kindness!'"
"I want each of you to think of one way you will show kindness today or this week. It could be to a family member, a friend, a teacher, or even to yourself! Who would like to share their idea?"
Facilitate a brief share-out.
"That's wonderful! Remember, every time you do something kind, you're making the world a little brighter. You all have the power to spread kindness wherever you go! Keep your Kindness Catchers as a reminder, or you can even leave them with me if you'd like me to keep them safe until next time."
"Thank you for being such kind and thoughtful participants today!"
Warm Up
Kindness Is Cool! Warm Up: What Makes You Smile?
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
- Think: Close your eyes for a moment and think about something that makes you feel really happy and makes you smile. It could be playing with a friend, a favorite toy, a yummy treat, or even a sunny day!
- Share: When the teacher says, quickly share your happy thought with the group. Try to listen to everyone else's happy thoughts too!
Teacher Note: This activity helps set a positive tone and connects personal joy to the concept of kindness. It also encourages active listening.
Cool Down
Kindness Is Cool! Cool Down: My Kindness Pledge
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
- Reflect: Think about everything we talked about today and the Kindness Catcher you made. What is one kind thing you will do today or this week? It could be for a friend, a family member, or even for yourself!
- Share: Take turns sharing your kindness pledge with the group.
Teacher Note: This cool-down helps students internalize the lesson and commit to actionable kindness, reinforcing the learning objective.
Activity
Kindness Catcher Activity Instructions
Time: 10 minutes
Materials:
- Square piece of construction paper (one per student)
- Scissors (optional, for pre-cutting if needed)
- Crayons or colored pencils
Instructions:
- Start with a Square: Take your square piece of paper. If it's not a square, the teacher will help you trim it!
- Fold to the Center: Fold each corner of the square inward so that the tip of each corner meets right in the center of the square. Press down firmly to make crisp folds.
- Flip It Over: Carefully flip your paper over to the other side.
- Fold Again to the Center: Now, fold each of the new corners (from this side) inward towards the center again, just like you did before. All four tips should meet in the middle.
- Fold in Half: Once all corners are folded to the center, fold the entire square in half (like a hot dog bun).
- Fold in Half Again: Open it up, and then fold it in half the other way (like a hamburger bun).
- Make It Pop! Now, put your fingers under the four square flaps on the outside. Gently push the corners in towards the center, and your Kindness Catcher will start to take its shape! You should be able to pinch the four corners together to open and close the flaps.
- Decorate with Kindness: On the inside of each small triangular flap, draw a picture or write a kind word or action. For example:
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