The Kindness Challenge Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify ways to practice being kind at school and at home.

 

Social-Emotional Learning Focus:

relationship skills

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, narrative writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

vocabulary

 

Vocabulary:

kindness

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions; W.2.3 narrative writing

 

Guided Reading Level: 

J

 

Lexile Level: 

400L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on kindness.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Choose to be Kind.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one way you can be kind?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured word is kindness.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Explain that a good way to be kind to others is to think about how you would like to be treated.
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about how you would want to be treated.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • The “How Do I Feel” game is a great way to build vocabulary—and empathy!

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important SEL and ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the word kindness.

Editor’s Pick: Narrative Writing (15 min.)

  • The My Kindness Moment skill sheet gives children a chance to tell about an experience in which they were kind.

SEL Focus: Relationship Skills (15 min.)

  • The How Would You Be Kind? skill sheet gives children two scenarios and asks them how they would be kind in each one.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on kindness:

  • “When Words Hurt,” September 2019. This issue introduces kids to Cameron, a boy who started an anti-bullying club.
  • “An End to Bullying,” September 2020. In this issue, kids meet Mercayah Carter, a girl who published her own book to try to stop bullying.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 460L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 300L