We often tell our students to be kind, but what does it actually mean to be kind? As a teacher, I not only wanted my students to be successful in first grade, but I also wanted to set the foundation to help them be successful in life. One of the ways I did this was by finding books about kindness for elementary students and adding them to my lesson plans.
While learning how to read, write, and do arithmetic is important, these important skills won’t take them far if they don’t know how to interact with their peers and treat others with kindness. This was why one of the core values in our classroom was to “Be Respectful: treat others the way you want to be treated.”
But there is more to it than just hanging posters. So much more…
Books About Kindness For Elementary
If you want to see kindness take root in your students’ hearts and bear fruit in their lives, it’s important to take time to teach, model, and affirm kindness in our classroom. Start by reading some books about kindness for elementary students. Many teachers add these books about kindness to their back to school reading list. It’s important to remember they can be read anytime they are needed, and I promise students won’t only need kindness lessons in the beginning.
Part of our job as teachers is to make abstract concepts concrete, and we accomplish this through meaningful learning experiences. One of my favorite ways to teach kindness was through picture books. Books are a great springboard for important discussions in the classroom. They also allow students to see examples of how to treat others respectfully and showcase ways we don’t want to act.
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase through them I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Some of my favorite picture books that teach about kindness are:
“Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig
“Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig tells the heartwarming story of Brian, a boy who often goes unnoticed by his classmates. Despite being invisible to others, Brian’s life takes a positive turn when a new student, Justin, joins the class. Brian extends a simple act of kindness by welcoming Justin, and their collaboration on a class project becomes an opportunity for Brian to emerge from the shadows and showcase his abilities. The book beautifully highlights the transformative power of friendship and kindness in making the invisible boy visible.
“Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller
In the story “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller, when Tanisha accidentally stains her new dress with grape juice, a compassionate classmate reflects on the meaning of kindness. The narrative unfolds by showcasing various instances, such as inviting a new girl to play and standing up against bullying, to illustrate the diverse ways in which kindness can manifest. The tale underscores the significance of both grand and subtle acts of kindness, emphasizing their potential to make a meaningful impact or, at the very least, offer support to a friend in need.
“The Big Umbrella” by Amy June Bates
A large umbrella stands by the door, spacious enough to accommodate everyone when it rains. Regardless of differences in height, patterns, or hairiness, and regardless of the number of legs one has, there is always enough room under the umbrella. The message is clear in “The Big Umbrella”: no need to worry about space; there will always be room for everyone.
“Finding Kindness” by Deborah Underwood
“Finding Kindness” is such a beautiful celebration of the many ways that we can show kindness to others! Each page shows a different example of ways to show kindness to others. It’s easy to tell kids to “be kind”, but our kids need tangible and concrete ways to show kindness, which makes this book a great tool to have in your picture book collection!
“Come With Me” by Holly M. McGhee
“Come With Me” is such a powerful story of the difference one person can make in the world! When a little girl is frightened by what she sees on the news she asks her parents if there is something that she can do to make the world a better place. She learns that it only takes a little bit of courage and kindness to make a difference and invites the reader to join her!
These are just some of the books about kindness for elementary students. There are plenty of others to choose from!
Kindness in the Classroom
After reading about kindness, it is time to teach it, model it, and affirm it. Here are some recommendations to make all of those steps easier for you!
Step 1: TEACH IT
Once you have read one or more of the books about kindness for elementary students, it’s time to teach. Making anchor charts with your students about ways to be kind or words that we can use to show kindness are great ways to teach kindness and are beneficial to keep in the classroom to refer to throughout the year. Then, have your students write about ways that they can show kindness! You can even turn their writing into a Class Book that goes into your library!
Step 2: MODEL IT
You’ve heard the saying, “Our actions speak louder than our words.” Well, our students watch us every second of the day and mirror what they see us do. The best model for kindness in the classroom is you! You could tell your students to be thankful, but it’s way more powerful for them to see you thank the gym teacher when you pick them up from class.
You could tell your students to let others go first in line, but it’s more effective for them to see you let the other first-grade class go into the air-conditioned building first after playing in the heat during recess. Modeling not only shows students what kindness looks like but also gives them the correct words and body language.
Step 3: Affirm it
Teaching students kindness shouldn’t be an isolated lesson but an ongoing life lesson. There are so many teachable moments sprinkled throughout the school day. Keep the books about kindness for elementary students on display whenever you read a new one. Be sure to point kindness out when you see it and praise students when they treat others with respect. Leave a little note on their desk or make a positive call home to the student’s family when they have shown kindness to others.
Kindness Resources For Your Classroom: Going Beyond Books About Kindness
Teach, model, and affirm kindness in your classroom with these easy to use and effective resources that I shared in this post!
- Click HERE for Class Rules
- Click HERE for February Class Books
- Click HERE for Positive Notes For Students
Leave a Reply