Students will be able to identify kind behaviors and understand how their actions contribute to a positive classroom environment, fostering strong friendships and a supportive classroom community.
This lesson is important because it teaches young students the power of kindness, helping them build positive social-emotional skills, nurture friendships, and create a warm, inclusive classroom where everyone feels valued.
Audience
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through stories, discussions, and a hands-on activity, students will explore and practice kindness.
Review the Kindness Garden Slide Deck and become familiar with the content and teacher notes. - Gather all necessary craft supplies: construction paper, child-safe scissors, glue sticks, markers/crayons. - (Optional) Pre-cut some leaf shapes for students who may need extra support during the activity. - Print copies of the Kindness Blossoms Activity and My Kindness Garden Journal for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Makes a Garden Grow? (5 minutes)
5 minutes
Teacher: "Good morning, garden explorers! Today, we're going to talk about something special, like a beautiful garden. What does a garden need to grow and be healthy?" (Guide responses to include sun, water, soil, care). - Teacher: "Our classroom is like a garden, and we are the plants! How can we help our classroom garden grow strong and happy?" (Listen for answers like being nice, sharing, helping).
Step 2
Introduction: The Kindness Garden Story (10 minutes)
10 minutes
Display the title slide from the Kindness Garden Slide Deck. - Teacher: "Today we're going to learn about 'The Kindness Garden: Planting Seeds of Friendship'. Imagine our classroom is a special garden, and every time we do something kind, we plant a tiny seed. What do you think happens to those seeds?" (Allow students to share ideas). - Show slides introducing the concept of kindness as seeds and friendships as growing plants. Use engaging storytelling from the Kindness Garden Slide Deck to explain how kind words and actions help friendships bloom.
Step 3
Discussion: Seeds of Kindness (10 minutes)
10 minutes
Use the discussion slides from the Kindness Garden Slide Deck to facilitate a conversation. - Teacher: "What are some kind things you can do or say to your friends?" (Examples: sharing toys, helping a friend pick up crayons, saying 'please' and 'thank you', giving a compliment). Write student responses on chart paper or a whiteboard. - Teacher: "How does it feel when someone is kind to you? How does it feel when you are kind to someone else?" - Reinforce that even small acts of kindness are like tiny seeds that grow into big, beautiful friendships.
Step 4
Activity: My Kindness Blossom (15 minutes)
15 minutes
Distribute the Kindness Blossoms Activity worksheet, construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers/crayons. - Teacher: "Now it's your turn to plant a kindness seed! You're going to create your own 'Kindness Blossom'. On each petal, write or draw one kind thing you can do for a friend or someone in our classroom. Then, we'll cut them out and glue them together to make a beautiful flower!" - Circulate to assist students with ideas, writing, and cutting. - Encourage students to share their kindness blossoms with a partner once completed.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Growing Our Garden (5 minutes)
5 minutes
Teacher: "Look at all these amazing kindness blossoms! Each one represents a way you can make our classroom garden bright and full of friendship. Remember, every day is a chance to plant new seeds of kindness." - Introduce the My Kindness Garden Journal for ongoing reflection. - Teacher: "Take home your Kindness Blossom and your journal. Each night, you can think about a kind thing you saw or did today, and draw or write about it in your journal. Let's keep our Kindness Garden growing!"
Slide Deck
Welcome to The Kindness Garden!
Planting Seeds of Friendship
What makes a garden beautiful and strong?
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic. Ask them to think about what makes a garden grow.
Our Classroom Garden
Imagine our classroom is a special garden.
We are the flowers and plants!
What does a garden need to grow big and strong?
Explain the metaphor: just like plants need care, friendships need kindness to grow. Ask students for ideas on what a garden needs (water, sun, good soil).
Seeds of Kindness
Every kind word you say...
Every nice thing you do...
Is like planting a tiny seed in our garden.
Introduce the idea of kindness as 'seeds.' Emphasize that even small actions are important.
What Do Kindness Seeds Look Like?
Sharing your toys
Saying "please" and "thank you"
Helping a friend
Giving a compliment
Including everyone in a game
Provide concrete examples of kindness that students can relate to and act out.
Growing Big Friendships
When we plant lots of kindness seeds...
Our friendships grow like beautiful flowers!
Our classroom garden becomes a happy place for everyone.
Explain how consistent kindness helps friendships blossom and makes the classroom a happy place. Ask: "How does it feel when someone is kind to you?"
Let's Grow Our Own Kindness Blossom!
Today, you will create your own flower.
Each petal will show a way you can be kind.
Let's make our garden bloom with kindness!
Prepare students for the hands-on activity. Explain that they will create their own kindness blossoms.
Activity
My Kindness Blossom
Just like seeds grow into beautiful flowers, your kind actions help friendships grow!
Instructions:
Draw or write one kind thing you can do for a friend or someone in our classroom on each petal of your flower.
Cut out your flower and its petals.
Glue your petals around the center to make your Kindness Blossom bloom!
Petal 1: Be a Helper!
Petal 2: Use Kind Words!
Petal 3: Share and Take Turns!
Petal 4: Give a Compliment!
Petal 5: Include Everyone!
Petal 6: Listen Carefully!
Journal
My Kindness Garden Journal
Every day is a new chance to plant seeds of kindness! Use this journal to draw or write about kindness you saw or shared.
Day 1: A Seed I Planted
What kind thing did you do today?
Day 2: A Kindness I Saw Grow
What kind thing did someone else do today?
Day 3: How Kindness Feels
How did it feel to be kind, or to have someone be kind to you?
