Welcome to Kindness 101!

CBS News and CHARACTER COUNTS! are proud to present Kindness 101, a collection of complimentary K-12 lessons to teach character, social-emotional, and academic skills.

Each lesson features a short video originating from CBS News’ On the Road series with Steve Hartman. Students and educators easily connect to the heartwarming and inspirational stories featured in the videos.

Along with the video, we’ve provided activities, discussion and journal prompts, family connections, and a Google Slides deck. You may even find lessons written by teachers at schools near you!

Get Started

Choose a Topic

Lessons are categorized into three topics: Character Skills, Social-Emotional Skills, and Academic Skills. Click on Activities and Lessons in the menu, and then you can filter to choose which topic or skill you’d like to teach.

Make It Work for You

While the lessons are written for K-12 students, you may find it helpful to adapt the lesson for your students’ learning objectives. Plus, the journal questions offer K-5 and 6-12 options.

Use any combination of the video, activity, or discussion and journal prompts to meet your educational goals. This flexibility also accommodates time constraints.

Video

Heartwarming and inspirational videos from Steve Hartman’s “On the Road” series highlight stories about kindness, character, and the people who have mastered these important qualities.

Activity

Each lesson includes a short activity to help students apply what they learned from the video.

Discussion

Discussion prompts help further the concept.

Journal

Through journal prompts, students can reflect on their own individual character.

Family Connections

Character is first taught at home. Including families in these Kindness 101 lessons will extend their positive impact on students. Family Connections include a link to the video, discussion prompts, and family activities.

Each Family Connection is available within the web lesson and as a PDF. You can share the Family Connection however is most convenient for you and your students’ families. For example, you could attach the Family Connection to an email, like a weekly newsletter, or send it through a family communication app.

We’ve Done the Prep for You

The Google Slides Are Ready

Each lesson has an accompanying Google Slides deck with the discussion and journal prompts. This is an optional resource for you to use as you see fit. You could project it during class or post it in an online classroom for students to complete independently.

Just Download the Handouts

The handouts have been created for you! Any handouts will be linked in the Materials section of the lesson.

Need Help?

☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

“Steve Hartman’s stories have been the heart and soul of all the SEL I’ve done with high school seniors.”

– Jeff B.

“I use the Kindness 101 videos to drive my morning meetings! My kids love them!”

– Carol F.

“My students have been watching these videos all year, and I have truly seen a change in my students. I cry most days because the videos are so touching, but my students love them, and so do I!”

– Kristyn M.

Quick Pick

Choose a lesson and get started!

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

Positive Relationships – Little Girl Gives 82-Year-Old Widower New Lease on Life

Kindness – How a Simple Act of Kindness Transformed a Boy’s Birthday

Empathy – 4-Year-Old Superhero Has the Power to Feed the Homeless

Kindness – How a Simple Act of Kindness Transformed a Boy’s Birthday

Generosity – Ohio Boy Turns Found Fortune Into an Act of Kindness

Sportsmanship – Basketball Team Manager Gets His Big Shot

Gratitude – Boy Adopted From Sierra Leone Experiences His First Birthday Celebration

About the Topics

Trustworthiness
Have integrity, be honest, keep promises, and be loyal to your values

Respect
Show acceptance and respect for others

Responsibility
Be accountable for actions, show perseverance and self-discipline

Fairness
Be open-minded, don’t take advantage of others, play by the rules

Caring
Show compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness

Good Citizenship
Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others

The Impact

When students develop character skills, they’ll be more likely to achieve their personal, school, and career goals and become engaged, responsible, and productive citizens. You’ll notice more:

respectful and civil conversations,
kindness and consideration,
acceptance of others,
accountability, and
commitment to your school community.

Learn more about the Six Pillars of Character.

Self-Awareness
Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes

Self-Management
Regulate emotions, attitudes, and actions, and manage negative emotions and impulses

Relationship Skills
Create positive relationships and meaningful connections with family members, classmates, and teachers

Responsible Decision-Making
Make decisions based on rationality, ethics, and effectiveness

Social Awareness
Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others

The Impact

When students develop social-emotional skills, they’ll be more likely to develop positive, healthy relationships, manage their emotions, and make good choices. You’ll notice more:

healthy and respectful friendships,
fewer disruptions during class,
more positive choices, and
better communication between students and educators.

Critical and Creative Thinking
Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge

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

Diligent Learner
Exhibit a growth mindset and willingness to learn from mistakes

Effective Problem Solving
Make rational, ethical, and effective decisions to find the best solutions to problems

Self-Direction and Engagement
Fully engaged in the educational process and connected to the school community

The Impact

When students develop these skills, they can reach their intellectual and academic potential. You’ll notice:

improved student performance,
increased academic integrity from students (less cheating and plagiarizing), and
students who are more prepared for college and careers.

Learn more about character, social-emotional, and academic skills.