CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Caring Citizens – Foster Dad and Adopted Kids Are Thankful to Be Together for the Holidays

Communities are full of caring citizens who look out for others and ensure everyone is cared for.

Caring Citizens
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Caring 
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Curiosity and Passion 
  • Effective Problem Solving

Definitions

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.

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

Students will reflect on what it means to be a caring citizen who solves problems in their community.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What is a problem in the world that needs a solution?
  • What does it mean to be a good citizen?
    • Good citizens make choices that protect the safety and rights of others. They try to make their community a better place.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What is required to solve a problem in your community?
  • How did the foster dad in the video show he cared about his community?
  • What traits did this foster dad display to show he is a good citizen?
  • How can we encourage others to demonstrate good citizenship in their daily lives?
activity

Activity: The Human Knot

  • Break students into small groups of five to eight. (You can do this as a whole group, but it will take longer and will be more complicated.)
  • Instruct students to stand in a circle, facing inward.
  • Students put their right hands into the middle of the circle. They will join hands with someone else in the circle who is not directly next to them (each right hand will hold a right hand).
  • Then, students put their left hands into the middle of the circle. They will join hands with someone else in the circle who is not directly next to them (each left hand will hold a left hand).
  • The objective is for the group to work together to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands.
  • You can make it competitive so students try to beat one another or beat a timer.
  • Encourage students to use problem-solving and communication skills to unravel the human knot.
  • Remind everyone that they can only use their hands to hold onto each other; they cannot reach across the circle or let go of anyone’s hand. They can readjust their grip if necessary.
  • The game ends when the group successfully untangles themselves into a circle without letting go of each other’s hands.
  • Follow-up question:
    • How can you apply the problem-solving skills you used in the game to real-life situations as a citizen in your community?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • What does it mean to be a good, caring citizen?
  • Why is it important to care for other people?
  • How can you solve a problem, regardless of your age?

6-12

  • What problems are you concerned about, and what solutions could you use to fix them?
  • What does it look like to be a good citizen in your life?
  • Would you ever be a foster parent? Why or why not?
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/IQ-PShhvj-Q

Discuss
Use these questions to start a meaningful discussion on being caring citizens.

  • How did the foster dad in the video show compassion and love?
  • What does it take to be a good citizen in your family? In your community?

Activity

  • Organize a donation drive to collect essential items such as clothing, toys, books, or toiletries for local foster care organizations.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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Des Moines, IA 50311

515-271-1910

RayCenter@Drake.edu

Character Counts
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