Building Kindness Together

Curriculum Area

Health and Physical Education (HPE) - Level 1
Strand: Personal Health and Development
Achievement Objective:

• Describe feelings and ask questions about their health, growth, development, and personal needs.
• Demonstrate respect through sharing and cooperative behaviours.

Lesson Duration

30 minutes

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand what kindness and empathy mean.
2. Identify ways to be a good friend.
3. Practise kindness through a fun, interactive activity.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction – Setting the Scene (5 minutes)

Activity: "How Would You Feel?"

• Gather students in a circle on the mat.
• Present different friendship scenarios (e.g., “Someone shares their lunch with you” or “A friend is left out of a game”).
• Ask students: “How would you feel if this happened to you?”
• Discuss the meaning of kindness and empathy in simple terms.
• Reinforce that small actions can make a big difference.

2. Story Time – "The Kindness Blanket" (8 minutes)

• Read a short picture book or tell a story about a character who shows kindness and friendship.
• Pause during the story and ask questions like, “What could the character do to be kind here?”
• Encourage students to share similar experiences from their own lives.

3. Pair Work – Kindness Heart Activity (7 minutes)

• Give each pair of students a paper heart.
• Ask them to “fill the heart” with kind words or actions they can do for a friend.
• They can draw or write with support from the teacher.
• Invite pairs to share their ideas with the class.

4. Whole-Class Activity – "Pass the Smile" (5 minutes)

• Students sit in a circle and take turns giving a classmate a compliment or kind word.
• Emphasise that kind words can brighten someone’s day.
• Reflect: "How did it feel to be kind or to receive kindness?"

5. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Ask: “What is one way you can show kindness to a friend today?”
• Summarise key takeaways: "Kindness can be simple and powerful!"
• Reinforce that everyone in the class is responsible for creating a caring environment.

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Resources Needed

✔ Storybook about kindness (teacher's choice)
✔ Pre-cut paper hearts
✔ Markers or crayons

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Assessment & Follow-Up

✔ Observation: Teacher notes how students engage in discussions and activities.
✔ Reflection: Ask students to share one kind action they did later in the day.
✔ Home Connection: Encourage students to tell their whānau about one act of kindness they showed or received today.

Teacher's Note:

This lesson is interactive, fun, and designed to help students build emotional awareness in an age-appropriate way. The simplicity of the activities ensures that young learners grasp the concept of kindness in a meaningful and applicable manner.

This approach aligns with New Zealand’s Health and Physical Education curriculum by fostering students' personal well-being and enhancing their social interactions in a positive, supportive way.