Kindness Unit

adapted from: http://www.erasemeanness.org/the-lesson.html by: Alexandra Keresztes, Student Teacher

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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

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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

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The Great Kindness Challenge:

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Day 1 Monday

Anticipatory Set and

Disequilibrium

Day 2 Tuesday Make Meanness Visible

Day 3 Wednesday Meanness Overwhelms

Day 4 Thursday Ask the Question

Day 5 Friday Replace Meanness with

Kindness

What

happens to

the board?

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.

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.

Media

Clips/

Resources

The Price of Silence https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=wY7Gvp0P4hc

Anti-Bullying ad https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4

Dont Laugh at Me https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=HTNVXlirF4Y

http://lessons4now.com/w

p-

content/uploads/2013/05/p

icture-list.png

Break the Chain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myUxTgYGLHg&list=PLuxT6Ef3SEzgqfwYIYTPA8r1NFf8gDCiO&ind

ex=1

Personal stories

Word Play PSA https://www.youtube.com/wa

tch?v=LEBia-lbwmo

Kindness Boomerang

https://www.youtube.com/wa

tch?v=nwAYpLVyeFU

Spotify Playlist

Related

Vocabulary

Bully a person who continuously hurts

someone verbally,

emotionally, or mentally

Bystander vs. Reactor

Meanness Unfamiliar words on

board Legacy Kindness

Discussion/

Activity

How do you describe the

bystanders actions?

How can one person make

a difference?

What is meanness?

Discuss with small groups

as a collaborative

discussion and share out

with whole class.

See how many words

there are associated with

mean behavior.

Discuss those that are

unfamiliar.

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).

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.

Goal

Challenge pre-existing

thinking of what is a bully

and what makes a hero.

Meanness can take many

forms.

Meanness is

overwhelming.

How do you want to be

remembered?

Although we cannot totally

get rid of meanness, kindness

overtakes its presence.

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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.

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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!!!!

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Media Lists:

Prezi Presentation with videos already embedded and to guide discussions: http://prezi.com/opvbxscbxoll/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

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=PLuxT6Ef3SEzgqfwYIYTPA8r1NFf8gDCiO&index=1

o Padlet: http://padlet.com/keresztesalex/legacy

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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

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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

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

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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 [Chorus:] 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 [Chorus:] 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 Well, I'm tired of staying at home I'm bored and all alone I'm sick of wasting all my time [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

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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 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 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 just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna 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 Maybe theres a way out of the cage where you live Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

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

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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. 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. 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? 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.

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

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Count On Me by Bruno Mars

[Verse 1:] 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 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 [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

Oooh 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 You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

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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 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 '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 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

'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 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

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Gold by Britt Nicole

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh 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 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) 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

(Gold gold, you're gold) You're worth more than gold (Gold gold, you're gold) 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 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) So don't be ashamed to wear your crown You're a king you're a queen inside and out

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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 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 '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 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 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 Keep holding on Keep holding on 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

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True Friend by Hannah Montana

[Verse 1] 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 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 [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 [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

[Chorus 2] 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 [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 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]

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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 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

Even if saving you sends me to heaven [to fade]