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Words Matter

Lesson Plan

Words Matter Journey

Students will learn how words can uplift or hurt others by distinguishing curious questions from hurtful remarks, understanding the lasting impact of words on feelings, and practicing choosing kind, empathetic language.

Teaching empathy and respectful communication helps create a caring classroom community. When children understand how words affect feelings, they’re more likely to choose kindness and build positive relationships.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Storytelling, discussion, sorting activity, role-play, and reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Greet students and pose: “Can you remember a time someone said something nice? Or something unkind?”
  • Explain that today we’ll explore how words make us feel and learn to choose kind, curious questions instead of hurtful comments.
  • Show the title of Words Matter Story and tell students you’ll read a story about two friends.

Step 2

Story Time

8 minutes

  • Read aloud Words Matter Story, pausing to show illustrations.
  • After reading, ask: “Which questions in the story were asked out of curiosity? Which remarks were hurtful?”
  • Record student responses on chart paper under the two columns.

Step 3

Discussion & Sorting

7 minutes

Step 4

Role-Play

7 minutes

  • Pair students and give each pair a card from Curiosity vs Hurtful Comment Cards.
  • Ask pairs to role-play both the hurtful remark and then transform it into a curious or kind question.
  • Invite a few volunteers to perform their transformations for the class.

Step 5

Reflection & Coloring

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Kindness Words Coloring Page.
  • Ask students to write or draw kind words and questions they can say to others.
  • Provide sticky notes: students write a kind message for a classmate and add it to the “Kindness Wall.”
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Lesson Plan

Words Matter Lesson Plan

Students will distinguish between curious questions and hurtful remarks, recognize the emotional impact of words, and practice transforming unkind comments into kind, empathetic language.

When students grasp that words can uplift or hurt, they’re more likely to choose kindness, fostering empathy and creating a supportive classroom community.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Storytelling, Discussion, Sorting, Role-Play, Reflection

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Greet students and ask them to share a time someone said something nice or unkind.
  • Explain that words can uplift or hurt, and today we’ll learn to choose kind, curious questions.
  • Show the cover of Words Matter Story and introduce the story about two friends.

Step 2

Story Time

8 minutes

  • Read Words Matter Story aloud, pausing to observe illustrations and emotions.
  • Ask: “Which questions were curious?” and “Which remarks were hurtful?”
  • Record student examples under the two columns on chart paper.

Step 3

Discussion & Sorting

7 minutes

Step 4

Role-Play

7 minutes

  • Pair students and give each pair a card from Curiosity vs Hurtful Comment Cards.
  • Ask pairs to act out the hurtful remark, then transform it into a kind or curious question.
  • Invite volunteers to share their transformations with the class.

Step 5

Reflection & Coloring

3 minutes

  • Distribute Kindness Words Coloring Page.
  • Ask students to write or draw kind words and questions they can say to others.
  • Provide sticky notes for students to write a kind message to a classmate and add it to the Kindness Wall.

Step 6

Assessment & Differentiation

Ongoing

  • Assessment: Observe students’ sorting choices, role-plays, and Kindness Wall notes to gauge understanding.
  • Provide immediate feedback to reinforce kind language.
  • Differentiation:
    • Pair students needing support with a peer mentor and offer sentence starters.
    • Challenge advanced learners by inviting them to craft their own hurtful vs. curious statements.
    • Adjust pacing and supports as needed to ensure all students participate and understand.
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Slide Deck

Words Matter!

Kindness • Curiosity • Empathy
SEL Lesson | 2nd Grade | 30 Minutes

Welcome students with energy. Introduce the lesson: "Today we’ll learn how our words can lift others up or hurt their feelings." Show excitement and set a positive tone.

How Do Words Make Us Feel?

• Think of a time someone said something nice to you.
• Think of a time someone said something unkind.

How did each make you feel?

Ask for volunteers to share quick examples of nice vs. unkind words they’ve heard. Chart responses if time allows.

Curious Questions vs. Hurtful Remarks

Curious Questions:
• Asked to learn and understand
• Makes people feel valued

Hurtful Remarks:
• Meant to tease or criticize
• Can cause sadness or hurt feelings

Define the difference between curious questions and hurtful remarks. Give simple examples and invite students to share their own.

Feelings Faces Chart

Happy 😊
Sad 😢
Surprised 😲
Angry 😡

Think: Which feeling might you have when you hear each remark?

Display the Feelings Faces Chart. Ask students to name the feelings and link them to words or remarks they’ve heard.

Story Time: Words Matter

Let’s read Words Matter Story.

As we listen, look for:
• Questions asked out of curiosity
• Remarks that feel hurtful

Hold up the storybook. Read with expression, pausing at key moments. After reading, ask students to point out examples of curious questions vs. hurtful remarks.

Discussion & Sorting

Grab your Curiosity vs Hurtful Comment Cards.

Place each card under:
• Curious Questions
• Hurtful Remarks

Refer to the Feelings Faces Chart to talk about feelings.

Distribute one card per student. Invite each student to place their card under the correct column on chart paper. Use the Feelings Faces Chart to discuss emotions.

Role-Play: Transform Hurtful to Kind

In pairs:

  1. Act out the hurtful remark on your card.
  2. Then change it into a kind or curious question.

Volunteers share their transformations.

Model one transformation first: show a hurtful remark, then change it. Circulate to support pairs. Invite a few pairs to perform.

Reflection & Kindness Wall

Take a Kindness Words Coloring Page.

• Draw or write kind words/questions.
• On a sticky note, write a kind message to a classmate.
• Add it to our Kindness Wall!

Encourage neat coloring and thoughtful messages. Highlight a few student notes as examples.

Remember...

“They may forget what you said,
but they will never forget
how you made them feel.”

Let’s lift each other up with our words!

Reiterate the power of words. Encourage students to use kind language every day.

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Reading

Words Matter Story

Lily and Marco were best friends who loved playing together at recess. One sunny afternoon, Lily noticed Marco lining up toy cars by color and size. Before Lily could ask about his neat rows, Sam, another classmate, called out, “Why are you always playing with baby toys?”

Marco’s cheeks flushed, and he felt a heavy sadness in his chest. He looked down at his cars and stayed quiet. Seeing Marco’s hurt face, Lily slid beside him and asked with a gentle smile, “I really like how you organized your cars. How did you learn to sort them so well?”

Marco’s eyes brightened. He straightened up and explained his special trick for matching colors. He felt proud and happy because someone showed interest in his game.

Later that day during art time, Sam pointed at Lily’s bright purple sneakers and sneered, “Those shoes look silly!” Lily’s heart sank, and she stopped painting her picture of a rainbow.

Remembering how Lily cheered him up, Marco jumped in. “Your purple shoes are awesome! Where did you find them?” Lily’s face lit up, and she picked up her paintbrush again with a big grin.

At the end of the day, the teacher gathered the class and reminded everyone, “People may forget exactly what we say, but they will never forget how we made them feel.” Lily and Marco nodded, knowing that kind, curious questions can bring joy—and hurtful comments can leave a lasting sting.

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Worksheet

Curiosity vs Hurtful Comment Cards

Cut out the cards below. Read each card and decide whether it’s a curious question or a hurtful remark when you place it on the chart paper.

How did you learn to sort those blocks by color?

What made you pick that book to read?

Why did you choose purple for your painting?

Can you show me how you did that puzzle trick?

Where did you find that cool rock?

What kind of music do you like?

Why are you so slow at everything?

That drawing looks awful.

You talk way too much.

You look weird in that hat.

Nobody likes your jokes.

You never do anything right.

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Activity

Kindness Words Coloring Page

Instructions:

  • Color the picture below however you like.
  • Look at the Word Bank and circle or color your favorite kind words.
  • Use the space under My Kind Words to write or draw three kind things you can say or do for a friend today.

Word Bank

  • friendly
  • helpful
  • kind
  • creative
  • caring
  • respectful
  • brave
  • thoughtful
  • funny
  • smart
  • awesome
  • inclusive

Color & Draw Your Kind Scene

(Draw something kind—helping a friend, sharing a smile, giving a hug, etc.)












My Kind Words

  1. ___________________________________________

  2. ___________________________________________

  3. ___________________________________________

Great job! Take your page to the Kindness Wall and share your words with a classmate.

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Activity

Feelings Faces Chart

Use these faces to help us talk about our feelings when we hear words.

Feeling — Face

Happy — 😊

Sad — 😢

Surprised — 😲

Angry — 😡

Excited — 🤩

Nervous — 😬

Ask: Which face shows how you feel when someone says something nice? Which face shows how you feel when someone says something unkind?

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Cool Down

Words Matter Exit Ticket

Name: ____________________ Date: _______________

  1. Write one question you can ask someone out of curiosity to be kind and understanding:



  2. Write one example of a hurtful remark you will avoid. Then rewrite it as a kind or curious question:

Hurtful remark: ____________________________________________



Kind or curious question: ____________________________________





  1. How do you think your kind or curious question will make someone feel? Explain:





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