CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Acceptance - Students Learn Sign Language to Support a Classmate

Acceptance is a willingness to embrace diversity, accommodate varying perspectives, and extend respect and compassion toward others.

Acceptance
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect 
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills 
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • 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.
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.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge.

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.
Share This Activity
The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will learn about acceptance and the importance of including others from a classroom and school community that embraces the differences of others. They will reflect on how they can do this in their own lives.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What is one word you would use to describe kindergarteners?
  • What does acceptance mean?
    • Acceptance is a willingness to embrace diversity, accommodate varying perspectives, and extend respect and compassion toward others.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How did Morey feel when her classmates learned sign language to communicate with her? How might this impact her sense of belonging and acceptance?
  • Why is it important for Morey’s classmates to include her despite their differences in communication?
  • When have you felt accepted or included by someone? How did it make you feel about that person, and how did it impact your relationship?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Index cards or paper
activity

Activity: Charades

  • Write down various emotions or feelings on index cards or paper.
    • Include happiness, sadness, excitement, fear, anger, surprise, disgust, etc.
    • You can also include more complex emotions like jealousy, confusion, pride, or boredom.
  • Mix the emotion cards and place them face down in a pile.
  • Choose a player to start. This player will pick an emotion card from the pile without showing it to anyone else.
  • Once they have chosen an emotion card, they must act out the emotion without speaking or making sounds.
  • The other players observe the actor’s movements, facial expressions, and gestures to guess the portrayed emotion.
  • Players can take turns guessing until someone correctly identifies the emotion.
  • After a correct guess, the actor can reveal the card to confirm the emotion.
  • Rotate the actor’s role to allow everyone to express different emotions.
  • Encourage players to be creative with their interpretations and to use body language effectively to convey the chosen emotion.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • How did it feel when someone couldn’t understand the emotion you were trying to convey?
    • How did it feel when you couldn’t understand what someone was trying to communicate to you?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Draw a picture or write about a time when you included someone who felt left out. How did it make you and the other person feel?
  • Why is it important to be kind to others, even if they are different than you? Describe a time when you showed kindness to someone different than you.

6-12

  • Reflect on a time when you were challenged to accept someone different from you. What did you learn from that experience?
  • How can practicing empathy and understanding create a more inclusive and accepting community at school?
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
Watch the video as a family: https://youtu.be/H2wrC1K1IMg

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about acceptance. 

  • When have you witnessed someone being excluded or treated differently? What could have promoted acceptance and inclusion in that situation?

Activity

  • Explore cultural aspects associated with a language you’re interested in learning. Learn about traditions, customs, and holidays celebrated by native speakers of the language to deepen your understanding and appreciation.
  • Create a family art project where each member draws or writes about a time when they felt accepted or included by others. Display the finished artwork in your home as a reminder of the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

2702 Forest Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50311

515-271-1910

RayCenter@Drake.edu

Character Counts
DONATE TO OUR MISSION
Facebook Twitter Instagram Tiktok Youtube
Contact Us

(C) 2024 The Ray Center at Drake University is proud to be the home of CHARACTER COUNTS! CHARACTER COUNTS!, the Six Pillars of Character, and Pursuing Victory with Honor are trademarks of the Josephson Institute. CHARACTER COUNTS! was founded by Michael Josephson through the Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics.