Lesson Plan

Spreading Kindness

Students will understand how small acts of kindness build community connections and practice planning and committing to kind actions, fostering relationship skills and social awareness through collaborative projects and reflection.

This lesson helps students recognize the impact of empathy and intentional kindness, strengthening peer relationships, community engagement, and responsible decision-making, aligning with CASEL’s social-emotional learning goals.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials & Environment

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Kindness

5 minutes

Step 2

Explore CASEL Competencies

10 minutes

Step 3

Plan the Kindness Challenge

15 minutes

Step 4

Reflect & Commit

10 minutes

Slide Deck

Kindness Ripple Effect

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Mention how one small act can start a chain reaction of kindness.

Today's Objectives

Outline what we will cover today. Emphasize hands-on planning and personal reflection.

What Is a Ripple Effect?

Explain the metaphor of a pebble dropped in water creating expanding ripples. Ask for student examples.

CASEL Competencies

Introduce CASEL’s five core competencies. Clarify that today we’ll focus on two: Relationship Skills and Social Awareness.

Key Competencies: Definitions

Define each competency and invite quick examples from students.

Plan Your Kindness Challenge

Explain the brainstorming process. Remind groups to use the project plan template and assign roles.

Reflect & Commit

Guide students through the reflection worksheet. Emphasize how logging actions helps track the ripple effect.

Next Steps

Thank students for their participation. Remind them to carry out their commitments and look for ripples.

Lesson Plan

Spreading Kindness

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials & Environment

Step 1

Introduction to Kindness

Step 2

Explore CASEL Competencies

Step 3

Plan the Kindness Challenge

Step 4

Reflect & Commit

Slide Deck

Kindness Ripple Effect

Today's Objectives

What Is a Ripple Effect?

CASEL Competencies

Key Competencies: Definitions

Plan Your Kindness Challenge

Reflect & Commit

Next Steps

Project Guide

Worksheet

Kindness Ripple Effect

Margaret Olson