We strive to build a classroom environment that focuses on treating others with respect, fairness, and kindness. While this is something we work on every year in Kindergarten, this year poses unique challenges because of social distancing. We believe that teaching, talking, and learning about acts of kindness is the beginning of building a classroom community that will feel safe and welcome to all.
Each class read three books and did activities based on the message the authors were trying to convey. The first book was Kindness Rocks by Sonica Ellis. The author’s message was that kind words and messages left for others to read can be powerful in ways that could quickly change someone’s mood and motivate them to continue on with their day in a positive way. Each student chose a rock and painted it the color of their choice. We then had a discussion about words that can be uplifting for others. The kindergartners came up with touching words and phrases that most definitely would make a person who stumbled upon them immediately smile.
The second book the Kindergarten students listened to was All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. The illustrations are colorful and bright in this story, and is about a school where each other’s cultures and traditions are welcome. It demonstrates community through belonging and learning from each other. Each class had a discussion about how you can make someone feel welcome. The kindergartners are learning how to listen to one another and respond respectfully to each other’s comments.
The third book we read to the children is What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio. In this delightful and beautiful illustrated book with a multicultural cast of children, it focuses on some thoughtful and meaningful ways to be kind to one another. It shows children how easy it is to be nice and kind through simple and small acts of kindness. After we read the book, we had a heartfelt discussion on what the word kindness means to them, and what are some ways they can be kind to their friends. To take this thoughtful and well-written book to the next level, the kindergartners created a kindness quilt depicting how they can be kind to a family member or a friend. They created beautiful and colorful illustrations of themselves showing kindness. See below for the pictures of the Kindness Quilt and the Kindness Garden the children created.
