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Project and PurposeStudents will:

• Prepareforandparticipateinaclassroomtownmeeting thatincludestheprincipalandanyotherschool personnelregardingwaystopreventbullyingintheir school.• Summarizetheresultsofameetinginaletterthanking theprincipalforhisorherparticipationinthemeeting.

Essential QuestionHowcanweshowkindnessinourschool?

Character and Life Skills: Kindness Lesson Title: Town Hall Meeting Grade Level: 3-5

Materials• Pens,pencils,crayons,markers• Paper,constructionpaper,cardstock,posterboard

ProcedureIntroduction

1. Beginthisactivitybyaskingyourstudentstodefinetheterm“townhallmeeting.”Explaintoyour studentsthatatownhallmeetingisagatheringatwhichthepeoplewholiveinaparticulararealikea townoracitydiscussissuesthataffectthem.

2. Continuebyaskingstudentstoexplainwhatatownhallmeetingfortheirschoolcouldbelike.Who wouldparticipate?Why?Wherewoulditbeheld?Whattopicswouldbecovered?Howcouldwe ensureeveryonehadanequalsay?(Studentsmightexplainthatthemeetingwouldbesimilartoa townhallmeetingexcepttheparticipantsmightincludestudents,parents,teachers,and administrators,andtheparticipantswoulddiscussissuesthatareimportanttotheirschool.)

3. Askstudentstosharesomeexamplesoftheissuesandproblemsthatmightbeaddressedatatown hallmeetingheldintheschool.Makealist.

Direct Instruction (I do)1. Explaintoyourstudentsthattheclasswillholdatownhallmeetingtodiscussbullyingandviolencein theirschool.Inaddition,theywillinvitetheprincipaltoparticipateinthemeeting.

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2. Describehowatownmeetingworks:

• Afacilitatorcallsthemeetingtoorderandasksthememberstotaketheirplaces(sitdown).The membersareexpectedtoberespectfultoeveryoneinthegroupincludingthespeakerandkindto eachother.• Aleaderisstandsbeforethetownmembershipandspeaksbrieflyonatopic.• Thetownmemberswhowishtoaskquestionslineuptothesideofthegroupandwaittheirturn. Thefacilitatorhelpsorganizethepeopleinline.• Whiletheleaderanswersthequestion,thememberreturnstohis/herplaceintheassembly.• Thereshouldbenomorethanfivepeoplelinedupatanytimetoaskquestions.Ifeveryonehas questions,thenafacilitator(you,theteacher)distributesnumberstocreateanorderinwhichthe questionswillbeanswered.• Attheendofthemeeting,thefacilitatoradjournsthemeeting.

Guided Exploration (We do)1. Dividestudentsintogroupsoffourorfiveandtellthemthattheirtaskistocomeupwiththe following:

• Atleastonesuggestionofhowtopreventbullying• Atleastonesuggestionforhowtoincreasekindnessintheirschool• Atleastonequestiontoasktheprincipalorotherschoolstaffmembersinthemeetingonthistopic

Studentsworkwiththeirgroupstobrainstormalistofsuggestionsandquestionsfortheprincipal.

2. Duringthistime,teacherfloatstoeachgrouptomonitorthediscussions.

3. Whengroupshavecompletedthetasks,havestudentssharetheirsuggestionsandquestions.Create alistwhereeveryonecansee.

4. Ifneeded,brainstormafewmoreideasaloud.

Note:Teachershouldwritedownthesuggestionsandquestionstopresenttotheprincipalbeforethe meetingsohe/shehastimetoprepare.

5. Asaclass,havestudentscomposealetterinvitingtheirprincipaltothemeeting.

Independent Practice (You do)Onthedayofthemeeting,alloweachgrouptoaskitsquestion(s)andpresentitssuggestion(s).Encourageothergroupstorespondtothesuggestionsandquestionswhenappropriateandinapositivemanner.

ConclusionConcludetheactivitybyaskingyourstudentstowriteathank-youlettertotheirprincipalrestatingsomethingpositivetheirlearnedfromthemeeting.Thiscanbedoneindividuallyorintheirsmallgroups.Oncetheyarefinished,haveaquickdiscussionaboutwhatwaslearnedatthetownhallmeetingregardingbullyingandkindness.Howiswritingalettertotheprincipalanactofkindness?

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Vocabularyallegiance (n.)

Definition: loyaltytoaleader,country,belief,etc.Context:whenwerecitethePledgeofAllegiance,wearepromisingourloyaltytoourcountry.

bullying (n.) Definition: theactofthreateningtohurtsomeoneorfrightenhimorher,especiallysomeonesmallerorweakerContext:ThesafetymonitorsatJuan’sschoolhelppreventbullyingbytellingteacherswhentheywitnesscruelbehavior.

dedicated (adj.)Definition: havingthedesireandcommitmenttoworkveryhardtoaccomplishagoalortaskContext:Ashleypracticeshersoccerdrillseverydaybecausesheisdedicatedtobecomingabetterplayer.

helpfulness (n.)Definition: reachingouttoothers;careorhelpprovidedtoapersontomakehisorherlifeeasierContext:BecauseofKrystal’shelpfulness,manyofthechildrenshetutorsareimprovingtheirgrades.

honor system (n.)Definition: anagreementbetweenmembersofagrouptoobeycertainrules,althoughnoonecheckstomakesuretherulesarebeingfollowedContext:EventhoughRickyknewnoonewaswatching,heupheldthehonorsystembypayingforthecandybarinsteadofstealingit.

kindness (n.)Definition: beingnicetoothers;thestateofbeingcaring,compassionate,helpful,etc.,towardsomeoneContext:OnewaythatShakirademonstrateskindnessisbyreadingtoyoungerstudentsafterschool.

loyalty (n.)Definition: stickingbysomeone;thequalityofremainingfaithfultoyourfriends,principles,country,etc.Context:ChoosingtohelphisgrandparentsinsteadofwatchingthefootballgameisproofofJaime’sfamilyloyalty.

thankful (adj.)Definition: gratefulandgladaboutsomethingthathashappenedContext:Marlaisthankfulherbrotherwasn’tinjuredinthecaraccident.

town hall meeting (n.)Definition: agatheringatwhichthepeoplewholiveinatowndiscusssubjectsorproblemsthataffecttheirtownContext:MayorGrimesplanstodiscusstherisingcrimerateduringournexttownhallmeeting.