CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Compassionate Leadership – Mama McDonald’s Helps Teen Get into College

Compassionate leadership can come from any person, regardless of whether they are in a leadership position.

Compassionate Leadership
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Trustworthiness
  • Caring
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Curiosity and Passion

Definitions

Trustworthiness
  • Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal.
  • Have integrity. Do what you say you’ll do.
  • Keep your promises.
  • Be loyal. Stand by your values.
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.

Creative and Critical Thinking

Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge.

Curiosity and Passion

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

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

Students will discuss compassionate leadership qualities and reflect on their leadership preferences and behaviors.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What does it mean to be a leader?
    • Leaders are people that we can look up to. They will guide, help, and teach us.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What essential qualities do leaders need to lead and support their employees’ well-being effectively?
  • How can we incorporate compassion into our leadership approach to support those around us?
  • How would you define a compassionate leader?
  • How might a leader’s compassion influence an employee’s job performance?
  • Can anyone be a leader? Why or why not?
activity

Activity: Circle in a Circle

  • Have students form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. Half of the students will be in the inner circle, and the other half in the outer circle.
  • Play music and instruct the outer circle to walk around their circle.
  • When the music stops, students should stop and face the opposite circle.
  • Each student will partner with the person facing them (in the opposite circle) to answer a question from the list below:
    • What qualities of compassionate leadership did you observe in the video?
    • Talk to your partner about a favorite summer memory you have.
    • Who is someone you look up to? Why?
    • What is your favorite pizza topping?
    • In what ways are you a leader?
  • Follow-up questions for the whole class:
    • How did you show compassion to your partner while you were sharing?
    • What makes someone a leader?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

  • K-5
    • How can you tell when someone loves or cares for you?
    • How has someone shown you love or compassion today?

  • 6-12
    • What impact does compassionate leadership have on people?
    • How do you plan to demonstrate compassion to those you lead in the future?
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 together: https://youtu.be/xyQ8tOOclXA

Discuss
Use these questions to start a meaningful conversation on compassionate leadership.

  • What skills do you think Emanuel gained from working with Andrea?
  • How does Andrea demonstrate trustworthiness as a leader?
  • How can we show compassion this week?

Activity

  • Acknowledge those who you see demonstrating compassion.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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