Kindness Garden Lesson Plan Kindness Garden
Proactively Addressing Bullying Lesson Plan
Duration 30 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will understand what bullying is, recognize its effects on others, and learn effective strategies to respond with kindness and seek help.
Audience
K-4 Students (Tier 1 Classroom Support)
Our Approach
This lesson uses a multi-modal approach—combining visual storytelling (video), interactive discussion, and creative reflection—to build empathy and practical social skills.
Prep Checklist
Review The Power of Words video content.
Open and test the Slide Deck presentation.
Print copies of the Kindness Garden Worksheet .
Gather drawing supplies (crayons/markers).
Instructional Sequence
5 MIN
Phase 1: Defining Bullying
Kick off with a class conversation about what students think "bullying" means. Define it clearly as repeatedly hurting or scaring someone on purpose .
Teacher Action: Use slides 1-2 to show visual examples of physical and verbal bullying.
3 MIN
Phase 2: The Power of Words
Transition to the video. Ask students to put on their "observation hats" and look for how characters feel when someone is unkind.
Teacher Action: Play the "The Power of Words" video on slide 3.
10 MIN
Phase 3: Heart to Heart
Facilitate an open discussion using the Conversation Guide. Focus on empathy—imagining themselves in the video scenarios.
Teacher Action: Use the "Discussion Time" slide and your Discussion Questions sheet.
10 MIN
Phase 4: Planting Kindness
Distribute the Reflection Worksheets. Ask students to draw or write about a specific time they were a "kind gardener" for someone else.
Teacher Action: Invite 2-3 volunteers to share their "Kindness Garden" with the class.
Pro-Tip for Educators
Young children often struggle to differentiate between "mean moments" and bullying. Emphasize the word repeatedly . Bullying is a pattern that happens over and over, not just once.
Kindness Garden Slides Kindness Garden
Growing a Safe and Happy School
Choose Kindness
Stay Safe
What is Bullying?
Bullying is when someone repeatedly hurts or scares another person on purpose.
"It's not just a one-time accident. It's a pattern of being mean."
Everyone deserves to feel safe!
Teacher Note: Ask students if they have heard the term before and what they think it means.
Examples of Bullying
Words
Saying mean things or spreading rumors.
Actions
Leaving someone out on purpose.
Physical
Hitting, pushing, or taking things.
Teacher Note: Discuss how these actions make others feel and why they are not okay.
Watch: The Power of Words
Instructional Video
Please click the link below to open the video in your browser. Watch closely for how words affect others!
Open Video
Teacher Note: Remind students to pay attention to how words can affect the characters' feelings.
Discussion Time
1
How did the video make you feel?
2
What would you do if you saw someone being bullied?
3
Why is it important to be kind to others?
Teacher Note: Encourage everyone to share! No answer is too small.
Remember!
Bullying is not okay.
Always choose kindness.
Speak up if you see bullying.
Support each other!
Your Turn!
Think about a time you helped someone or were kind. Draw or write about it on your worksheet!
Kindness Conversation Guide Teacher Resource
Kindness Conversation Guide
Use these questions to guide a heart-centered classroom discussion after watching "The Power of Words." Focus on building empathy and practical action steps.
1. How did the video make you feel?
Goal: Encourage students to express emotions and relate them to the scenarios.
Teacher Follow-ups:
"Did you notice how [Character's Name]'s face changed?"
"Have you ever felt that way before?"
2. What would you do if you saw someone being bullied?
Goal: Identify concrete actions students can take (Reporting vs. Tattling).
Action Examples to Elicit:
Find a trusted adult (teacher, playground monitor).
Invite the person to play with you.
Tell the bully, "That's not kind, please stop."
3. Why is it important to be kind to others?
Goal: Explore the ripple effect of kindness on the school climate.
"Kindness is like a seed. When we plant it, our whole school garden grows happy and safe."
4. Have you ever helped someone? How did it feel?
Goal: Normalize helping behaviors and reinforce the "helper high."
5. How can we make our school a "Bully-Free Zone"?
Goal: Brainstorm classroom agreements or collective goals.
Core Messages to Reinforce
Speak Up: Seeking help from an adult is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Empathy: Think about how your words would taste if you had to eat them.
Kindness Garden Worksheet My Kindness Garden
Growing kindness, one action at a time!
Name:
Date:
Think of a time when you were kind to someone or helped a friend.
What did you do? How did it make them feel? How did it make you feel? Draw a picture of that moment in the garden box below!
Describe your kindness:
I showed kindness when I...
