Let’s make space in our classroom for kindness by using the Kindness Challenge as a countdown to break.
We often show our students what we care about by making space for those things in school. They know we value math and reading because we dedicate 60 minutes daily to those subjects.
They know we value artistic skills and talents because 2 of their specials are related to art forms like music and art.
So, if we only talk about and give time to kindness once a year, sometime around Thanksgiving, are we showing kids we value kindness?
Kindness is a quality that will never go out of style, and when we place emphasis on kindness and give time to it, we are showing our students just how much being kind to others matters.
What do you give time to in your classroom? Are the skills you deem most important getting the most time?
Today, we will talk about using the Kindness Challenge as a countdown to break (either Thanksgiving or winter break).
What is the FREE Kindness Challenge?
First of all, it is FREE. Enter your name and email below to get the download right now!
Second, it is a set of kindness slips that challenge students to do something kind. Here are some examples of what you might find on the different slips of paper.
- Let someone go ahead of you in line.
- Learn about a tradition from another country.
- Give someone a high five.
- Help someone if they drop something or fall down.
- Draw pictures and write notes to send to a local retirement home.
- Write a letter thanking your school custodian.
Some of the challenges require a little bit of perfect timing (i.e. helping someone if they drop something or fall), but many of them can be done simply by putting forth the effort and setting aside a little time to focus on what others do for you or what they might need.
Using the Kindness Challenge as a Countdown to Break
To set up this ongoing activity, you’ll first want to decide how many days you want to dedicate to your countdown.
Next, work your way through the FREE KINDNESS CHALLENGE slips, and pick out the challenge that you’d like to dedicate to each day.
Put each slip in a sealed envelope and number them (or label them) with the day that the challenge is to be revealed. I personally like to put together a bulletin board specifically for this challenge. Again, when we make space in our classroom for kindness, we show students that it’s something we value.
Then, set aside some time each day to open the envelope, discuss the challenge for that day, and meet the challenge.
If you want to add an extra layer to this, you could offer small incentives for meeting the challenge that day. Maybe a dojo point, special sticker, classroom dollars, etc.
After students complete the challenge, give them time to journal or write about what they did, how they met the challenge, and how it made them feel.
You could also offer extra challenge slips for students who want to continue the challenge throughout their break.
Using the Kindness Challenge Throughout the Year
Although we often save our kindness focus for the days around the holidays, the Kindness Challenge can be used any time of the year. If you really want to assign value to kindness, it is something that students need to see you prioritizing and making space for in the classroom weekly, if not daily.
For more ideas on using the FREE KINDNESS CHALLENGE throughout the year, click on this blog post!
If you’re looking for more ways to spread positivity in your classroom, check out these Braggin Badges!
