Six Activities to Teach Kindness at School

​We all know the value of teaching children about kindness. It's important to instill these values at a young age so they can grow up to be compassionate, caring adults. But it's not always easy to find ways to incorporate lessons on kindness into the school day. That's why we've compiled a list of activities you can do with your students to promote kindness and empathy in the classroom!

1. ​"What I Like About You" Jar

​This is a great activity to do at the beginning or end of the day. Give each student a sheet of paper and have them write down one nice thing about each classmate (or assign a couple of classmates per student). Then, put all of the slips of paper into a jar and have students take turns picking one out and reading it aloud. This is a great way to boost morale and make everyone feel appreciated!

2. "Pay it Forward" Chain

​This activity is all about spreading positivity! Have students think of acts of kindness that they can do for others, big or small. Write each act of kindness on a link of construction paper, and connect all of the links together to create a chain. Then, hang it up in your classroom as a reminder for everyone to "pay it forward" throughout the day!

3. ​"Acts of Kindness" Bingo

Using something as simple as this 'Kindness Bingo Activity' (click here to download free) is a great way to encourage small acts of kindness.

Activity prep: Download the free printable bingo card <here>, make copies for your students, and then let them work through the squares throughout the day or week. To make it more manageable for younger kids, set the goal to achieve four squares in a row to make 'bingo,' otherwise, you can also challenge your kids to complete all of the squares. 

Suggestion: Tape the bingo cards to students' desks so they don't lose their page. Doing this is also a great way to remind students to complete acts of kindness throughout the day.
​I recommend discussing the acts of kindness on the bingo card with your students first. You could brainstorm some examples to help give your students ideas about how they can achieve completing the squares

4. Role-play Scenarios 

​Put children in groups and have them role-play different scenarios where someone is being unkind. After the role-play, conduct a class discussion about what could be done differently to show kindness.

5. ​Read stories about Kindness

​Reading stories is a great way to introduce new concepts and teach life lessons without lecturing children directly. Many fiction and nonfiction books are available that teach lessons about empathy, compassion, and being kind. After reading the story together, talk about times when the characters could have shown more kindness or what might have happened if they had reacted differently. Children love hearing stories, and it's a great way to start discussions about important topics such as kindness!

For example, I love using the 'ABC of Kindness book by Patricia Hegarty with my little ones. ​

6. ​Kindness Word Search Puzzle

​Using a kindness word search puzzle can be a fun and engaging way to teach about the importance of showing kindness. By searching for words related to kindness, such as "compassion," "empathy," and "grace," individuals can deepen their understanding of what it means to be kind. This activity can also prompt discussions and reflections on ways to incorporate kindness into daily life. Additionally, completing the puzzle can serve as a reminder to practice kindness in all interactions and relationships. Overall, including a kindness word search puzzle can offer a unique and enjoyable teaching tool for promoting kindness.
Download a free Kindness Word Search Resource <here>.

​You can teach children about kindness in the classroom in many different ways. By doing activities like these, you can help instill important values in your students that will stay with them long after they leave your classroom!

Kindness Bingo Challenge FREE activity - World Kindness Day

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We all know the value of teaching children about kindness. It's important to instill these values at a young age so they can grow up to be compassionate, caring adults. Using something as simple as this 'Kindness Bingo Activity' is a great way to encourage small acts of kindness at school.

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Kindness Word Search Activity - FREE

A$0.00

We all know the value of teaching children about kindness. Using something as simple as this kindness word search activity is a great way to discuss the meaning of the words in the search list and how they can incorporate them into their everyday lives.

Shop