Lesson plan
Random Acts of Kindness
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to practise kind acts and express appreciation to people in their school community.
Introduction
(10 minutes)- Join students together in a circle, seated or standing.
- Tell students that you have a secret and something very important you want to tell them.
- Say in a whisper, "Kindness can spread."
- Ask if everyone heard you.
- Say a little louder, "Kindness can spread."
- Ask the class to say it with you (a little louder): "Kindness can spread!"
- Ask, "How can kindness spread?"
- Show them the "colour Your World With Kindness" video.
- Pause throughout the video and ask them to notice what is happening when someone gives kindness.
- Ask, "How did kindness spread in this video?"
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(15 minutes)- Explain that they have discussed caring and helping others in class and today they will continue with this by performing random acts of kindness.
- Write "Our Class Spreads Kindness" on chart paper and read this aloud.
- Ask, "What are some ways that we can spread random acts of kindness?"
- Take 3–4 student responses, and write or draw them on the chart paper. Share that we can add to the paper/poster over time.
- Show students your "Random Acts of Kindness" bag, and explain that there are some things that you have in the bag that will help the class to spread kindness.
- Show them items you may have in the bag (e.g., positive messages on signs, drawings, etc.).
- Ask, "How can we use these items to spread kindness to others in our school community?"
- Take 5–6 student responses.
- Ask, "Why do you think it is important to be kind and to spread kindness to others?"
Guided practise
(10 minutes)- Review and model completing the Acts of Kindness Letter worksheet, writing a letter for the class.
- Explain that at the end of the lesson, they will take a walk through the school to pass out their letters.
- Optional: After students write their letters, help them make tissue paper flowers to pass out along with their letters using the following directions:
- Fold the tissue paper in half.
- Fold the shorter edge over by one inch.
- Flip the paper over and fold it back another inch.
- Continue to fold in this way, one inch at a time, until you have paper that looks like an accordian.
- Fold the accordion you have created in half and place and fold half of a pipe cleaner around it.
- Twist the pipe cleaner together to make your stem.
- Cut the edges of your paper to round your “petals.”
- Hold your pipe cleaner stem and gently peel open up the accordion paper.
- Take care with the delicate paper and pull the top layer open around the flower.
- Pull the other two layers open to create your tissue paper flower!
- Dismiss students to go back to their seats to work independently on their Acts of Kindness Letters.
Independent working time
(15 minutes)- As students work to complete their letters, field any questions and provide individual support as needed.
- Optional: As students finish their letters provide support with making tissue paper flowers to hand out along with their Acts of Kindness Letters.
Differentiation
Enrichment: Ask advanced students to make a poster to put up in school to encourage others to perform acts of kindness.
Support: Work one-on-one or in small groups with some students and provide support with the worksheet.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- Walk around the room and check student comprehension of random acts of kindness during independent work.
Review and closing
(5 minutes)- Bring students back together in a circle (ask them to bring their completed letters and flowers).
- Ask students to read their letter and to show their flower to the person sitting next to them (and share who they would like to give their letter to).
- Explain that they will now deliver their letters (and flowers if created) to the intended recipients.
- Explain that they have to be very quiet when delivering their letters.
- Walk the students to the different staff in school who they would like to give the flowers to.
- Ask, "How does it feel to spread kindness? When can we remember to act with kindness? "
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