Theme 1. AGE GROUP 11-13
Theme 2. AGE GROUP 11-13
Theme 3. Age Group 11-13
A workshop of 3 groups has been created for students to share their opinions on a large white paper. They used writing or drawing. Most agreed that to create an atmo-sphere of kindness, they should love each other, be tolerant, provide donations, and forget bad issues. The majority drew a heart as it symbolizes love and remains a real symbol of kindness because you can’t love and at the same time be in conflict with others.
Theme 4. Age Group 11-13
From Toti Jean-Marc Yalé: “I started with explaining the goal of Theme #4 to the students and invited them to share their opinions on how to provide care for their families, community, and elder people. We also discussed different actions that we could take to preserve good relationships in our families and community. The examples of children’s reactions are in these two videos. The students also decided to clean the schoolyard to show their care to the community. What is more, other kids from the community who are not part of our school students joined them too in this operation. It was wonderful! I appreciate this curriculum a lot. All schools in the world must teach it.“
Theme 5. Age group 11-13
Theme 6. Age group 11-13
This week the students focused on Theme #6, mostly discussing the topic of Gratitude. Through poems and drawings, they expressed their gratitude to the people that supported them in many differtent ways. From different testimonies, one was especially moving for the teacher. It was from the boy who shared his story, “Since my childhood, I have never seen my dad because he passed away. My mother is the only one who provides us with everything. That’s why, I am feeling so grateful to her today, and this poem is for her.” Students also created the sign of Gratitude demonstrated below.
Theme 7. Age group 11-13
Last week the students gathered together to reflect and act on the theme, “Taking Care or Help People in Crisis.” Many of them were touched by the tragedies in Ukraine and as a result, they composed a poem and drew posters, No To War or Stop the War in Ukraine. They also shared their experiences related to the topic. For example, “When my mom was sick, I was at her side to help her;” “When my classmate fell sick, I visited him at his house, just to express my support;” “I donated the clothes that I didn’t use as gift to the orphanage to support my friend there.” At the end of the class, they all stood up and put their right hand on their chest to express their love to the children in the world, and especially to those in Ukraine.
Theme 1. Primary School, Cote d’Ivoire, Ahua Kanga Kouassi Jean Pierre
During the last week, Mr. Ahua Kanga Kouassi Jean Pierre worked with his students on the first Theme, titled “Cheering up or entertaining others.” He wrote down the theme on the blackboard and invited his students to share their opinions on thsi topic. The students’ responses are similar because for the children cheering up others means sharing love, respect, and encouragement. It also means helping others and being friendly. After the students wrote down how they felt about the topic, they discussed it together with the teacher.
Theme 2. Primary School, Cote d’Ivoire, Ahua Kanga Kouassi Jean Pierre
The teacher asked his students to create any kind of drawing that expresses kindness. Looking at the drawings above and below, we can see some people helping other people; leading a peaceful life together with many others in the same place; stopping the car to support a beggar on the road, and simply spending time together to prevent loneliness.
Theme 3. Primary School, Cote d’Ivoire, Ahua Kanga Kouassi Jean Pierre
Students were asked to draw or write something related to the theme. For this activity, they used their slates. Many drew flowers and hearts as symbols of kindness.
Theme 4. Primary School, Cote d’Ivoire, Ahua Kanga Kouassi Jean Pierre
Students were asked to share their ideas of compassion. Many spoke about helping their grandparents and other seniors to cross the road, carry heavy luggage or do grocery shopping.
Themes #1 & 2. Teacher KOUITY GUEU, Cote d’Ivoire
Theme 1. Age group: 11-13, Anthonia Imudia-omoregbe, school librarian, Nigeria
Alizava secondary school, Kupiškis district, Lithuania
Theme 1. Grade 4
Theme 2. Grade 4. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
Grade 4 students visited Kupiškis lagoon. They did not only enjoy beautiful nature but also collected a lot of pinecones.
Theme 3. Grade 4. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
Theme 4. Grade 4. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
The fourth graders were asked to find and cut out lots of pictures of people from old newspapers and magazines. Then they glued these pictures on sheets of paper forming families. Later, the students presented ‘the families’ they created and discussed the concept of a family. What do all families need? They also discussed the role of grandparents in the family. They shared stories about their grandparents, how often they communicated with them, or what the grandparents taught them to do, or what they learned from the grandparents’ personal experiences. Finally, they spoke about how they could help their grandparents.
Theme 1. Grade 6. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
Theme 2. Grade 6. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
Theme 3. Grade 6. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
The school principal and the physical education teacher organized a fun trip for the sixth grade students –
a hike through the wonderful nature of the Anykščiai region. Students thanked the organizers and hugged them.
Theme 4. Grade 6. Teacher Danutė Miknevičienė
6th grade students made fun collages for their sick classmates to wish them a speedy recovery and get back to school. Together with these greeting cards and collages, they took photos via messenger to send them to their sick friends who were very pleasantly surprised with this kind of care and attention. The students also took digital photos of their beloved grandparents and created informal photo frames during the activities. Then they pasted the printed photos of their grandparents into these frames. This way they congratulated their grandparents for their achievements in life.
Theme 1. Grade 5. Teacher Gražina Kigaitė
Theme 2. Grade 5. Teacher Gražina Kigaitė
Theme 3. Grade 5. Teacher Gražina Kigaitė
The 5th and 6th graders remembered their hiking trip around the Anykščiai region. Divided into groups, they participated in “a battle of wits” on the topic, titled “Who knows the Anykščiai region best.” The students also discussed the topic of gratitude. In their opinion, gratitude can be expressed by giving a ‘sweet prize’ or a ‘real medal’ and saying some nice words. The students were involved into the activity of writing individual letters with thanks for this beautiful trip. The activity was accompanied by listening to beautiful music.
Theme 4. Grade 5. Teacher Gražina Kigaitė
The fifth graders discussed how important it was to remember and pay respect to those who perished long time ago. Then they visited the local cemetery and spoke with the cemetery employee who showed them the old graves of families of priests and landowners. The students stood in silence next to these graves and long neglected chapels. They lit candles and said a prayer.
Theme 1. Grade 10. Teacher Daiva Yukonė
Theme 2. Grade 10. Daiva Yukonė
This week, students participated in the celebration of the European Day of Languages, translating the text “Kindness is the strongest force, and a smile can move mountains” into different languages. The students’ works decorated the walls of the school. Since autumn is already in full blossom here, the days are darker and gloomier, the students came up with the idea of looking for smiles and words of kindness in the outdoor spaces. They created words and smiles from natural materials, leaves, pinecones, or flowers, even two little people made of pebbles gave each other warmth in the form of a red heart. Even nature itself smiles at us with a rainbow.
Theme 3. Kindness Immersion. Grade 10. Daiva Yukonė
This week, during the lessons, we talked about the manifestations of friendship and noticing others, and caring for others and their importance for a friend or loved one. Students shared their experiences. During the breaks, the 10th graders helped the elementary school students in different ways – they accompanied them to the classroom or the hall, etc. They also paid great attention to showing sympathy while greeting others. It happened so that the students were also friendly and gentle with their pets!
Theme 4. Kindness Immersion. Grade 10. Daiva Yukonė
Theme 1. Grade 1. Teacher Birutė Kairienė
Theme 2. Grade 1. Teacher Birutė Kairienė
For Grade 1 students the world is primarily the world of nature full of inexhaustible beauty. This week the students visited the Anykščių district and inspected the place where the giant Puntuk stone lies, near the Šventoji river, in the Anykščių šileli landscape reserve. They admired the banks of the Holy River. They marveled Elme’s six-trunked oak. They “housed” the cow in the niche designated for the class, collected information about it, and depicted it with different means of expression. Students observed the beauty of nature in their home environment as well. While creating, observing the environment and diverse objects, the students felt elated and learned how to better understand the beauty of nature. They feel so proud of their contribution to the creation of beauty.
Theme 3. Grade 1. Teacher Birutė Kairienė
Theme 4. Grade 1. Teacher Birutė Kairienė
This week the students were invited to talk about the people who are very dear to them – their grandparents. These are the people who are part of almost every family and who take care of their grandchildren daily. While addressing their grandparents, the students used phrases like this, “You took care of us for many years, we remember the warmth of your hands; you taught us the truths of life, while spreading your tenderness, kindness, care, and love around the house.” Apparently, the first graders could tell a lot about their grandparents. During the class the students drew pictures and created portraits of their grandparents. At home they spoke with them about their hobbies and favorite foods. As a result, they learned that many grandfathers liked to gather mushrooms in the nearby forest and go fishing, while the grandmothers prefer taking care of the flowers in their gardens. Like grandchildren, grandparents love eating pancakes, mashed potatoes, and soup. The most welcomed guests in their houses, if they live by themselves, are their grandchildren. Grandchildren wish their grandparents health, peace, and joy. They send them their love and ask for forgiveness for not visiting them on a regular basis.
Croatia
Theme 1. Teacher Jasenka Tisucki, School “August Cesarec,” Ivankovo
Theme 2. Teacher Jasenka Tisucki
Theme 3. Teacher Jasenka Tisucki
Theme 5. Teacher Jasenka Tisucki
Theme 1. Cheering-up or Entertaining Others. Grade 5A, III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 2. Grade 5. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 3. Kindness Immersion. Grade 5. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
The students watched two videos – Aloha from Hawaii and Free hugs from Portugal. Then they discussed the differences between Portugal, Hawaii, and Croatia. They noticed that people looked different, and that in Portugal they are more dark-skinned, while in Hawaii they have a different eye shape. The students also mentioned that their school was not next to the beach. However, they all noticed that people looked happy when they hugged each other and when they were given a small sign of attention like an Aloha clay mug.
As a result, they decided to start practicing and using hugs in front of the school. It felt great. It was practically the same when they smiled at strangers on the street and greeted them.
Theme 4. Kindness Immersion. Grade 5. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
The students wrote heartfelt letters and created cards to their grandparents, drew nice pictures, and then visited their beloved grandmothers and grandfathers to present these gifts to them. They took photos together. Everyone was very happy.
Theme 7. Grade 5. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 1. Kindness Boost. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 2. Mini-Kindness Boost, Grades 2-3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin. Coordinator Valentina Habunek Mrazović
Theme 2. Super Kindness Boost. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
The students watched a recommended video where the girl Tanishi was signing and dancing. They were closely looking at Tanishi’s clothes and skin color, noticing similarities. On the globe they showed India, and then one student said that it is in Asia and that many people live there. When watching the video for the first time, the students were very quiet. They liked the song, and translated it into Croatian. Gradually, with music and movement, they happily imitated Tanisha’s movement and joined her. Three students did not want to get involved right away. A girl who was new to the class said she was too shy to dance, but later on she joined in too. We did a similar activity listening to the composition by C. Saint-Saens, Tortoise. The composition is slow and encourages the expression of slow movements, and gradually all students surrendered to the music. They shared their feelings of satisfaction and beauty, although some were still a little embarrassed.
Next day we will repeat the activity with a discussion of the theme of relaxation and creation of beauty and kindness through observation of nature and the aesthetics of dancing. We will connect both activities and point out that the beauty of expression unites us and encourages kindness. Tanishi inspired us to be beautiful and kind, so we can inspire others. A possible idea is to rehearse this dance and encourage other school students to join us.
Theme 2. Kindness Immersion. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 3. Kindness Boost. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Children prepared letters and drawings to the school staff expressing gratitude and appreciation of their work. After letters were delivered, many employees responded to our students saying that the latter brightened their day and that it was very meaningful for them. Our cleaner who helped distributing the drawings to the employees, sent photos of the drawings to a shared Viber group, which includes all school employees, and wrote that everyone from the school could see how they were shown kindness. It was really a very meaningful activity!
Theme 3. Kindness Immersion. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
The students were very happy to see the Curricula Materials suggested videos – Free Hugs and ALOHA. They said that this was very nice, and that everyone must have felt good while doing this kind of activities. The students also mentioned that this could be done in any part of the world, and that kindness was universal. Then the students discussed what they could do, a type of a project that would make people around them feel happy. As a result, they decided to extend their kindness beyond the school to a nearby kindergarten. The idea was to bring the kindergarteners something that the students would make for them to celebrate International Day of Kindness on November 13. The kindergarten director was very happy to hear this and invited the students for a visit.
Theme 4. Kindness Boost. Grade 2. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 2. Kindness Boost. Grade 3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 3. Super Kindness Boost. Grade 3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Theme 4. Kindness Boost. Grades 2 and 3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
The students were motivated to discuss what they could do to help the elderly living in the neighborhood. They suggested that they would like to help carrying bags from the store, mowing grass, visiting them regularly, bringing fruit, and in principle, showing some small signs of attention. To start with, the students decided to draw pictures and write letters to their grandparents and elderly neighbors to show them their love and respect. Some of the students suggested that it would be a good idea to visit a senior living house and express their kindness that way as well. The teacher is now considering how to organize such a visit, and the students are preparing for it.
Theme 4. Kindness Immersion. Grades 2 and 3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Last week, when the students were drawing and writing to their grandparents, they also expressed their wish to visit a local senior living house. The school contacted the house and they agreed to meet with the students. Now the children are working hard, making Christmas decorations and greeting cards. In the second half of December they will surprise the seniors with a visit and Christmas gifts. The administration of the senior living house is delighted with this idea and are looking forward to the visit.
Theme 5. Kindness Boost. Grades 2 and 3. III. Osnovna Škola, Varaždin
Food waste was the focal point of our discussions this week. The students learned that excessive food waste is a global problem. In the world, an average of 74 kilograms of food is thrown away per inhabitant in a year, and in Croatia, it is 84 kilograms. We learned from our school chef that 60 kg of food is wasted in our school every day. The school pedagogue Valentina and the chef spoke with the students about this situation and discussed ways to reduce the waste. They decided to create a project to encourage everyone to eat more cooked food and not throw so much food in the trash. For this, students will be rewarded with a cake (the chef decided to reward them) and receive some special awards (cleaning, being polite to others, not throwing away food, etc.). This calendar year, the project will include Grades 1-4, and next year – Grades 5-8. Even in less than a week the chef already noticed a big change and the decrease in the food waste. That is how children demonstrate kindness to the environment. To also show care for the environment, the students planted some plants.
Turkey. Theme 4. Kindness Boost. Grade 1
USA. Theme 1. Kindness Boost & Kindness Immersion
Jeff Weber and his students, Brea Olinda High School
The activities were split over 3 days. Day 1 was the introduction, including watching a short video from the project website and a follow-up discussion what kindness is. Then, students wrote/drew their initial feelings. On Day 2, the students crumbled up the messages and picked up a new one (watch the video on the left). On Day 3 each student shared the paper that they picked up and their own response. The teachers used each share out as an opportunity to discuss as a group. Alicia Camacho, a student teacher, and Jeff Weber, Education Specialist, Brea Olinda HS, Brea, CA, USA.
Theme 2. Kindness Immersion
Jeff Weber and his students, Brea Olinda High School
We divided the class into two groups of 8 students and 3 staff each. Each group went to opposite ends of the campus quad and located a relaxing spot that featured trees, grass, and shade. The teachers asked the students to pick a location on campus that was relaxing, a good place to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Each group then walked to and settled into those locations. Once there, everyone sat down and each student was asked to think about their “happy place”, or outdoor space where they felt most comfortable and relaxed. After relaxing and reflecting for a few minutes, each student was then instructed to write down where that place would be, or draw a picture of it. (Each student had a pencil and a mini spiral notebook.) We walked back to class and got ready to go home for the day. The next day, we played Khushali’s video, reflected on yesterday’s activity, and were then instructed to draw a full sized color picture of the place they either wrote about or drew a sketch of the day before. After drawing their pictures, each student shared with the class about their happy place or relaxing location.
Theme 3. Kindness Immersion
Jeff Weber and his students, Brea Olinda High School
Theme 4. Contributing to the family/community.
Jeff Weber and his students, Brea Olinda High School, Brea, CA
