Choosing Our Words

Our words have the power to build others up or tear them down and we have to be accountable to the consequences of the words we say. We have to be intentional when choosing our words to make sure that we lift others up and not cause harm.

Grade Level: K-5

Character Skills

Caring

SEL Skills

Self-Management
Relationship Skills

Academic Skills

Effective Problem-Solving

Definitions

Caring

Be kind.
Be compassionate.
Express gratitude.
Forgive others.
Be considerate of others’ feelings.

Self-Management

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

Relationship Skills

Interpersonal and social skills to guide appropriate behavior and create positive relationships and meaningful connections.

Effective Problem-Solving

Employ critical and creative thinking skills to solve problems and make rational, ethical, and effective decisions that produce the best possible result.

Share This Activity

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.

Materials/Preparation

A blank sheet of paper (one per student)

Instructions

Ask the students to study the clean sheet of paper. Emphasize how smooth and clean it is.
Ask the students to put the paper on the ground.
- Imagine a friend taking something from you without asking. How would that make you feel?
- Stomp on the paper to show how angry you are.
- Sometimes, when we are frustrated, we use words out of anger. Imagine that each stomp is a negative thing we say to one another.
Ask the students to pick up the paper and imagine that a friend says you cannot play with them.
- How would you feel?
- Crumple the paper into as tight of a ball as possible in your frustration.
Ask the students to open the paper and smooth it out.
Talk about how we are responsible for using our words kindly, even when we are angry. Our friend in the scenarios was not kind, but our words in anger altered that paper to the point where it would never return to normal.
On a whiteboard, draw a chart with two columns. Ask students for words we can use in frustration instead of saying negative things.
- On one side, write “words we will say” and on the other write “words we will not say.” Ask the students to come up with both. Describing what it does not look like is just as important as describing what it looks like.

Student Reflection

Has there been a time when someone hurt you with their words?
How do you tell someone you are frustrated or angry without using negative words? Next time you are frustrated with someone, how will you respond to them in a caring and respectful way?
Why is it important to be kind and respectful, even if someone is not treating us that way?