CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Love - The Power of Love

Love is a deep connection with a foundation of trust between two people.

Love
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Trustworthiness
  • Caring
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Effective Problem-Solving

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.
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.

Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes .

Social Awareness

Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.

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
CBS News
The Ray Center at Drake University

Students will explore the connection between trust and love, why trust is essential for healthy relationships, and how their actions can build or break trust with others.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What does it mean to trust someone?
  • How do you know if someone trusts you?
  • Why is trust important in friendships or families?
  • What happens to relationships when trust is broken?
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

This video may contain sensitive content that may not be suitable for all ages. Please review the video before sharing it with students.

discussion

Discussion Prompts

Think about the video.

  • What did the couple in the video do to show they trusted one another?
  • Trust is important in all loving relationships, not just romantic ones. What actions help build trust with friends, family, or classmates?
  • Do you think trust is needed to develop love for another person? Explain.
  • Why is it important to trust the people we love? What happens when you don’t have trust in a relationship?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Masking or painter’s tape
  • Index cards
  • Dice or dice app
activity

Activity: Cross the River

  • Create a river space in an open area by placing two parallel tape lines on the floor about 3 to 5 feet apart.
  • Put students in small groups and give each group 10–15 index cards. Instruct students to write actions that foster trust among peers. Each index card should have only one action on it. (Modification: Do this as a large group and write fewer ideas on larger pieces of paper instead of index cards.)
  • Next, give the groups five index cards. Instruct them to write down actions that break trust. Again, each card should contain just one action.
    • (Modification: Do this as a large group and write fewer ideas on a large piece of paper instead of index cards.)
  • Ask one student to volunteer to cross the river. To cross, small groups will place “planks of trust” to help the student move safely to the other side.
  • Rules to Cross the River:
    • If you roll a 1–4, one small group places an index card with an example of building trust in front of the student. These are strong planks, and the student may step on the card with one foot.
    • If you roll a 5 or 6, one small group places an index card with an example of breaking trust. These are weak planks, and the student must avoid stepping on them.
    • Keep rolling the dice and adding planks until the student crosses the river.
  • Close the activity by reminding students that just like the planks helped them cross the river safely, trust is the foundation for strong, loving relationships.

  • Reflection Questions
    • What happened when “weak planks” were in the way? How does it feel in a friendship or family relationship when someone breaks your trust?
    • How does building trust help make friendships and family relationships stronger?
    • How can you be a “strong plank” of trust for someone you care about?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Think of a time when you trusted someone and it made your relationship stronger. What happened?
  • How can you show both trust and love to someone who needs support?

6-12

  • Think of a strong relationship you have in your life. What specific actions can you take to build trust and strengthen that relationship?
  • Have you ever had to rebuild a relationship after someone broke your trust? How did that feel, and what did you learn about relationships from that experience?
  • Can love exist without trust? Explain.
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

Discuss

Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about love.

  • Why do you think trust is important in families and friendships?
  • What are some small things we can do every day as a family to build more trust with each other?
  • How does trust help love grow stronger in relationships?

Activity

  • Create a family trust tree.
  • Explain that trust is like the root of a family tree and that trusting actions help love grow into beautiful leaves.
  • On a large piece of paper, draw the trunk and branches of your tree.
  • Create the leaves using sticky notes or smaller pieces of paper. Each leaf should represent one way your family can show trust to build love.
  • Display your tree of love as a reminder to continue to build strong relationships rooted in trust.

More Kindness 101 Activities

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