I teach first graders and want to share about a big kindness activity we did earlier this year. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Jan. 16) until the 100th day of school two weeks later, students performed and recorded 100 acts of kindness. These acts were collected on small hearts and organized in the shape of a huge 100. The kids worked SO hard to share kindness with each other both at home and at school and parent feedback and support was incredible! That was also the start of my HUGE kindness project. Random Acts of Kindness Week started February 11th, but our preparations started weeks before: We wrote letters, decorating cards and planning for a great week of sharing kindness within and outside of the school. For many of these items, I printed and attached cards that read, “Please enjoy this random act of kindness.” As I’ve said before, I consider these more ‘deliberate’ acts of kindness, but 'random' sounds nicer. :)
I started off the week by mailing kindness postcards to all the students on Saturday, to arrive at their homes on Monday and Tuesday. I received several emails from parents saying how excited the kids were to get a postcard from their TEACHER!
Here is a list of all the things we did throughout the week. It’s been a long week and my classroom is much cleaner now that all the materials have been finished and delivered, but it was a nice week of showing others we care.
Monday
- The week before we had decorated 46 door hangers with stickers. Each door hanger said, “Make it a Wonderful Day!” We secretly went through the school in the morning and hung these on each door, from the principal to the office, the library to the classrooms. These have remained on the doors all week. :)
Students made woven paper hearts with ‘I Love You’ messages to give to parents.
The children delivered a ‘Thank You’ book of letters to the P.E. teacher.
Tuesday
- We arranged to come to the library when there were no classes and secretly hid 150 smile/kindness cards in library books. Students had colored these and decorated them with stickers. They had SO much fun choosing books and scattering them throughout the library.
We gave Starbucks gift cards to the four lunch/recess monitors who brave the lunchroom and cold outside each day.
I attached RAK cards to two new pencils with new eraser tops. We secretly went to our 3rd Grade Reading Buddy’s room during their recess time and left pencils at their seats.
The children delivered a ‘Thank You’ book of letters to the art teacher and librarians.
- The children took small smile/kindness cards with chocolate kisses attached and secretly put them in every teacher mailbox in the office.
We visited the office at the end of the day and gave RAK cards with lottery tickets to principal, assistant principal, clinic aide, and secretaries.
The children delivered a ‘Thank You’ book of letters to the computer lab teachers.
During the previous two weeks I had been collecting new books from my Scholastic Book orders and parent donations. I took a basket of 100 new books and delivered it to our hospital Foundation. These books will be used as part of the VIPeds program and put into backpacks for sick children to use while in the hospital.
- We took water bottles with mini bags of Lindor chocolate and RAK cards and delivered them to the six cafeteria workers.
We gave bags with RAK cards, granola bars, hot chocolate packets and Hershey kisses to the four custodians.
The children delivered a ‘Thank You’ book of letters to the music teacher.
Friday
- We delivered boxes of new crayons to the six preschool students.
With the help of volunteers, we made 17 no-sew fleece blankets for sick children at the Ronald McDonald House. I will wrap these with ribbons and enclose a large heart with a kindness note and deliver them next weekend.
Perhaps there will be a ripple effect by those who received kindness or by those families who hear about it! ;)
7108 Reads
- Posted by kidzfirst
- May 16, 2013
- Comments (12)
Readers Comments
KimmyC wrote: Oh my, reading this brought tears to my eyes. This took some planning but it will leave an everlasting impact on the lives of all involved, givers and receivers. Cudos to you for caring enough to teach such a well planned lesson and make a valuable impact on your students. Last but not least, thanks for being kind enough to share your ideas.
Davinci PHARAOH wrote: Very moving. Note: kindness is a hard thing to give away; it keeps coming back to the giver.
Maudeen wrote: Thank you for encouraging me and you didn't even know it.
Reneda wrote: You are an outstanding and very special teacher. Your children are very lucky. Your children are wonderful as well. How lucky to for the staff to know all of you.
You should take the photos and make a scrapbook to keep in the classroom to remind them how proud they should be of themselves and delightful they are.
You should take the photos and make a scrapbook to keep in the classroom to remind them how proud they should be of themselves and delightful they are.
Peacehunter wrote: Awwwww kidz i love you! I am so moved and grateful that we have educators such as yourself guiding and shaping our youth. Sooo powerful the seed your are planting. I am with mish double wow! I am sharing this with all my teacher friends lovexolight and huge squishwys hugs!
singer284 wrote: This has been such an inspiring story! Thank you thank you thank you for making my day and doing all this for this community. You are a wonderful teacher, and you have an amazing class. :)))
jsmc10 wrote: kidzfirst, you and your class are amazing! This warmed my heart and put a smile on my face, bless you all :)
Mish wrote: Wow!!!!!!!!! :)
Mish wrote: Wow!!!!!!!!! :)
FairyBubbles wrote: I would like to be in your class! When I was teaching in college a student once said to me - 'Miss don't teach me anything more for my head, teach me something for my heart' - Your students are sooo lucky!
