How can I impact and make a difference in my community through spreading and showing kindness?

At the beginning of the year, during morning meetings, students collected data and recognized a need for kindness in their schools. Through discussion, data collection, and standards-based read alouds, students collaborated and decided to focus on different ways to show kindness throughout our school and local community by using their current studies. This will culminate into a final project in which students will grow plants in order to spread kindness within our local community.

Our students believe many of the problems in our world could be changed with a little more kindness. Our goal is to spread kindness in our class, school, and local community. After we learn about the life cycle of plants, we will cultivate kindness and make connections in our local community by growing and giving flowers.

• Ask: After reading the book, Kindness Grows, students brainstormed and journaled places or “cracks” in our school that could use some extra kindness.

Journal Entry Examples

• Imagine: Students imagined possible solutions to add kindness to the areas discussed.

Journal Entry Examples

• Plan:

  • Students journaled about plans to spread kindness. Using the spaces students discussed, they collected data using a tally chart. Then students used a bar graph in order to see which area of the school received the most votes. Finally, students designed posters in their journals. The posters were placed strategically in the areas of the school which needed the most kindness.

  • Students and teachers collaborated with our community partner at Twin Run Flower Farm. They chose their seeds for planting based on the germination times.

Journal Entry Examples

• Create:

  • Students created the posters they designed in their journals. -Students created a survey to send to third, fourth and fifth graders. The google form asked students for input on how we could improve our kindness initiative. -

  • Students planted Sunflower or Zinnia seeds to plant in their cups. They are currently working on graphing the growth of their plants and comparing the growth speeds of the two different flowers. -

  • Students used their knowledge of the states of matter to make slime. On Random Acts of Kindness Day, they gave the slime to every 1st grader in school with a kind note attached.

Journal Entry Examples

• Improve:

  • Students went onto the morning announcements to promote their kindness initiative in the designated areas.

  • Students analyzed the results of the survey. They are currently working on implementing the suggested changes.