Kindness Unit

adapted from: http://www.erasemeanness.org/the-lesson.html

by: Alexandra Keresztes, Student Teacher

Common Core Connections:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the
text
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a
story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a characters
thoughts, words, or actions)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.7 - Make connections between the text of a story or
drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each
version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.B Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out
assigned roles
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.C Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or
follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and
link to the remarks of others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.D Review the key ideas expressed and explain their
own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion

Social Studies GSEs Connections:

RI Social Studies GSEs - C&G 5 (3-4)2 Students demonstrate an understanding
of the benefits and challenges of an interconnected world by exploring current
issues using a variety of print and non-print sources
RI Social Studies GSEs - HP 5 (3-4)2a Students demonstrate an understanding
that culture has affected how people in a society behave in relation to groups and
their environment by comparing how members within cultures interact with each
other and their environment

Kindness quotes:
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop
Leave footprints of love and kindness wherever you go.
Treat everyone with kindness, even those who are rude to you, not because they
are nice, but because you are.
Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Mark
Twain
Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. Theyre underused. Tommy Lee
Jones
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato
Your wealth or status doesnt make you, your kindness and character do. Venkat
Desireddy
One kind word can change someones entire day.
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. Booker T. Washington
To BE KIND is MORE important than to be right. Many times, what people need is
NOT a brilliant mind that speaks, but a SPECIAL HEART that LISTENS.
You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can
never repay you.
If you cant be a pencil to write someones happiness, then try to be a nice eraser
to remove their sadness.
A little spark of kindness can put a COLOSSAL burst of sunshine into someones
day.
Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.
Kind words can be short and easy to spread, but their echoes are truly endless.
Mother Teresa
Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things, even if we do
not get anything in return. It is the joy we receive that drives these simple acts.
When we perform acts of kindness, driven solely by an insatiable desire to love one
another, there is kindness in everything we say and do.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love. Lao Tzu
3

The Great Kindness Challenge:

What
happens to
the board?

Media
Clips/
Resources

Related
Vocabulary

Day 1 Monday
Anticipatory Set and
Disequilibrium
As students arrive: Clear
off an entire white board.
Move all materials on it to
another space and
completely wipe the board
during morning work.
The Price of Silence
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=wY7Gvp0P4hc
Anti-Bullying ad
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4
Bully a person who
continuously hurts
someone verbally,
emotionally, or mentally

Day 2 Tuesday
Make Meanness Visible

Day 3 Wednesday
Meanness Overwhelms

Day 4 Thursday
Ask the Question

Day 5 Friday
Replace Meanness with
Kindness

Write the word

meanness on the board
in black marker. Leave it
alone for the entire day.

Before students arrive:

Fill the board with mean
words. Use only black
and blue markers.

Erase a space among the

mean words and replace
with how do you want to
be remembered? in large,
black letters.

At the end of the video,

silently walk to the board and
replace the word meanness
with the word kindness in a
bright marker.

Break the Chain

https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=myUxTgYGLH
g&list=PLuxT6Ef3SEzgqfw
YIYTPA8r1NFf8gDCiO&ind
ex=1

Word Play PSA

https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=LEBia-lbwmo

Personal stories

Spotify Playlist

Legacy

Kindness

Dont Laugh at Me
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=HTNVXlirF4Y

Meanness

http://lessons4now.com/w
pcontent/uploads/2013/05/p
icture-list.png

Unfamiliar words on
board

Kindness Boomerang
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=nwAYpLVyeFU

Bystander vs. Reactor

Discussion/
Activity

Goal

How do you describe the

bystanders actions?
How can one person make
a difference?

Challenge pre-existing
thinking of what is a bully
and what makes a hero.

What is meanness?
Discuss with small groups
as a collaborative
discussion and share out
with whole class.

Meanness can take many

forms.

See how many words

there are associated with
mean behavior.
Discuss those that are
unfamiliar.

Meanness is
overwhelming.

Reflections on their
legacy. Who do they
want to become?
Connect behaviors to the
way we are remembered.
Personal stories from
teachers (own or what we
have seen).

How do you want to be

remembered?

Hand the marker off to a

student in the class. Ask
them to help you replace
meanness with kindness. Pass
out more colorful markers
and ask students for help
play music in the background
from Kindness Week playlist
on Spotify.
Discuss: is it gone?
Show other video: kindness is
contagious.
Although we cannot totally
get rid of meanness, kindness
overtakes its presence.

Count Your Kind Acts:

Prior to the beginning of this unit, students will be creating Kindness Bracelets from
pipe cleaners and beads. Beginning during Kindness Week, and continuing through the
rest of the month, students will be asked to complete at least one Act of Kindness
each day and record it on a Kindness sheet. The sheet will have spaces to write an
act of kindness they completed each day and, for every act they complete, they will
move a bead across their bracelet. A sample sheet is included on the next page.
Students will choose the color of their pipe cleaner and string seven beads of their
choice onto the pipe cleaner. Bracelets will then be sized and collected until the
beginning of Kindness week.

Count Your Kind Acts

Every time you do an act of kindness, move a bead over to the other side of your
bracelet and write the act down on the line below for the day you did it.
Do one for each day for the whole week including Saturday and Sunday!!!
Monday - _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Tuesday - _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Wednesday - ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Thursday ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Friday - _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Saturday ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Sunday - _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Bring this sheet back on Monday and earn a sticker for your chart. If the whole class
brings the sheet back, we will add FIVE marbles to the jar!!!!

Media Lists:
Prezi Presentation with videos already embedded and to guide discussions:
http://prezi.com/opvbxscbxoll/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0s
hare

Monday
o YouTube Videos:
The Price of Silence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY7Gvp0P4hc
Anti-Bullying ad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4
o Padlet:
http://padlet.com/keresztesalex/oneperson
password: grade 4
Tuesday
o YouTube Videos:
Dont Laugh at Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTNVXlirF4Y
Wednesday
o (no media) for suggested word list see page 10
Thursday
o Break the Chain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myUxTgYGLHg&list=PLuxT
6Ef3SEzgqfwYIYTPA8r1NFf8gDCiO&index=1
o Padlet:
http://padlet.com/keresztesalex/legacy

 Password: grade4
Friday
o YouTube Videos:
Word Play PSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEBia-lbwmo
Kindness Boomerang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwAYpLVyeFU
o Spotify Playlist: Kindness Week
Outside Looking In by Jordan Pruitt
Brave by Sara Bareilles
Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips
Count On Me by Bruno Mars
Perfect by Simple Plan
Gold by Britt Nicole
Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne
True Friend by Hannah Montana
Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Suggested Words to Put on the Board for Wednesday:

abusive
annoy
annoying
antagonistic
assault
attack
badger
bait
bitter
bombard
bother
browbeat
brutish
bulldoze
bully
callous
coerce
cold
coldhearted
combat
controlling
cruel
damage
detached
disagreeable
domineer
dour

dreadful
evil
fierce
frighten
grim
gruff
harass
hard
hard-hearted
harm
harsh
hateful
heartless
heckle
hinder
hostile
hurt
ill-treat
inconsiderate
indifferent
inferior
inflict
injure
insensitive
intimidate
intolerant
malevolent
maltreat

manhandle
manipulate
mean
meanness
merciless
mischievous
misdeed
nasty
offend
offensive
oppress
order
overbearing
overwhelm
persecute
perverse
pester
pitiful
pitiless
pressure
punish
punitive
put down
resentful
revengeful
rough up
ruffian
ruthless

10

sadden
second-class
selfish
spiteful
stern
stubborn
taunt
tease
terrorize
thoughtless
threaten
torment
tough
uncaring
uncivil
unemotional
unfeeling
unfriendly
unkind
unpleasant
unsympathetic
upset
vengeful
vicious
victimize
wicked
wound

Song Lyrics:
Outside Looking In by Jordan Pruitt
You don't know my name
you don't know anything about me
I try to play nice
I want to be in your game
The things that you say
You may think I never hear about them
But word travels fast
I'm telling you to your face
I'm standing here behind your back

To be outside the crowd

You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the
outside looking in
Well, I'm tired of staying at home
I'm bored and all alone
I'm sick of wasting all my time

[Chorus:]

[Chorus (x2):]

You don't know how it feels

To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the
outside looking in

You don't know how it feels

To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the
outside looking in

If you could read my mind

You might see more of me than meets
the eye
And you've been all wrong
Not who you think I am
You've never given me a chance

You don't know how it feels

To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the
outside looking in

[Chorus:]

You don't know how it feels

11

Brave by Sara Bareilles

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebodys lack of love
Or you can start speaking up

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Nothings gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

And since your history of silence

Wont do you any good,
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why dont you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
I
I
I
I

just wanna see you

just wanna see you
just wanna see you
wanna see you be brave

I
I
I
I

just wanna see you

just wanna see you
just wanna see you
wanna see you be brave

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
I
I
I
I

just wanna see you

just wanna see you
just wanna see you
wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
See you be brave

Everybodys been there,

Everybodys been stared down by the enemy
Fallen for the fear
And done some disappearing,
Bow down to the mighty
Dont run, just stop holding your tongue

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you

Maybe theres a way out of the cage where you

live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you

12

Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips

When life leaves you high and dry
I'll be at your door tonight
If you need help, if you need help.
I'll shut down the city lights,
I'll lie, cheat, I'll beg and bribe
To make you well, to make you well.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.
I'll love you long after you're gone
And long after you're gone, gone, gone.
You're my back bone.
You're my cornerstone.
You're my crutch when my legs stop moving.
You're my head start.
You're my rugged heart.
You're the pulse that I've always needed.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum my heart never stops beating...

When enemies are at your door

I'll carry you away from war
If you need help, if you need help.
Your hope dangling by a string
I'll share in your suffering
To make you well, to make you well.
Give me reasons to believe
That you would do the same for me.

For you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on.
I'll love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I'll love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on,
I'll love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I'll love you long, long after you're gone.

And I would do it for you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on
I'll love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I'll love you long after you're gone
And long after you're gone, gone, gone.
When you fall like a statue
I'm gon' be there to catch you
Put you on your feet, you on your feet.
And if your well is empty
Not a thing will prevent me.
Tell me what you need, what do you need?

Like
Like
Like
Like
you.

I surrender honestly.
You've always done the same for me.
So I would do it for you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on,
I'll love you long after you're gone.

a
a
a
a

drum, baby, don't stop beating.

drum, baby, don't stop beating.
drum, baby, don't stop beating.
drum my heart never stops beating for

And long after you're gone, gone, gone.

I'll love you long after you're gone, gone, gone.

13

Count On Me by Bruno Mars

[Verse 1:]

Oooh
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in
need

Oh uh-huh
If you ever find yourself stuck in the
middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark
and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you

[Chorus:]

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed
to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

Find out what we're made of

When we are called to help our friends in
need

[Chorus:]

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed
to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you

cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You know...

[Chorus:]

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed
to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh

[Verse 2:]

If you're tossin' and you're turnin'

And you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you
really mean to me
Every day I will remind you

You can count on me 'cause I can count on

you

14

Perfect by Simple Plan

Hey dad look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according to plan?
And do you think I'm wasting my time doing
things I wanna do?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along

'Cause we lost it all

Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

And now I try hard to make it

I just wanna make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
Can't pretend that
I'm alright
And you can't change me

Nothing's gonna change the things that you

said
Nothing's gonna make this right again (right
again)
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand (you don't
understand)

'Cause we lost it all

Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

'Cause we lost it all

Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

I try not to think

About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used to be my hero?
All the days you spent with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't care anymore

'Cause we lost it all

Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

And now I try hard to make it

I just wanna make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing's alright

15

Gold by Britt Nicole

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh

(Gold gold, you're gold)

You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

You were walking on the moon, now you're

feeling low
What they said wasn't true, you're beautiful
Sticks and stones break your bones, I know
what you're feeling
Words like those won't steal your glow, you're
one in a million

So don't let anybody tell you that you're not

loved
And don't let anybody tell you that you're not
enough
Yeah there are days that we all feel like we're
messed up
But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the
rough

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the
world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more
than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more
than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown

You're a king you're a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh,
You're gold
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the
world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more
than gold
(So hold your head) So hold your head up high,
It's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more
than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold you're gold)

When everybody keeps score, afraid you're

gonna lose
Just ignore they don't know the real you
All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the
world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more
than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more
than gold

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown

You're a king you're a queen inside and out

16

Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through
Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change
destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through

La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah

Keep holding on
Keep holding on

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do

There's nothing you could say

Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make
it through

17

True Friend by Hannah Montana

[Verse 1]

[Chorus 2]

We sign our cards and letters BFF

You've got a million ways to make me
laugh
You're lookin' out for me; you've got my
back
It's so good to have you around

A true friend
You're here till the end
You pull me aside
When something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again

You know the secrets I could never tell

And when I'm quiet you break through
my shell
Don't feel the need to do a rebel yell
Cause you keep my feet on the ground

[Bridge]

True friends will go to the end of the

earth
Till they find the things you need
Friends hang on through the ups and
the downs
Cause they've got someone to believe in

[Chorus 1]

You're a true friend

You're here till the end
You pull me aside
When something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again
You're a true friend

[Chorus 3]

A true friend
You're here till the end
You pull me aside
When something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
No need to pretend
You're a true friend
You're here till the end
Pull me aside
When something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again
You're a true friend [3x]

[Verse 2]

You don't get angry when I change the

plans
Somehow you're never out of second
chances
Won't say "I told you" when I'm wrong
again
I'm so lucky that I've found

18

Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

When I see your smile
Tears roll down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through
my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

[to fade]

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one
I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my
whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all

19