CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Being Neighborly – Widow Was Invited to Eat with Strangers

Being neighborly is more than just looking out for the people we live nearby. It is how we show care and respect towards people in our community.

Being Neighborly
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect 
  • Caring
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Curiosity and Passion 
  • Effective Problem Solving

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.
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.

Curiosity and Passion 

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

Effective Problem Solving

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

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

A dinner shared by new friends will show students the power of being neighborly. 

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What does it feel like to eat alone?
  • What does it mean to be neighborly?
    • Being neighborly means being especially helpful, friendly, or kind.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • In the video, how did the young men show they cared for Eleanor?
  • Why can it be hard to approach someone and ask to sit with them?
  • How does it feel to get to know someone and show you care about them?
  • How would the world be different if we all chose to be more neighborly?
  • How can you be neighborly outside of school?
activity

Activity: Lunch Buddies

  • As a class, create a list of topics of conversation and questions students could ask to help connect with a new friend.
  • Have students simulate approaching a student sitting alone and practice asking them to have lunch together.
  • Encourage students to put this practice into action at lunch this week.
  • Students can create a “Lunch Buddy” campaign, encouraging others to sit with students who are sitting alone in the cafeteria, at recess, or on the bus.
  • Follow-up question:
    •  What do you think school would be like if we were all more neighborly?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • How can we show we care about people we do not know?
  • What does being caring look like to you?

6-12

  • What is your definition of a good neighbor?
  • How do you care for people in a way that makes them feel like they belong?
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/L9hnTJJdNtQ

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about being neighborly. 

  • What character skills (besides being caring) did you see from the young men who sat with Eleanor?
  • Who do we know who might like an invitation to dinner so they don’t have to eat alone?
  • What other ways can we be neighborly?

Activity

  • Invite someone over for dinner who could use a family and friend or find another way to be neighborly.
  • Other ideas may include raking someone’s leaves, walking a dog, or helping unload groceries from their car.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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