- Learn about World Kindness Day Lesson Plan
The first question your students may ask you is, “What is World Kindness Day?”
World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. It’s an event observed every year on November 13 and is celebrated in many countries, including Japan, Canada, and the United States.
The purpose of World Kindness Day is to remind ourselves that even simple acts of kindness can make this world a better place. And one of the best (and undoubtedly engaging) ways to teach your elementary school students about this holiday is to show them kindness.
- Study a Story About Kindness
Not many stories or fables about kindness and friendship are more memorable than Aesop’s The Lion and The Mouse. So why not discuss this story in class?
One of the best and most simple Kindness Day activities, reading a story and completing an activity about the tale, will help children further understand the value of kindness. You can read the story aloud or encourage your students to act out the account.
- Share a Kindness Book with a Buddy
Like the fable above, books are an excellent way to discuss the importance of kindness. Plus, they can be shared regularly and help children improve their language skills.
You can read the books to your class or encourage your students to read to each other. Below are a few kindness books that are favorites among teachers:
- What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio (PreK to first grade)
- The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (PreK to second grade)
- Most People by Michael Leannah (PreK to third grade)
- How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham (PreK to third grade)
- Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler (kindergarten to second grade)
- I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet (kindergarten to fourth grade)
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña (kindergarten to fifth grade)
- Under the Lemon Moon by Edith Hope Fine (first to fifth grade)
- The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (first to fifth grade)
- Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts (first to fifth grade)
- The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau (first to fifth grade)
You can also ask your students if they have any kindness books at home that they’d like to bring in and share with the class.
- Craft a Kindness Quilt
If you read The Kindness Quilt or The Quiltmaker’s Gift to your class, this paper kindness quilt activity is a great follow-up.
In years gone by, families and friends would make friendship quilts to commemorate special occasions or give them as gifts to loved ones. Particular messages were often added to the quilts to show love and friendship.
- Make Kindness Fortune Tellers
Most kids love playing with paper fortune tellers, and making ones about kindness can be just as fun!
- Send a Compliment Card
Spread kindness and improve your writing skills with this easy-to-do classroom activity. It’s a win-win!
One of our favorite World Kindness Day activities, compliments and positive words are an excellent way to brighten someone’s day. In addition, writing a note or making a card is an activity that can easily be incorporated into a writing or morning work assignment.
- Fill a Kindness Jar
If you have an empty jar at home, why not make a kindness jar and feature it in the classroom? Then, challenge your students to fill the pot by the end of the week, month, or year. Add a building block, pom-pom, handwritten note, or even chocolate for every act of kindness!
It’s an excellent way for students to visualize how every act of kindness adds up.
- Make a Sweet Statement: Kindness Jar Banner
If you want to expand upon the kindness jar activity, why not make a banner that proudly shows your students’ acts of kindness?
For this World Kindness Day activity, please encourage your students to think of something they have done recently that has shown kindness to another person. Then ask them to write down the act of kindness.
- Write a Poem or Story About Kindness
Get kind thoughts and creativity flowing with a writing activity to celebrate World Kindness Day. Encourage your students to write poems or stories with others in mind and then present the finished masterpieces to those individuals!
Writing about kindness is an excellent way for your students to refocus and think positively. But, of course, the person who reads the poem or story will also be in for a real treat!
- Grow a Kindness Tree
Kindness is often compared to a seed. It can grow and blossom into something incredible when nurtured and attended to regularly.
Students can then decorate and cut out their leaves before attaching them to the tree. One of the most creative and team-building World Kindness Day activities, this kindness tree task will brighten up your classroom for weeks to come!
- Design a Hug Coupon
When it comes to kindness currency, hugs are the gold standard!
Kids can have fun and create hug coupons to give to friends and family as an act of kindness.
- Share the “Words Are Like Toothpaste” Lesson
While many kids will be familiar with the saying, “actions speak louder than words,” it’s still important to acknowledge that words have an impact. They can be pretty potent!
You’ll need the following:
- tubes of toothpaste
- paper plates
- toothpicks or small spoons
Students can work in pairs or small groups. Please encourage them to squeeze the toothpaste onto a paper plate. Then, ask them to put the toothpaste back in the tube.
If your students give you funny looks, it’s not surprising. But, unfortunately, getting toothpaste back in the tube is tricky, if not impossible.
But this is an excellent example of how difficult it is to take words back. And why it’s important to show kindness and use positive words instead of negative ones. Of all the World Kindness Day activities, this one will surely stick in your children’s minds and have a lasting impact.
- Paint Positivity Pebbles (or Stones)
Encourage your kids to get crafting and spread kindness with this fun (and popular) arts and crafts activity that requires little preparation. All you need are some small, smooth stones that can be gathered and brought from home. Plus, you’ll need some paint, markers, and glitter glue (optional).
Kids can have a blast decorating their rocks and adding positive messages. Once the stones are dry, your students can place their rocks around the school for others to find.
Yep, this activity truly rocks!
- Or, Scrawl Surprising Positivity Pictures and Notes on the Playground
Get outside and share kindness with the entire school with just a bit of chalk and some creativity! Your students can write positive notes and draw pictures in the playground for other students and teachers to see.
There will undoubtedly be many smiles (and a few requests to borrow any left-over chalk).
- An Act of Kindness Every Day Challenge
We want to think that an act of kindness daily keeps the negativity at bay. Or at least it certainly helps. So, why not get your entire class involved in a kindness day activity challenge?
The challenge is for your students to select a kindness activity. The challenge can last for a day, a week, or even a month! Each card outlines a new good deed for students to do.
- Last But Not Least, SMILE!
What is likely your first reaction if someone genuinely smiles at you? On most occasions, we’d smile back. It’s pretty hard not to.
Even a smile can be a kind act that can make someone else feel better. Try this if there is one World Kindness Day classroom activity you’d like your students to attempt. They’ll be grinning non-stop by the end of the day!
