Kindness Lesson Plan Kindness Connects Us
Tier 2 Social Skills Lesson
20
Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will learn how to start simple conversations and demonstrate kind behaviors towards their peers to build positive social connections.
Target Audience
Kindergarten
Tier 2 Small Group
Why This Lesson Matters
"Learning to initiate conversations and be kind are foundational social-emotional skills that help kindergarteners make friends, feel included, and navigate their classroom environment successfully."
Materials Needed
Kindness Connects Us Slides
Greeting Game Warm-Up Guide
Starting Conversations & Kindness Script
Kindness Connections Activity Guide
Optional: Kindness Ball / Plush Toy
5-Minute Prep
Review all lesson materials (lesson plan, warm-up, script, slides, and activity). Gather a "kindness ball" or soft plush if using one for the activity.
Lesson Procedure
Time Phase Description 5 min Warm-Up Greeting Game: Facilitate the chain greeting. Focus on eye contact and smiles. Discuss how it feels to be greeted.5 min Instruction Starting Conversations: Discuss friendly words and simple questions (e.g., "What's your favorite color?"). Use Slides & Script.8 min Activity Kindness Connections: Facilitate the "Compliment Chain". Students practice giving compliments or asking kind questions.2 min Reflection Wrap-Up: Share one new way to show kindness today. Reinforce the "Kindness Superhero" concept.
Greeting Game Warm Up Greeting Game
Warm-Up Activity Guide
Objective
Students will practice initiating greetings and making eye contact with peers in a friendly manner.
1
Set the Stage
"Good morning, wonderful friends! Today we are going to learn about something super special: how to be a kind friend and how to start talking to new people! It's like unlocking a secret superpower to make new friends!"
Explain that you'll be playing a greeting game. Remind them to look at their friend's eyes and give a big, friendly smile.
2
Teacher Models
Choose one student to greet first. Use a warm, enthusiastic voice.
Example:
"Hi [Student's Name], it's so good to see you today!"
3
Start the Chain
The student you greeted now chooses another friend to greet. Continue until everyone has had a turn.
Friendly Reminder:
"Remember to look at your friend's eyes and smile!"
4
Reflect & Talk
After everyone has finished, ask the following reflection questions. Provide space for student answers.
How did that feel? Did it feel good to have a friend say hello to you?
And how did it feel to say hello to a friend?
Kindness Script Facilitation Script
Kindness Connects Us
Say This
Do This
Ask This
5 MIN
Warm-Up: Greeting Game
"Let's start our day with our Greeting Game! Remember to make eye contact and smile as you greet your friends."
Facilitate the Greeting Game Warm-Up activity. Ensure every student is included in the chain.
"How did that feel? Did it feel good to have a friend say hello to you? And how did it feel to say hello to a friend?"
5 MIN
Starting Conversations
"That was a great start! Sometimes, we want to play with someone new, or we want to get to know them better, but we don't know what to say. It's like our words get stuck!"
"But guess what? It's easy to start a conversation with a kind heart and a friendly voice! What are some friendly words we can use to start talking to someone new?"
(Wait for: "Hi," "Hello," "Can I play?")
"A super way to start a conversation is to ask a simple question. Like, 'What's your favorite color?' or 'Do you like to play with blocks?' What are some other easy questions you could ask a new friend?"
"Remember to smile when you ask!"
8 MIN
Kindness Connections
"Now it's time to practice our new superpower! We are going to do a Kindness Connections Activity! In this activity, we will take turns giving a compliment to a friend or asking them a kind question. A compliment is when you say something nice about someone."
"Who would like to start by giving a compliment to a friend, or asking them a kind question?"
Guide students through the Compliment Chain. Provide sentence starters like "I like your..." or "Can I ask you..." if they get stuck.
2 MIN
Wrap-Up & Reflection
"Wow, you all did such a wonderful job being kind and starting conversations! You are becoming conversation superheroes!"
"Can someone tell me one new way they will start a conversation or show kindness today?"
"Remember, when we use our kind words and friendly smiles, we make our classroom a happy place for everyone! Keep practicing your kindness and conversation superpowers!"
Kindness Connections Activity Compliment Chain
Kindness Connections Activity
Objective
Students will practice starting conversations and giving compliments to peers, fostering a kind and inclusive environment.
Materials
Small group space
Optional: "Kindness ball" or plush toy
How to Play
1
Gather & Introduce
"Friends, we're going to play a special game called 'Compliment Chain'! This game helps us practice being kind and using our words to make others feel good."
2
Explain & Model
Explain that a compliment is saying something nice. Model it: Look at a student, smile, and say: "I love your bright shirt, [Name]!"
3
Pass the Compliment
The student who received the compliment now gives one to someone else. They can also ask a kind question like, "What do you like to play at recess?"
Teacher Prompt:
"Remember to make eye contact and smile when you speak!"
4
Complete the Chain
Continue until every child has both given and received a compliment or question. Use "kindness ball" if available.
Support & Scaffolding
Sentence Starters:
"I like your..."
"You are good at..."
"You are a great helper when..."
"Can I ask you..."
Common Challenges:
Shyness (whisper a suggestion)
Eye contact (gentle reminder)
Waiting turns (visual cue)
Post-Activity Reflection
"How did it feel to get a compliment?"
"How did it feel to give a compliment?"
"Isn't it wonderful to make our friends feel happy?"
Kindness Slides Kindness
Connects Us
Building Friendships Together
Kindergarten Social Skills
Greeting Game!
Let's practice saying hello with a friendly smile!
Look at your friend's eyes.
Say "Hello, [Friend's Name]!"
Give a kind smile!
Friendship Chain
Starting Kind
Conversations
How can we start talking to a new friend?
Try these words:
"Hi!" or "Hello!"
Ask a question:
"What's your favorite color?"
"Do you like to play?"
Don't forget
to smile!
Kindness Activity
Give a Compliment
"I like your sparkly shoes!"
Ask a Kind Question
"What's your favorite animal?"
Make someone's heart feel warm!
Kindness Superhero!
You are amazing at being kind and starting conversations!
Use kind words
Share smiles
Be a friend