Acts of Kindness

Year 0-1 / 30 Minutes / 20 Students

---

Unit: One Family, Many Faces

Lesson Number: 6 of 20

Lesson Title: Acts of Kindness

Learning Area: Religious Education

Strand: Interpersonal Relationships & Community Connections

Curriculum Context: New Zealand Curriculum Refresh

---

Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT discuss and identify acts of kindness that help us connect with others in our community.
• WALT understand that kindness is a way to show we care for people around us.
• WALT express ideas about kind actions we can do for our family, friends, and community.

---

Success Criteria

• I can share an example of a kind act.
• I can listen and talk about how kindness helps us be good friends.
• I can draw or act out a kind action.
• I show respect and care when talking about others.

---

Key Competencies and Curriculum Alignment

• Key Competencies:

  • Relating to others: Sharing ideas and valuing others’ contributions about kindness.
  • Participating and contributing: Offering and agreeing on acts of kindness to do in the community.
  • Managing self: Taking turns and showing respect during group discussion.

• Relevant Curriculum Statements:

  From Religious Education (adapted for NZC):
  Students explore interpersonal relationships through respectful, caring behaviours that build community.

  • Understanding how our actions affect others.
  • Recognising how kindness strengthens family and community ties.

  National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP)

  • Promote wellbeing, belonging, and participation in learning communities.

---

Resources Needed

• Large sheets of paper or whiteboard
• Coloured markers/crayons
• Picture cards showing different acts of kindness (e.g., sharing toys, helping, saying hello)
• Storybook or short video about kindness (age appropriate)
• "Kindness jar" or box to collect ideas

---

Lesson Outline & Timing

Time	Activity	Description & Teacher Notes
5 mins	Welcome and Introduction	- Gather students in a circle. Use "WALT" to state objectives. - Briefly recap previous lessons on family and community. - Introduce today's topic: Acts of Kindness. Explain kindness as "doing nice things to help others feel good."
7 mins	Story/Video Time	- Read a short story or show a brief video on kindness. - Stop occasionally to ask: "What kind things did you see?" "How did it make the characters feel?" - Ensure language is simple, and check understanding by inviting hands-up for answers.
8 mins	Brainstorming Acts of Kindness	- Use picture cards to prompt students to name kind actions. - Teacher writes ideas on large paper/whiteboard. Encourage simple sentences or single words. - Examples: sharing, helping, smiling, saying thank you. - Ask "Who can think of a kindness we can do in our class or at home?"
7 mins	Creative Drawing and Role Play	- Each student chooses one act of kindness from the brainstorm to draw. - In pairs, children act out their chosen kind act to the class. - Teacher models respectful listening and encouragement.
3 mins	Reflection and Kindness Jar	- Invite children to place their drawing or spoken idea into the "Kindness Jar". - Teacher to summarise: "We have some wonderful kindness ideas to try out this week." - Close with an affirmation – "Kindness helps us all feel happy and safe."
Extra Notes	Adaptations	Use visual aids heavily to support engagement. Keep instructions clear and repetitious. Use te reo Māori words where relevant (e.g., manaakitanga for kindness/care).

---

Assessment (Informal)

• Teacher observes and notes student participation in discussions and role plays.
• Check for ability to name and describe acts of kindness.
• Assess understanding through drawings and explanations of kind acts.

---

Follow-up and Home Connection

• Send a simple kindness challenge home: "Ask your child to tell you one kind thing they did or saw at home."
• Encourage whānau to share stories of kindness for next lesson.

---

Curriculum Reference Summary

• New Zealand Curriculum Values: Respect, Caring, and Community and Participation
• Supports development of Key Competencies such as Relating to Others, Managing Self, and Participating and Contributing as per pages 12-13 of the NZ Curriculum Refresh.
• Aligns with the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) on wellbeing and belonging.
• Religious education focus on relationships and belonging in community (adapted from MoE religious education guidelines).

---

This lesson plan promotes foundational social and interpersonal skills for early learners and will inspire young children to recognise and show kindness as a living expression of their community.

---

If you would like a formatted template copy including exact curriculum code references or support for te reo integration, please let me know!