Looking for a little kindness? Look no further than Fairfield Elementary School, where youngsters have started out the year spreading positive vibes.
Students in Anne Goode’s first grade class worked on “kind to the core” projects. Each child went apple picking by selecting a paper apple with a classmate’s name on it, then writing a short, kind message to that peer. Her class also read “The Kindness Book” by author Todd Parr.
In fifth grade, students in Olivia Anderson’s class were connected by kindness. They created a kindness chain out of paper links from each student. They wrote two messages based on prompts such as “I can show kindness by…” and “Kindness looks like…” The chain will hang in the classroom as a daily reminder to be kind to each other.
Kimberly Ordon’s third graders learned about Welles Crowther, the man in the red bandana, a 9/11 hero who helped save people from the Twin Towers. As a follow-up activity, they explored ways they can show kindness in school, at home and in their community. Their “I Can Make a Difference” worksheets hung outside the classroom, with each student listing three ways he or she could make a positive impact.