CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Acceptance - A Dog's Journey After Being Left at a Texas Firehouse

Acceptance means treating people with respect and understanding, recognizing that everyone has their own experiences, challenges, and strengths.

Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect
  • Fairness
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Effective Problem-Solving
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

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.
Fairness
  • Play by the rules.
  • Take turns and share.
  • Be open-minded. Listen to others.
  • Don’t take advantage of others.
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.

Social Awareness

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

Effective Problem-Solving

Make rational, ethical, and effective decisions to find the best solutions to problems.

Self-Direction and Engagement

Fully engaged in the educational process and connected to the school community.

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

Students will explore how acceptance involves looking beyond first impressions and avoiding quick judgments about others. Through reflection and discussion, students will practice considering multiple perspectives and learn how choosing understanding and support can help create a more caring and inclusive community.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What does acceptance mean?
    • Acceptance means recognizing that we do not always know someone’s full story.
  • Why do people sometimes make quick judgments about others?
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How did the people in the video demonstrate acceptance?
  • What actions helped someone feel understood, valued, or included?
  • Why can it be harmful to make assumptions about people?
  • How can acceptance help people feel like they belong?
  • What is the difference between judging someone and supporting them?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Paper
  • Writing utensils
activity

Activity: First Thoughts, Second Thoughts

  1. Explain to students that our brains naturally try to make quick sense of situations. Sometimes our first thoughts are assumptions rather than facts. Acceptance means taking time to consider that there may be more to a person’s story than we can see.
  2. Give each student a sheet of paper.
  3. Explain that you will read a statement aloud. After each statement, students should write their first thought or first explanation that comes to mind.
  4. Then challenge students to write three different possible explanations for the same situation. Encourage them to be curious and nonjudgemental. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to realize that we rarely know the full story.
  5. Use these statements or create relevant scenarios to your community that may cause students to make snap judgments.
    • A student falls asleep during class.
    • Someone does not smile back when you say hello.
    • A classmate forgets their homework several times in one week.
    • A student sits alone at lunch.
    • Someone never raises their hand in class.
    • A classmate suddenly seems angry or upset.
    • A friend stops responding to messages.
    • Someone arrives late to school.
  1. Follow-up questions:
    • Was your first thought usually positive, negative, or neutral?
    • Was it difficult to think of other explanations? What situations were the most challenging?
    • Why do we often jump to conclusions?
    • How could making assumptions affect the way we treat people?
    • How can considering other possibilities help us become more accepting?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Write about a time someone showed you acceptance.
  • Why is it important to be kind to people even when you don’t know them well?
  • What can you do when you notice yourself making assumptions about someone?

6-12

  • Describe a time when someone judged you without knowing your full story.
  • Why do people tend to make quick judgments?
  • How can choosing acceptance instead of judgment improve relationships?
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 acceptance.

  • Have you ever been misunderstood because someone didn’t know your full story?
  • Why is it important to avoid making assumptions about others?
  • How can family members show acceptance and understanding toward one another?

Activity

  • Play First Thoughts, Second Thoughts as a family.

    • One family member shares a situation, such as someone being late, quiet, upset, or making a mistake.
    • Everyone writes down the first explanation that comes to mind.
    • Then work together to think of at least three other possible explanations.
    • Discuss how considering multiple possibilities can help us be more understanding and supportive of others. Conclude by discussing why acceptance begins when we choose understanding over judgment.

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