Kindness Crew Lesson Plan Kindness Crew: Girls Unite!
Lesson Plan • 4th Grade • 30 Minutes
Objective
Students will identify and analyze complex kind behaviors in friendships, understand the social impact of their actions, and practice advanced strategies for inclusive interaction and conflict resolution.
Preparation
Review the slide deck and practice the script.
Print The Friendship Challenge Story .
Print Kindness Crew Worksheets for each student.
Prepare Scenario Cards for role-playing.
Materials
• Slide Deck
• Story Handout
• Student Worksheet
• Scenario Cards
• Affirmation Sheet
Why This Matters
Teaching positive social interactions and empathy to 4th graders helps them navigate complex social dynamics, prevent relational aggression, and build stronger, more resilient friendships. This lesson empowers girls to be kind, inclusive, and effective communicators.
1
Warm-Up: Friendship Challenges (5 min)
Ask students: "What does it mean to be a good friend? What are some challenges you face in friendships?" Introduce the "Kindness Crew" concept—focusing on being strong, fair, and kind.
2
Story Time: The Friendship Challenge (10 min)
Read the story aloud. Pause to ask: "How did Chloe feel being left out?" "What could Sarah or Emily have done differently?" Discuss how actions can build or break friendships.
3
Scenario Analysis & Role Play (10 min)
Analyze complex scenarios (excluding others, spreading rumors). Have volunteers act out both the unkind way and the "Kindness Crew" way. Focus on inclusion and mutual respect.
4
Cool Down: Kindness Promise (5 min)
Distribute the Worksheet. Students complete Part 3: one specific way to show kindness today. Remind them that the Kindness Crew makes everyone feel valued.
Kindness Crew Presentation Slides Welcome to the
Kindness Crew
Strong • Fair • Kind
Let's Talk Friendship
What does it mean to be a good friend?
What challenges do we face in our friendships?
"Our words and actions have power!" ✨
The Friendship Challenge
Listen to the story about Sarah, Emily, and Chloe.
Think about how their actions make friendships stronger or create distance.
How Did That Feel?
1
How do you think Chloe felt when she wasn't invited?
2
What could Sarah or Emily have done differently?
3
What would a true "Kindness Crew" member do?
Kindness Crew in Action
We're going to act out challenging situations.
"What would a Kindness Crew member do to show strength, fairness, and kindness?"
Spread Kindness!
What is one specific way you can show kindness and include a friend today?
Everyone is valued! ❤️
Friendship Challenge Story Handout Kindness Crew Reads
The Friendship Challenge
Sarah, Emily, and Chloe were in the same fourth-grade class, and they usually played together at recess. They had been friends since kindergarten, sharing secrets and giggling over silly jokes. But lately, things felt a little different, especially with the upcoming big science project.
One Tuesday, during lunch, Sarah and Emily were excitedly planning their science project presentation. "We should make a volcano that actually erupts!" Emily whispered, nudging Sarah. "And we can work on it at my house after school!"
Sarah nodded eagerly. "That sounds amazing! My mom can drive me over." They both giggled, exchanging a secret high-five. They knew Chloe was sitting nearby, listening.
Chloe had a great idea for a solar system model that lit up. She loved science and was hoping to work with her friends. She cleared her throat. "Hey, can I join your group? I have a really cool idea for a project, too!"
Sarah glanced at Emily, then quickly back at Chloe. "Oh, um, we already kind of started planning," Sarah said, her voice a little quieter. "And... we thought it would just be the two of us for this one." Emily just nodded, looking down at her sandwich.
• • •
Chloe's stomach dropped. She felt a familiar knot tighten in her chest. It wasn't just about the science project; it felt like they were leaving her out of their friendship, too. She tried to smile, but it felt wobbly. "Oh. Okay," she managed to say, pushing her lunch around with her fork. The rest of lunch felt long and quiet for Chloe.
Later that week, Sarah and Emily were working on their volcano. It wasn't going as smoothly as they hoped. The baking soda wasn't erupting right, and their poster board looked a little plain. They started to feel frustrated.
Sarah remembered Chloe's excitement for science. Chloe always had such creative ideas and was good at making things work. She looked at Emily. "You know, Chloe really loves science. And her idea for the solar system sounded super cool. Maybe... maybe we should have included her? Our volcano isn't really working out, and three heads are better than two, right?"
Emily sighed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I felt a little bad when we told her no. It wasn't very kind, was it? We just got so excited about the volcano idea." She looked genuinely thoughtful. "What if we ask her tomorrow?"
They decided to talk to Chloe the next day. At recess, they found Chloe sketching in her notebook. "Chloe?" Sarah began, a bit shyly. "We were talking, and we really messed up. Our science project isn't going so well, and we realized it's not fun without all three of us. We'd really love for you to join our group."
Chloe's face lit up. She hadn't expected them to ask. "Really? You want me to join? I'd love to! I have some ideas that might help with the volcano, too, and we could still add some cool lights!"
Kindness Crew Student Worksheet Kindness Crew Worksheet
Girls Unite • 4th Grade
Name:
Date:
1
Thinking About Our Story
1. In "The Friendship Challenge Story," how did Chloe feel when Sarah and Emily didn't invite her to work on the project?
2. What did Sarah and Emily do that made Chloe feel left out?
3. When Sarah and Emily decided to include Chloe, how did that change things for everyone?
2
Kindness Crew Scenarios
Think about a time when you saw someone being left out or treated unkindly. How could a "Kindness Crew" member help?
Scenario:
What an unkind action might look like:
What a kind, inclusive action would look like:
3
My Kindness Promise
What is one specific way you will show kindness or include a friend this week?
Kindness Crew Affirmation Sheet Kindness Crew Affirmations
Strength, Fairness, and Love for Every Girl
Name:
Date:
My Inner Kindness Crew
Read these affirmations aloud or to yourself. Choose one or two that speak to your heart today!
I am a kind and caring friend.
I choose to use gentle words.
I include everyone in my play.
I am strong and fair in my friendships.
My kindness helps others shine.
I am valued and loved for who I am.
My Favorite Affirmation
Write down your favorite or create your own!
Kindness in Action
How will you use this to help someone today?
Kindness Crew Scenario Cards Kindness Crew Scenario Cards
Teacher Resource • Role-Play Activities
The Study Group
"A group of friends is planning a special project, and one friend keeps sharing ideas that are ignored or dismissed by the others."
Challenge:
How can the group make sure everyone's ideas are valued?
Whispering
"Two friends are talking about a birthday party, and deliberately speak quietly when another friend approaches to exclude her."
Challenge:
What should the approaching friend say? How should the two friends fix it?
The New Haircut
"Two friends are whispering and giggling about another classmate's new haircut while she is walking past them."
Challenge:
How does this impact the classmate? What would a Kindness Crew member do?
Recess Rules
"A group of friends decides not to let someone join their game during recess, saying the game is 'already full.'"
Challenge:
Is a game ever truly 'full'? How can they find a way to include the new person?
Teacher Tip
Encourage students to act out the "Unkind" version first (briefly) to identify the feelings involved, then focus most of the time on acting out the "Kindness Crew" version. Discuss why the kind version makes the group stronger.
