Kindness is an important skill to learn, practice and build over time. It’s one of those skills that cannot be taught and practiced enough. That’s because kindness actually makes a chain reaction of more kindness. From writing gratitude notes to decorating an area with kindness posters, there are countless ways to integrate extra kindness and empathy into your classroom.
Below are 40+ kindness activities to cultivate a kinder community with your learners. You can choose to try one activity a day for more than a month of kindness activities, or select the ones that best fit the needs of your students.
1. Start a kindness chat
Talk about kindness! Ask students to first share what kindness means to them. Then, give a chance to share acts of kindness we have seen, done, or experienced. Kids might talk about a time they helped someone learn a game, or a time a friend listened to them. These conversations can be a great way to cultivate kindness and strengthen community.
2. Write notes of gratitude
Gratitude is a great way for kids and teens to show their appreciation for others. Have learners choose one person that they are grateful for. You can brainstorm ideas together, from feeling grateful for a parent who makes them delicious dinners each night to feeling thankful for the bus driver for saying “good morning” each day. Then, have students write their note of gratitude to their special person.
3. Begin a kindness challenge
Encourage learners to engage in many different acts of kindness with a kindness challenge. Start by making a list of random acts of kindness together. Choose your favorites and encourage students to complete them all within a given time frame. Try this free kindness challenge to add extra kindness to your classroom.
4. Start a kindness circle
Stand in a circle and toss a ball. For each person who gets the ball, they must share something kind about someone else.
5. Make kindness posters
Have students design their own kindness posters in small groups. They can add important advice, sayings, or quotes to share the message of kindness. Then, post them around the room (or school) to keep the kindness going.
6. Give a kindness word of the day
Bring up different kindness vocabulary and talk about the word together. Some words to start with include including, caring, generosity, thoughtfulness, gratitude, and empathy.
7. Start a kindness share
Start by having each student write their name on a piece of paper. Leave the paper at the desk and have students move one seat to the right. At this new desk, students will write something kind about that person on their paper. They might write, “Sarah, you are great at soccer,” or “I love getting to work with you in math!”
After, the students will move to the next desk again and repeat the process. The idea is to keep going around in a circle until students get back to their original desk and paper. At the end, they will have a paper filled with kind words and comments from others.
8. Write in a kindness journal
Use a kindness journal to document kind acts students see, do, or experience in a given day. They can keep a list of acts of kindness they’ve noticed or draw a kindness picture of a scene from the day. Note: You can find this kindness journal in the free resource library! If you’ve already signed up, just check your emails for the info to access. And if you’re new here, you can join here.
9. Help in another classroom
Kindness is giving back! Have students spend time helping students in another classroom. Older students can read to learners in kindergarten, for example.
10. Color kindness coloring pages
Give time to color kindness coloring pages filled with meaningful kindness quotes and phrases. Not only is coloring itself a calming activity, it provides a great opportunity to discuss kindness and what it means to you.
11. Practice positive self-talk phrases
Self-love is important. Use positive affirmations to practice saying more positive words to ourselves! Students can read self-talk phrases such as, “I can do this,” and “I’m going to have a great day.” You can even make it a daily morning ritual to start with positive affirmations.
12. Engage in community service projects
Community service projects are an incredibly important way to give back. A bigger part of kindness is not just caring about our friends close to us, but caring for our entire community as a whole. Some ideas for community service projects might include:
- Gathering donations for a pet shelter.
- Writing letters or drawing pictures for people in a nursing home.
- Holding a food drive.
- Cleaning up an area in the school.
- Cleaning up a local park.
13. Create a kindness bulletin board
Post a kindness bulletin board filled with examples of kindness as a reminder for all who enter the room. Learners can help by coloring the bulletin board before posting it.
14. Create a kindness chain
Hold a piece of paper lengthwise and cut it into four slips. On each slip, students can write acts of kindness. You can choose to have students write random acts of kindness or add acts of kindness they have seen or experienced in the classroom. Loop them together and staple to create a kindness chain! This can be hung around the room as a reminder that kindness is the gift that keeps giving.
15. Write a kindness story
Integrate writing skills by having students come up with a kindness story. They can write, illustrate, and share their story with others.
16. Make a shout out board
A shout out board is a student-centered board in the classroom filled with examples of kindness that students have seen or experienced. Keep kindness slips right next to the board and allow students to fill them out throughout the day. Read them and post them up on the shout out board to display the kindness we are all seeing.
17. Draw a picture for someone else
Have students choose someone important in their life to draw a picture for. This can be a small way to show care and gratitude for someone else.
18. Give free time
Free time is important so that students can put their kindness skills to the test! Before giving free time for games or play, encourage students to include others and show kindness.
19. Read social scenarios
Read social scenarios to discuss problems, challenges, and how to show kindness in our lives. It’s important to add many different types of real-life situations including the classroom, the lunchroom, at home, and with friends.
20. Make a kindness book
Have students think of several different ways they can show kindness. Then, put those together to make a kindness book. Each page can include a description of the kind act and a picture to go along with it.
21. Paint kindness rocks
Add art into your kindness by planning and painting kindness rocks. The idea here is that learners will paint kind messages on rocks. Then, make a plan to hide them around the school or outside. When others find them, the hope is that seeing the positive message will brighten their day.
22. List acts of kindness from A-Z
On a sheet of chart paper or right on the board, encourage students to brainstorm as many acts of kindness that they can think of for each letter. For example, A could include: asking someone how they are and assisting a friend with an assignment. You can choose to do just one letter a day, giving you 26 days of kindness discussions.
23. Read kindness stories
Use short stories to highlight kindness, empathy, friendship, and other important social-emotional skills. Some good books to start with include:
- “Kindness is my Superpower” by Alicia Ortego
- “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller
- “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold
24. Draw acts of kindness
Choose an act of kindness for the day. Discuss that kind act and then have students draw it.
25. Hold a daily kindness reflection time
At the end of the day, dedicate the last 5-10 minutes to a kindness reflection. During this time, ask students to share what kind acts they have seen, experienced, or done today. Learners can add how the kind acts made them feel and why kindness is important.
26. Watch a movie and discuss kindness
Choose any age-appropriate movie clip to watch. Afterwards, discuss the kindness and empathy they noticed in the video.
27. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the moment. This helps build self-awareness, calmness, and self-compassion. There are many ways to add mindfulness into your day. Some favorites include practicing intentional mindful breathing techniques, reading guided imagery, practicing mindful coloring, and taking a mindful walk outside.
28. Practice gratitude
Gratitude is the practice of showing our appreciation for what we have. When you think about it, there is so much to be thankful for! When we practice gratitude, we create feelings of happiness, kindness, and appreciation for people and things around us. Spend a few moments to go around in a circle and share one thing you are grateful for.
30. Teach about empathy
Empathy is thinking about how others feel and showing we care. Start by discussing emotions and talking about when people might feel that way. You can also use read alouds to talk about characters and how they feel in the moment.
31. Use show-and-tell
Show-and-tell serves as a fantastic way for students to share things and people that are important to them. Encourage students to ask questions after a student presents. This practice can cultivate kindness as students listen to their peers and learn a little more about their lives outside of school.
32. Write a kindness acrostic poem
Using the letters KINDNESS, have students write an acrostic poem. For each letter, they can think of something related to kindness and compassion. A sample poem might be:
- Knowing kindness is important.
- I will show kindness each day.
- Neighbors, friends, and classmates matter.
- Doing my best to show I care.
- Near and far, kindness is all around.
- Every day is a new chance to be kind.
- Shining and sharing my heart today.
- Say yes to kindness with me!
33. Write a kindness poem
Give freedom in allowing students to write a poem about kindness in any way they choose! Once students complete their poems, give time to share.
34. Read empathy scenarios
Build on empathy by reading empathy scenarios. Discuss the scenario, consider how someone might feel, and have students share what they could do.
35. Read kindness quotes
Quotes are a great way to build social-emotional skills. Read one or two kindness quotes. Discuss the quotes as a group. Students can then respond in a journal. You can also have learners find their own kindness quotes to share.
36. Play an empathy game
Use an empathy game to strengthen empathy and kindness across your community. In this game, students will move through the game board as they answer meaningful empathy questions. With lots of cards, you can have your students play again and again.
37. Use a kindness jar
A kindness jar is a community space to share the acts of kindness you see each day. Keep a set of kindness slips next to the jar. When students notice something kind happening around them, they can write it down on a slip and put it in the kindness jar. When the jar is filled, you can take time to open the jar back up and read the acts of kindness. This is a healthy and meaningful way to cultivate kindness in your community.
38. Decorate the hallway with kind notes
Spread kindness by decorating the hallway with kind notes and messages! In groups, have students write notes and encouraging words to others. Then, post these along your school lockers and hallways.
39. Write kind messages to others
Give just a few minutes to write a quick kind message to someone else. Write them on a sticky note or even an index card so that you can pass them along easily.
40. Spend time in nature
It’s important to show appreciation to the natural world around us. Spend time outside for a nature walk, encouraging students to notice what they see, hear, feel, and smell around them. Discuss what it means to show kindness to nature together.
41. Help clean up an area
Part of kindness means taking care of materials and the environment around us. Spend time cleaning up an area together. This can be tidying up a community space, like a library, or spending time raking the outside courtyard.
42. Write in a positive self-talk journal
Encourage self-love and kindness with a simple daily positive self-talk journal. Students can practice and embrace new positive affirmations to help them do and feel their best.
43. Perform group kindness skits
Have students get together in small groups and think of a way to show what kindness looks like. Have them come up with a scenario and act out the skit in front of the class. For example, students might act out noticing a partner doesn’t have a pencil and giving them one without being asked. Another example might be seeing someone new at lunch and offering them to sit next to you. Allow students to be creative with their kindness skits!
I hope these kindness activities give you and your students the spark they need!
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