CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Playfulness - Maine Family's Dogs Spread Autumn Joy by Jumping in Leaves

Be joyful, silly, and creative in ways that bring fun to yourself and others. Playfulness helps you feel happier and more connected with people.

Playfulness
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect
  • Caring
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Curiosity and Passion

Definitions

Respect
  • Follow the Golden Rule.
  • Be accepting of differences.
  • Be courteous to others.
  • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings.
Caring
  • Be kind.
  • Be compassionate.
  • Express gratitude.
  • Forgive others.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings.
Good Citizenship
  • Do your share to make your home, school, and community better.
  • Cooperate.
  • Stay informed. Vote.
  • Be a good neighbor.
  • Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others.
  • Protect the environment.
Relationship Skills

Create positive relationships and meaningful connections with family members, classmates, and teachers.

Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes.

Self-Management

Regulate emotions, attitudes, and actions, and manage negative emotions and impulses.

Social Awareness

Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.

Curiosity and Passion

Enthusiastic to understand more about themselves, others, and the world around them.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
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The Ray Center at Drake University

Students will identify the benefits of play and joy in daily life by reflecting on moments of happiness, engaging in a playful group activity, and considering how small acts of fun can improve relationships and overall well-being.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What makes you feel happy after a long day?
  • When was the last time you felt joy in a small moment or for a simple reason?
  • Have you ever experienced happiness from watching someone else experience joy? What was it like?
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

Think about the video.

  • Did you find yourself smiling during that video? What emotions did you feel as you watched them find joy?
  • Why do you think a simple act like jumping into leaves can feel so powerful?
  • How does finding an opportunity to play, like jumping into leaves, impact your own happiness? Are those impacts temporary, or do they stay with you long after the play is done?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Open space (gym, classroom, or outdoors)
activity

Activity: Race to the Center

  • Create small teams of 4–5 students and give them a moment to come up with a team name.
  • Explain that the game is called “Race to the Center”. The goal is for each team to earn the most points.
  • Teams earn points by completing challenges. Each round begins with a new challenge.
  • To play:
    • Stand in the center and announce the challenge along with the number of participants needed. Then start a 30-second countdown.
    • During the countdown, each team decides which members will complete the challenge. Those participants must race to the center before time runs out.
    • Any student who reaches the center in time can attempt the challenge. Successfully completing the challenge earns 1 point for their team.
    • Have students complete the challenge in the center for the group and award points.
    • After each round, send all students back to their groups. Announce the next challenge and start a new 30-second countdown. Repeat until time is up.
  • Encourage teams to make sure every student gets a turn to participate in a challenge.

Challenge Ideas:

  • Make an animal sound until your group guesses it (1 student)
  • Show your happy dance for 10 seconds (2 students)
  • Use your best news reporter voice to recap the day so far (1 student)
  • Hop back to your group like a frog (1 student)
  • Make a silly face without laughing for 5 seconds (1 student)
  • Invent a silly handshake (2 students)
  • Hold a yoga pose for 5 seconds (1 student)
  • Tell an appropriate joke that makes the teacher laugh (1 student)
  • Recite your ABC’s backwards (1 student)
  • Create a group cheer with your team name (2 students)
  • Moonwalk from the center back to your group (1 student)
  • Spin in a circle 4 times without falling (1 student)
  • Pretend to row a boat in sync back to your group (2 students)
  • Pretend to be a professional juggler (1 student)
  • Make up a 5-second jingle for a grocery store product (2 students)

Reflection Questions

  • Which challenges brought the most laughter or fun to your team? Why do you think that was?
  • How can finding small moments of play or silliness help improve your day or your mood?
  • Did seeing other teams have fun make you feel more joyful? Why or why not?
  • Did participating in this activity help you notice any connections between playfulness and feeling closer to your teammates?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Think of a time you played or had fun that wasn’t planned. How did that make you feel?
  • What are three small things you can do in your day that bring you joy, like Stella and Mabel in the leaves?

6-12

  • Sometimes we stop finding opportunities for fun as we get older. What role does play or fun have in your life now?
  • Describe a time when you chose to do something playful or joyful instead of being serious. How did it affect your mood?
  • Why do you think it’s important to seek out happiness and playfulness during stressful times?
family connection

Family Connection

Educators: Copy the Family Connection and email it to parents or click here to download a PDF version to email or print.

Watch

Discuss

Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about playfulness.

  • How do you notice when someone else in the family is feeling happy or joyful?
  • Do you think it’s important for our family to do fun things together? Why or why not?
  • Each family member finds joy in different things. How can you help encourage each person to find the activity that brings them joy, like Stella and Mabel in the leaves?

Activity

  • Give each family member several slips of paper.
  • Write down one idea that brings joy to your family on each slip of paper. Examples: telling jokes, playing a family game, or baking a cake together. Assist younger family members with writing their slips.
  • Fold the slips in half and collect them all in a jar or basket.
  • Pull one slip each week and commit to finding fun together as a family.
  • Don’t forget to continue adding new ideas!

More Kindness 101 Activities

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