Incorporating more kindness into your classroom doesn’t need to involve extensive planning. The free, low-preparation activities from Kindness Comes in All Shapes are designed to be seamlessly integrated into your daily routine, fostering empathy, reflection, and connection among students. These activities range from quick routines to long-term classroom systems, all aimed at transforming ordinary moments into lasting habits.
Begin with these seven suggestions (all available to download here) and discover additional ready-to-use resources for kindness throughout the site, catering to elementary, middle, and high school levels.
1. Spread kindness by playing bingo
Bingo with a kindness twist transforms everyday actions such as complimenting, assisting classmates, or inviting someone to join in, into intentional habits that students can practice all week long.
In your classroom:
Provide students with a bingo board to complete acts of kindness in any order. As they progress, they mark their achievements, striving for a complete row, column, or even a full board over time.
Extension activity:
Use the completed bingo boards as a basis for reflection. Encourage students to discuss which acts were easiest, most impactful, or which they wish to continue practicing.
2. Build writing skills with letters of kindness
Kindness letters offer a structured approach for students to practice gratitude while honing writing skills. With prompts such as naming specific traits, providing examples, and adding personal connections, students learn to express appreciation meaningfully.
In your classroom:
Guide students through the template by starting with the recipient’s name, listing traits they admire, and adding a personal message about what brings them joy. This framework encourages students to go beyond general compliments.
Extension activity:
Incorporate this into a regular routine. Whether it’s a weekly “kindness letter” period or a class goal to recognize different individuals over time, students learn how small messages can create a positive ripple effect in the classroom and school community.
3. Encourage reflection with kindness journals
Kindness journals provide students with dedicated time to reflect on their experiences, documenting what they’ve observed, done, and felt. With concise prompts and optional deeper reflections, journaling encourages students to slow down, build empathy, and identify instances of kindness in their daily lives.
In your classroom:
Use quick prompts as a bell ringer, exit ticket, or weekly check-in. Students can briefly write about a kind act they saw, did, or experienced. Keep it simple and focused on real-life experiences.
Extension activity:
Gradually introduce deeper or action-based prompts. Students may reflect on a challenging situation or focus on developing habits over time.
4. Practice empathy with Kindness Scenario Cards
Kindness Scenario Cards encourage students to think through real-life situations before they occur. Each scenario prompts them to consider possible actions, the feelings of others, and the factors that might make being kind easier or more challenging in the moment.
In your classroom:
Use a Kindness Scenario Card as a discussion starter during morning meetings, as a bell ringer, or for an exit activity. Students can discuss potential responses in pairs or small groups before sharing their ideas with the class.
Extension activity:
Incorporate this activity into a regular routine by revisiting scenarios or having students create their own. This practice helps them understand not only what kindness looks like but also how to act on it, even in challenging situations.
5. Celebrate good deeds with a kindness newsletter
A kindness newsletter template enables students to document and share everyday acts of kindness. With sections for student highlights, kindness challenges, and featured stories, it provides a structured way for students to observe, collect, and celebrate kind deeds.
In your classroom:
Utilize the template to gather content. Assign rotating roles so students are responsible for noticing and recording examples of kindness throughout the week.
Extension activity:
If students show enthusiasm, expand the newsletter beyond the classroom. A small group or “kindness crew” can compile stories, highlight different grades or staff, and share the newsletter with a wider audience.
6. Make kindness count with kindness math
Kindness can be integrated into math through activities like tally charts, surveys, and “kindness budgets,” illustrating how small actions accumulate over time and transform everyday moments into significant data.
In your classroom:
Begin by collectively tracking acts of kindness. Younger students can use tally charts, while older students may conduct surveys or record patterns observed throughout the week.
Extension activity:
Utilize the data for deeper learning. Students can graph results, compare categories, or identify trends, and explore questions like how kindness evolves over time or which actions are most frequent.
7. Keep kindness moving with Pay It Forward Cards
Pay It Forward Cards inspire a chain of kindness by encouraging small acts like giving compliments or helping others. Once a challenge is completed, the card is passed on to someone else.
In your classroom:
Introduce the cards and allow them to circulate naturally throughout the day or week. This method connects students with similar actions without requiring extensive tracking or structure.
Extension activity:
Encourage students to create their own cards or reflect on how their actions impacted others. You might also challenge the class to see how far a single card can travel.
We love free resources, especially when it comes to SEL. Find more kindness materials at Kindness Comes in All Shapes.
