Sweet Kindness Teacher Guide Kindergarten SEL CASEL: Relationship Skills & Social Awareness
Sweet Kindness Teacher Guide
Baking Up Friendship, Kind Words & Sharing with the Gingerbread Crew
Duration: 45 Mins
Setting: Circle & Desks
Learning Targets
I can say warm, kind words to my friends.
I can share toys and supplies.
I can ask someone, "Want to play?"
Materials Needed
Gingerbread Slides (projector)
Kindness Cookie Activity Sheets
Crayons, child-safe scissors, glue
Warm Words Discussion Cards
Core Vocabulary
Kindness: Helping and caringInclude: Inviting someone inSharing: Taking turns with joy
1 Circle Time Choral Chant (7 Minutes)
Whole Group Movement
Gather students in a circle. Teach the call-and-response rhyme with hand motions to activate prior knowledge about kindness:
Teacher & Students (Patting knees to rhythm):
"Stir the batter, roll the dough, kindness helps our friendship grow! (Stirring motion)
Two bright eyes to see a friend, helping hands that give and lend! (Point to eyes, hold out hands)
Run, run, run, as fast as you can... You can't catch ME without a helping hand!" (Smile and turn to neighbor, wave)
2 Read-Aloud Story Script: "Barnaby's Warm Heart" (13 Minutes)
Slides 2 & 3
Part A: The Lonely Bench
Teacher read aloud: "Barnaby was a freshly baked gingerbread friend. He wore three bright gumdrop buttons. While skipping across the school playground, he noticed Pip the fox cub sitting all alone under the apple tree, looking at the ground."
💬 Teacher Stop & Ask: "Look at Pip's face. How is Pip feeling right now? What could Barnaby do to be a kind friend?" (Gather 2-3 student ideas: invite, wave, sit next to him).
Part B: The Sweet Invitation
Teacher read aloud: "Barnaby didn't run away. He walked up with a warm smile and asked, 'Hi Pip! I'm building a block castle. Would you like to build it together?' Pip's ears perked up! He smiled and said, 'Yes please!'"
💬 Key Takeaway: "Kindness is inviting others so nobody feels left out in our classroom."
Kindergarten SEL Curriculum: Kindness Cookie Crew Page 1 of 2 • Teacher Facilitation Guide
3 Guided Practice: "Sweet Choice or Sour Choice?" (10 Minutes)
Slides 4 & Discussion Cards
Present these 3 everyday classroom situations. Have students show Thumbs Up for a Sweet Choice (kind) or Thumbs Down for a Sour Choice (unkind), then practice what kind words to say:
Scenario A: Sharing
Maya has the only green crayon. Leo asks nicely. Maya says, "You can use it right after me!"
Sweet Choice • Sharing
Scenario B: Playing
Two students are building train tracks. A new friend walks over, and they say, "No room for you."
Sour Choice • Coach: "Let's make room!"
Scenario C: Helping
Sam spills his pencil box. Chloe kneels down right away and helps pick up three pencils.
Sweet Choice • Helping
4 Craft Activity: "My Kindness Cookie Friend" (10 Minutes)
Student Activity Sheet
1. Hand out the Kindness Cookie Activity Sheet .Kind Words , Helping Hands , Sharing Smile )."I show kindness when I ________." "We're a Sweet Batch of Kind Friends!"
Closing Circle & The Sweet Friendship Pledge (5 Minutes)
Pass a soft gingerbread plush (or paper cookie). When holding the cookie, each child shares one kind word or friend's name they appreciate:
"I pledge with my hands and my heart today, to be a kind friend in every way. I will share my toys, invite someone new, and speak sweet words all the day through!"
Differentiation Strategies
ELL / Emerging: Point-and-say visual cards with emoji expressions for feelings and choices.Fine Motor Support: Pre-cut kindness buttons or use stickers rather than scissors.Advanced / Extension: Pair up to role-play inviting a friend to recess game.
Observational Checklist
Identifies: Distinguishes kind vs. unkind actions.
Verbalizes: Uses inviting words ("Play with me?").
Demonstrates: Shares craft materials willingly.
Kindergarten SEL Curriculum: Kindness Cookie Crew Page 2 of 2 • Teacher Facilitation Guide
Sweet Kindness Slides Kindergarten SEL • Friendship Time Room for Everyone!
Kindness Cookie Crew
Baking up sweet words, sharing smiles, and including every friend!
Kind Words • Sharing Joy • Including Others
Our Recipe for Friendship
What Does a Sweet Friend Do?
Sweet Words
Say "Thank you," "Good job," and "You are my friend!"
Sharing Toys
Taking turns and giving friends a chance to play!
Inviting In
Asking: "Do you want to come play with me?"
💡 Kind friends make our whole classroom feel cozy and safe!
Story Time Question
Barnaby Sees a Friend Alone...
🍪 🦊
Pip is sitting on the bench with no one to play with.
What is the sweetest choice Barnaby can make?
❌
Keep running and ignore Pip.
⭐
Walk over with a warm smile and say:
"Hi Pip! Want to build with me?"
Tell your shoulder partner: What sweet words would YOU say?
Quick Check Game
Sweet Choice or Sour Choice?
Show: 👍 Sweet | 👎 Sour
🍪 Sweet Choice!
"I have two trucks. Here is one for you to drive!"
That is sharing and including! Thumbs UP! 👍
🍋 Sour Choice!
Snatching a purple crayon right out of a friend's hand.
Ouch! Ask nicely: "May I use that next, please?" 👎
Great job making our classroom a sweeter place!
Today's Kindergarten Mission
Let's Bake Up Kindness Today!
1️⃣
Say Warm Words
Give a compliment or say "Good morning!"
2️⃣
Share with Care
Pass markers and crayons with a smile.
3️⃣
Ask to Play
Invite someone new to join your game.
🌟 "We are the Kindness Cookie Crew—sweet, caring, and welcoming to all!" 🌟
Kindness Cookie Activity Sheet Kindergarten SEL Activity
My Sweet Kindness Cookie
Decorate your gingerbread friend and choose your kindness buttons!
Name:
Date:
1
Directions: Color your gingerbread friend! Cut or color the Kindness Buttons on the right and glue them onto your cookie friend's tummy.
Draw face & glue buttons here! Color frosting, bow tie, or icing socks!
Kindness Buttons
Pick 3 sweet actions to glue onto your friend:
Kind Words
I say nice things
Sharing Toys
I take turns
Helping Hands
I help when needed
Inviting Friends
I ask: "Play with me?"
2 Finish the Sweet Friendship Sentence: (Trace or write with teacher)
I am a sweet friend when I:
Kindness Cookie Crew • Kindergarten SEL Page 1 of 2 • Student Craft Sheet
Official SEL Friendship Award
Kindness Cookie Crew Certificate
This certifies that
Student Name
is a certified member of the Kindness Cookie Crew! They know how to speak kind words, share with care, and invite everyone to play!
Teacher Signature:
Date:
4 Sweet Kindness Challenges (Color a cookie when you do it!)
Sweet Compliment
Say something kind to a classmate or teacher today.
Color when done:
Taking Turns
Share your favorite center toy or crayon willingly.
Color when done:
The Big Welcome
Invite someone sitting alone to play at recess.
Color when done:
Helping Hero
Help clean up supplies or pick up something dropped.
Color when done:
Family Connection: Baking Kindness at Home
Dear Families: In class today, we learned that kindness is like baking a sweet cookie—it takes warm words, sharing, and making room for everyone. Ask your child to show you their gingerbread friend and talk about one sweet choice they made today!
Kindness Cookie Crew • Kindergarten SEL Page 2 of 2 • Take-Home Kindness Tracker
Warm Words Discussion Cards Circle Time & Small Group Cards
Warm Words Discussion Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Use for circle time, partner talks, or role-playing!
6 Scenario Cards
Card 1 • The Big Welcome 👋
A Friend is Sitting Alone
At recess, you see a friend sitting on the bench all by themselves looking quiet. What sweet words could you say?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"Hi! I'm playing on the slide. Would you like to come play with me?"
Card 2 • Taking Turns 🚂
The Only Blue Train
You and a friend both reach for the shiny blue train engine at the exact same second! What can you do?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"You can drive it to the station first, then it's my turn!"
Card 3 • Helping Hands 🖍️
Crayon Spill Disaster!
Crash! A friend drops their box and crayons roll under the table. They look overwhelmed. What does a helper do?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"Don't worry! I have two hands, let's pick them up together!"
Card 4 • Sweet Compliments 🎨
A Beautiful Artwork
Your tablemate finishes drawing a colorful family portrait and looks up. What kind words can you share?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"I love your bright sunshine! You worked so hard on that!"
Card 5 • Making Amends 🩹
Accidental Bump!
While walking to line up, you accidentally bump into a classmate and their paper flutters down. What do you do?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"I'm sorry, that was an accident! Are you okay? Here is your paper."
Card 6 • Making Room 🧱
The Busy Rug
Three friends are building blocks on the rug. Another friend walks up holding a block. What should you do?
🍪 Sweet Words to Try:
"Come on in! We can scoot over and build a giant tower together!"
💡
Teacher Tip: Pick 1-2 cards per morning meeting. Have two students act out the scenario using a gingerbread puppet or soft toy, then have the class echo the "Sweet Words to Try" in chorus!
Kindness Cookie Crew • Kindergarten SEL Printable Discussion Cards (1 of 1)
