Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness in Your School Community
Nicole Mathew
Curriculum Specialist
News
Kindness is important all year round, but February is a great month to help students show kindness to others, with Random Acts of Kindness day falling on the 17th. How is a random act of kindness different from what we encourage students to do every day? These actions are spontaneous and done just to make someone else happy. They are not done with the intention of being reciprocated or even recognized. Such altruistic acts can help students see how their small actions can make the world a better place. Check out the following activities that students can do to spread kindness this month.
Write a thank you note or a note of encouragement
Students might have sent a thank you note after having a birthday party or receiving help from a neighbor. We can teach students that unprompted thank you notes can be a powerful way to show gratitude. You can also challenge students to practice empathy and think about someone at home or at school who could use some encouragement. This template can be a great starting point for students! Students can write these notes to anyone such as a family member, school staff/faculty, or a classmate.
Design and print a 3D figurine
Whether students are just learning how to use a 3D printer or are a pro, they will love designing and printing a unique figurine for someone! This small token can bring such joy to people of all ages. Start with a pre-made design in Thingiverse or create your own in Tinkercad. Students can leave them on a peer’s desk or in a surprising location!
Create and donate goodie bags
Local senior centers, community centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, etc., are great places to bring surprise goodie bags! Students can fill them with all sorts of things from candy and snacks, to handmade bookmarks and lotions. Whatever you have students fill their bags with, the recipients will be overjoyed by the gesture! Use this template to have students create their own gift tags.
Create a paper or animated flower
Creating a flower yourself requires planning and practice, but it can be a wonderful way to bring a smile to someone’s face. Students can draw them, or make one using tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and craft sticks for a tangible flower. You can also challenge students to create a digital flower that they can deliver with Scratch or MakeCode!
There are so many other ways students can express random acts of kindness like partnering with someone new for an activity, offering to clean up someone else’s mess, helping someone with their homework, and so much more. Encourage students to perform these acts not just on February 17th, but every day!
For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more content on the Teq Talk blog or our YouTube channels OTIS for educators and Tequipment.
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