Activity 1: A day or two in advance of this activity, prepare students by

telling them that they will be asked to share one positive thing about each

of their classmates. Have them take a few moments to look around at others

and think of what they might say. Let them know that it is okay if there

are a few students for whom they can’t think of anything. Ask them to spend

the next couple of days observing and getting to know these students better

so they can find something positive to say. This alleviates on-the-spot

pressure, and helps to keep students from the dreaded, “I can’t think of

anything…”

On the day of the activity, arrange student desks or chairs in a circle

formation. Then distribute large sheets of white or yellow construction

paper and ask each student to write his/her name in large letters in the

center. Ask students to help you brainstorm on the board (or chart paper) a

list of compliments or comments that they might write about others. Some

examples may include: “Nice smile!” “Good worker!” “Wonderful friend!”

“Helpful,” “Caring,” “Funny,” etc. Tell students that they are going to

participate in an activity and that there are a few ground rules they will

need to follow:

1) No talking. Everyone will need time to think and concentrate during the

activity.

2) Write only positive comments.

3) Write large enough so the person can read it, but small enough so there

will be space for everyone.

As you give a signal, students will slide their paper to the right one

person. Give students between 30 seconds and one minute to write their

positive comments, and then give the signal for them to slide their papers

to the right again. You may want to do this about 10-15 times and then take

a stretching break so that students don’t get too restless. When your paper

comes back to you, the entire class has written on your sheet. Give

students a few minutes at this point to read and enjoy what others have

written.

Hold a brief discussion by posing the following questions:

? How did you feel when you read through the comments on your sheet?

? Did any classmates notice things about you that made you feel good? What

were they?

? How do you think others felt about reading what you wrote?

? Do people like to be noticed and complimented by others?

? What are some things we can do on a daily basis in our classroom to let

others know we care about them?

? Can you think of some others at this school who might need more compassion

(no names)?

? What can you do to show those people you care?

Activity 2: Put students into groups of three or four and ask them to come

up with a list of ways they can show compassion in the following situations:

*at home with their families

*on the playground or in the cafeteria

*in their community

*to their teacher or other school personnel

*to their friends

*to other students in the classroom

Reconvene as a group and share answers on chart paper, board, or overhead.

Ask students to think honestly about which of these things they may already

do. Encourage them to challenge themselves to choose one way they can show

compassion to someone else in the next 24 hours. The next day, have a

follow-up discussion and ask students to share any ways they practiced

compassion and how it impacted them.

Activity 3: Choose a local nursing home, hospital, or shelter and have

students make cheerful cards, signs, books, or pictures to send for display

in these places. Lead a discussion about compassion and how these items

might impact someone else. Ask students to think about and share what they

think the people in these places are like, how they may have gotten there,

etc. If possible, it would be ideal to take students to one of these places

to read to people or share some other type of schoolwork. The benefits are

twofold: students learn about compassion, and others learn that there are

volunteers who care!

– Jen Wheeler, 4th grade teacher, Lomas Elementary,