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Kindness Certificate

Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Brainstorming
Kindness
Reflection
Time/Talent/Treasure
Volunteer

Young people demonstrate that gifts do not need to be purchased with money. The best gifts are things we do with our time and talent for someone else. They brainstorm "kindness" types of gifts, such as a service or a homemade creation. They make a gift of kindness certificates. 

Duration 
PrintOne 45-Minute Session
Objectives 
  • identify things we can do with our time and talent for the good of others
  • make "kindness" certificates that may be given away
Materials 

index cards

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Take a poll: Is it better to give a gift or get a gift?

    Discuss the results of the poll. What are the benefits of each, and what types of gifts are the best, whether giving or receiving? Lead youth to see acts of kindness as gifts of time and talent that don't require money.

    Brainstorm a list of possible gifts of time and talent (homemade and services). Record their ideas on chart paper. Ideas to get started:

    Draw a picture, make cookies (for someone or together), clean my room, go for a walk, walk your dog, brush your hair, play a game together. 

  2. Introduce the concept of "kindness gifts" as gifts they can give that do not cost money and make someone feel good. Discuss when, why, and to whom we could give "kindness gifts."

    • Distribute the index cards and explain that they will write on each one a "kindness gift" they can give someone in the group and/or someone at home with their time and talent.
    • They can be written like a coupon: This is good for a walk in the woods together. This is good for a batch of your favorite cookies. This is good for helping you clean your desk. This is good for a picture I paint for you."
    • Optional: put all the cards in a box for people to draw randomly. 
Assessment 

Discuss how giving and receiving the gift feels and how it impacts the feelings of the whole group.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark E.6 Describe the concept of personal wealth.
  2. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.1 Describe one reason why a person might give or volunteer.