Lesson Plan

Kindness Compass Lesson Plan

Students will reflect on kindness and empathy they experienced this year and set personal kindness intentions for the next year, building self-awareness, perspective-taking, and goal-setting skills.

Reflecting on acts of kindness helps students recognize positive social interactions, develop empathy, and articulate feelings. Setting kindness intentions fosters a forward-looking mindset and strengthens classroom community as they head into the new year.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Warm-Up

5 minutes

Step 2

Empathy Reflection Activity

10 minutes

Step 3

Partner Sharing and Active Listening

5 minutes

Step 4

Kindness Intention Setting

7 minutes

Step 5

Closing and Sharing Intentions

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Kindness Compass

Welcome everyone! Today we’re starting our Kindness Compass lesson. Explain that we’ll reflect on kindness we experienced this year and set intentions for next year. Introduce the title: Kindness Compass.

Learning Objectives

Read each objective aloud. Encourage students to listen for what we’ll accomplish today.

Warm-Up Question

Pose the question and give students a moment to think. Then have them share with a partner before inviting volunteers to speak aloud.

Empathy Reflection Activity

Distribute the Empathy Reflection Chart and Reflection Prompts Worksheet. Guide students while they complete the prompts, reminding them to consider both giver’s and receiver’s perspectives.

Partner Sharing & Active Listening

Model active listening: eye contact, nodding, asking ‘How did that feel?’ Then let partners switch roles after 2–3 minutes.

Kindness Intention Setting

Hand out the Kindness Intention Cards. Encourage students to be specific and creative with their drawings or writing.

Closing & Sharing Intentions

Invite a few volunteers to share their intentions. Collect cards to display on the classroom kindness reflection board. Praise thoughtful ideas and encourage follow-through.

Lesson Plan

Kindness Compass Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Introduction and Warm-Up

Step 2

Empathy Reflection Activity

Step 3

Partner Sharing and Active Listening

Step 4

Kindness Intention Setting

Step 5

Closing and Sharing Intentions

Slide Deck

Kindness Compass

Learning Objectives

Warm-Up Question

Empathy Reflection Activity

Partner Sharing & Active Listening

Kindness Intention Setting

Closing & Sharing Intentions

Worksheet

Worksheet

Activity

Kindness Compass

Kylie Taniguchi