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The Kindness Compass

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Lesson Plan

The Kindness Compass

Students will be able to identify and describe kind actions and explain their positive impact on others and themselves.

Practicing kindness helps create a positive classroom environment, builds strong relationships, and improves overall well-being. Understanding and demonstrating kindness in daily interactions fosters empathy and compassion.

Audience

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive storytelling, hands-on activities, and group discussions.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, The Kindness Compass Slide Deck, Construction paper or index cards, Markers or crayons, Kindness Scenarios Activity Cards, Kindness Worksheet, and Kindness Discussion Prompts

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-up: What is Kindness?

5 minutes

Step 2

Story Time: The Kindness Compass

10 minutes

  • Introduce The Kindness Compass Slide Deck (Slides 3-6) and tell the story of the Kindness Compass, highlighting examples of kind actions.
  • Ask questions throughout the story to check for understanding and engagement.
  • Emphasize how small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Step 3

Kindness Scenarios Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Give each group a few Kindness Scenarios Activity Cards and some construction paper/markers.
  • Instruct groups to read their scenarios and discuss what a kind response would look like. They can draw or write their ideas.
  • Have groups share one scenario and their kind solution with the class (refer to Slide 7).

Step 4

Independent Practice: Kindness Worksheet

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Kindness Worksheet.
  • Students will draw or write examples of kindness they can show at school or home.
  • Circulate to provide support and encourage detailed responses.

Step 5

Cool Down: Sharing Our Compass

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
  • Ask students to share one new idea they have for showing kindness from their worksheet or the group activity (refer to Slide 8).
  • Reiterate the importance of being a 'Kindness Compass' in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck

The Kindness Compass

Guiding Good Deeds

What does it mean to be kind?

Greet students and introduce the topic of kindness. Ask them to think about what kindness means to them.

What is a Kindness Compass?

Just like a compass helps you find your way, your Kindness Compass helps you find ways to be kind!

It helps you choose actions that make others feel good.

Introduce the idea of a 'Kindness Compass' – something that helps us find our way to kind actions. Explain that today we'll learn how to use our own kindness compass.

Meet Our Friend, Leo!

Leo loves to play, but sometimes he forgets to share.

Today, Leo found a new toy. What should he do?

Tell a simple story about a character (e.g., a friendly animal or child) who uses their Kindness Compass. Describe a situation where they have a choice to be kind or not.

Leo's Kindness Compass Guides Him

Leo's friend, Mia, looked sad. She didn't have a toy to play with.

Leo remembered his Kindness Compass! It told him to SHARE.

How do you think Mia felt? How do you think Leo felt?

Continue the story. Leo sees his friend looking sad because they don't have a toy. Leo's Kindness Compass points him to share. Discuss the feeling sharing brings to both Leo and his friend.

Everyday Kindness Heroes!

Being kind is easy and fun!

  • Helping a friend pick up their dropped pencils.
  • Saying "please" and "thank you."
  • Sharing your crayons.
  • Giving a compliment to someone.

Present a few more quick examples of kindness. Ask students to identify the kind act in each scenario.

Kindness in Action!

Now it's your turn to be a Kindness Hero!

We will work in groups to figure out how to be kind in different situations.

Explain the upcoming activity. Students will work in groups to solve kindness scenarios.

Sharing Our Kindness Stories

What kind choices did your group make?

Tell us about your scenarios!

After the group activity, bring students back together. Ask groups to share their scenarios and kind solutions.

Your Kindness Compass

You all have a Kindness Compass inside you!

Use it every day to make the world a kinder place.

How will you show kindness today?

Conclude by reminding students that they all have a Kindness Compass and can choose to be kind every day. Encourage them to practice kindness at school and at home.

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Activity

Kindness Scenarios Activity Cards

Cut out these cards and give them to small groups. Have students discuss what a kind response would be for each scenario and either draw or write their ideas.

Card 1

Your friend accidentally knocks over your tower of blocks.





Card 2

Someone is sitting alone at recess and looks sad.





Card 3

You see a classmate struggling to carry a heavy backpack.





Card 4

Your teacher asks for help tidying up the classroom.





Card 5

Someone drops their lunch tray in the cafeteria.





Card 6

Your sibling is upset because they can't find their favorite toy.





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Worksheet

My Kindness Actions

Draw or write about kind things you can do at school and at home.

Kindness at School

What kind things can you do for your friends, teachers, and classmates at school?











Kindness at Home

What kind things can you do for your family members at home?











How does kindness make you feel?

Draw or write about how it feels when you are kind or when someone is kind to you.





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Discussion

Kindness Discussion Prompts

Use these prompts to guide a class discussion about kindness.

Opening Questions:

  • What does it mean to be kind? Can you give an example?
  • How does it feel when someone is kind to you?


  • How does it feel when you are kind to someone else?


During the Story/Activity:

  • In our story about Leo, what kind choice did he make?


  • How did that kind choice make his friend feel? How do you know?


  • Can you think of a time you shared something with a friend? How did that feel?


Closing Questions:

  • What is one new idea you have for showing kindness today?


  • Why do you think it's important for us to be kind to each other?


  • How can you be a "Kindness Compass" in our classroom or at home?


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