Celebrate Valentine's Day Making a Kindness Book

Children Learn Across the Curriculum and Develop Basic Social Skills

Dec 31, 2008

February is a perfect time for the class to make Kindness Books which teach vocabulary, writing, cause and effect, creativity while improving emotional IQ.

Now that you've gotten the year off to a good start, using large or small construction paper folded in "hamburger" style to create two squarish halves, create Kindness Books with your students for Valentine's Day. Staple with long neck or saddle stapler. They can be stapled before if a prescribed number of pages, or after to allow addition of more pages in the middle. This project empowers children to not be sheepish or hesitant about kindnesses, but to embrace them as part of the social fabric.

Vocabulary Development

The class will generate others to add to the list. They can be marked by the part of speech to reinforce grammar skills. These can be used in the sentences in the book, or defined in a glossary at the end.

Develop Writing Skills

Each page can be a separate act of kindness stated in a complete sentence or paragraph. Some classes could use a sentence on most pages but a paragraph at the beginning introducing the concept, or on the last page summarizing the value of kindness.

This particular lesson incorporates the Six Trait writing skills of organization as well as mechanics.

Cause and Effect Skills

Children can build sentences in the following structure to follow the first sentence which states an act of kindness.

This develops cause and effect competencies within a social community setting, combining the academic skills with the social skills most children need. Employers often say that lack of social skills is one of the greatest stumbling blocks on the job, outranking even academic skills! One of the most effective ways of learning is by modeling. Children will model after their teachers and peers, thus developing more insight into cause and effect of social situations.

Creativity Development

There is lots of room for creative expression in this activity. Each page can be illustrated, as well as the book cover. It also is a great way for a child to find their own voice in writing. Yet for children for whom drawing is not a joy, the decorating can be minimal yet effective.

Emotional IQ Improvement

As mentioned above, getting along with people is vital to successful adulthood. The interactions and concept development during this project will help children develop social understandings and habits.

Classes that participate in Writer's Workshop utilize sharing as a regular event. It can also be effective to "spot share" during writing sessions, not waiting till the finished product emerges. This stimulates ideas and positive peer modeling, and can be done with a buddy or with a group while improving self-esteem.

Once the final products are complete, they can be put in a classroom library tub for a while before taking them home to share with their families and friends. They can also be read to a younger reader as a reading buddy activity.

This learning activity can also be done at home, providing a family keepsake to be kept in a place of honor with picture albums or favorite books. What a wonderful way to develop empathy and learn to respect other people's feelings.

The copyright of the article Celebrate Valentine's Day Making a Kindness Book in Primary School Lesson Plans is owned by Hildra Tague. Permission to republish Celebrate Valentine's Day Making a Kindness Book in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.