KINDNESS BALL

For the month of February, my classroom lessons are focused on the topic of kindness.  I like to use this Kindness Ball as a way to make my lessons more interactive and engaging. I use this ball activity with my 4th-6th grade students. Here's how it works....

Directions:

Write description passages on ball with black sharpie. Using double sided tape, attach the kindness matters label to ball.
Have every student sit on top of their desks.
I start the process going by throwing the ball into the air and catching it. Where my right thumb lands, I read the closest statement on the ball (that way if their thumb lands on a blank spot, they know to choose the passage that is the closest) Passage Example:  Someone who is wearing stripes
I would scan the room until I found someone wearing stripes. I would give that person a compliment and throw the ball to them. Then, that person would read the passage of where their right thumb lands and give another person a compliment. Once each student has their turn, they sit back down in their chair. This makes it easy for others to see who in the class still needs a compliment. This process is completed until everyone in the class has a turn. I like to reinforce with my students the importance of giving thoughtful compliments versus saying things like "he's nice" or, "she's cool." This activity has been a hit with my students!

Click HERE to download the FREE Kindness Matters label and description statements to make your own Kindness Ball  I hope you find this activity useful in promoting kindness at your school!

Enemy Pie-Classroom Lesson

I spend a lot of my day helping students resolve conflicts. Finding good books on this subject is very important to incorporate in my school counseling program.  One of my all-time favorite books is Enemy Pie by Derek Munson. This book talks about how friends are supposed to treat each other and not repay a mean act with another mean act.

Here is an EASY, LOW PREP game you can use in the classroom setting or a small group counseling session.

Game Directions:
Have a mixing bowl of real/disgusting ingredients (plastic toys) used to make a pie.  Cover the mixing bowl with a kitchen towel so students CAN'T SEE in the bowl.

Divide the class into two teams.  Have one student from each team take turns picking out an ingredient from the bowl.  If they pick a positive ingredient, the student picks a card and answers the question. If they answer the question correctly, they get a point for their team. If the student picks out a negative ingredient, they don't get a point for their team. The team with the most points at the end, wins the game.

Examples of negative ingredients: plastic toys of beetles, centipede, frogs, already chewed gum, rocks etc.

Examples of positive ingredients: plastic toys of strawberry, cherry, banana, box of raisins, flour, sugar, egg, butter, vanilla etc.

Click HERE for the FREE download for this lesson. This game has been a hit with my students! I hope you find the same success with yours!

Mindfulness Coloring Sheets

Introducing Mindfulness in your school counseling program can be of GREAT benefit!  Mindfulness is a useful practice that is being taught all over the world.  Mindfulness is a technique to simply be fully present in the moment. It seems to be a daily occurrence that our students report feeling overwhelmed due to stress and worries. Mindfulness activities can help keep stress and anxiety under control and help create a more peaceful life.

The purpose of mindful coloring is to have students pay attention to applying color and design to help bring awareness to the present moment without allowing other thoughts, worries, or fears penetrate the mind.  Mindful coloring focuses the mind on a simple, relaxing activity which helps inspire creativity while reducing stress.

Taking the time to incorporate mindfulness activities such as this, in your counseling program, can help create a calm and inviting environment for your students.  These FREE coloring pages would be a great addition to a designated Calm Down Spot in your office or classroom.

Click HERE for your FREE download. Happy coloring!