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Kindness Castle

Kindness Castle

Performing and receiving acts of kindness can increase happiness, reduce stress, and even improve academic achievement. This activity will provide a way for students to recognize and document good deeds in their classroom.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Tissue Box

Steps

  • Step 1

    Research shows that giving as well as receiving acts of kindness has many positive benefits including improving health by reducing stress and anxiety, increasing a sense of well-being, promoting increased connections, and many more. Have students discuss examples of how to show kindness and compassion. Ask them to think of specific times they have helped someone or have benefited from someone showing them kindness.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to build a "Kindness Castle" in which they can place notes that contain kind thoughts about their classmates or that document acts of kindness they have witnessed. They can build the castle out of recycled boxes that they draw on directly or cover in decorated paper. Have some students create the decorated boxes. Have other students create embellishments for the castle out of Model Magic. Each student should contribute kindness messages to insert into the box openings.

  • Step 3

    Provide a time for the class to review and discuss the notes in the Kindness Castle.

Standards

SEL: Social Awareness: Understand the perspectives of and strengths of others.

SEL: Responsible Decision-Making: Reflect on one’s role to promote personal, family and community well-being.

Adaptations

Invite the school's guidance counselor or a mental health professional to speak to the class about the importance of practicing positive behaviors in school and elsewhere.

Have students explore The Kindness Rocks Project that was started in 2015. Encourage them to create their own kindness rocks for people to find.