Passion Project Katherine Lynch

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Passion Project:  Kindness

Katherine Lynch

Why Kindness?

I selected this theme because I feel like it is something that is so needed in our world today. I am passionate about this topic because I know the weight that kindness can have on people. Growing up, I had a great support system and teachers who always showed me what kindness looked like and why it was so important. You can physically see the benefits that just being kind to a person can have. We can truly change what it looks like in the classroom and this world.  

First week of class

Reading Kindness books

Kindness Jar

Garden of Kindness

Community Building Excersises

Schoolwide support

Take it into the community

Get parent involvement

Project Launch

Last Stop on Market Street 

This book is about a boy and his Nana taking a trip on the bus. This connects to my passion project theme of kindness because throughout the entire book, Nana is introducing the boy to different kinds of people that are different from him and teaching him how differences are okay. Showing kindness to them is just as important.

I would introduce this book by asking which kids ride the bus, walk to school, carpool, etc. This would also relate to a social studies standard about our community.

Students could respond after reading this book by realizing that differences are okay and we all live our lives in different ways! Having a kindness jar could be a really good idea to include everyone in the class and giving and receiving kindness. Another way to emphasize this message could be through a puzzle piece activity. Have each kid decorate a puzzle piece anyway they want to show how unique each of them are. Then put each puzzle piece together to create one whole puzzle. Each of them are unique and important to the puzzle and we should treat each other like that.

Book Overview 

This book is about a boy and his Nana taking a trip on the bus. This connects to my passion project theme of kindness because throughout the entire book, Nana is introducing the boy to different kinds of people that are different from him and teaching him how differences are okay. Showing kindness to them is just as important.

I would introduce this book by asking which kids ride the bus, walk to school, carpool, etc. This would also relate to a social studies standard about our community.

Students could respond after reading this book by realizing that differences are okay and we all live our lives in different ways! Having a kindness jar could be a really good idea to include everyone in the class and giving and receiving kindness. Another way to emphasize this message could be through a puzzle piece activity. Have each kid decorate a puzzle piece anyway they want to show how unique each of them are. Then put each puzzle piece together to create one whole puzzle. Each of them are unique and important to the puzzle and we should treat each other like that.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Book Overview 

This book is about a little girl named Annabelle who always has extra yarn. She goes all around the town knitting different things for people and spreading kindness along the way. This book connects to my passion project because it shows how generosity and kindness can make a big difference in a community. Kindness can have a ripple effect and you have the potential to be that change!

I would introduce this book to my future class by taking them on a picture walk throughout the book and ask them to make predictions on how they think she was being kind. What are some other things we could do to be kind?

Students can respond to this book by leaving ideas on the way they can be kind to their community. Have them come up with some ideas and challenge them to actually do it!

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Book Overview

This book is about a girl named Tanisha who spills grape juice all over her clothes. Everyone stares and laughs at her and her classmates sees and want to be kind to her. As you go throughout the book, she learns what it means to be kind and helps Tanisha feel better. This related to my passion project theme of kindness because it shows how one little act of kindness can make a big difference!

I would introduce this to my future students by asking if someone has ever done anything kind for them. What was it? How did it make you feel?

Students could draw/write how they want to be kind for someone else. Now that they know that one little act of random kindness can go a long way, they can do that for someone else!

Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds

Book Overview

I love this book! The author is an award winning author and this book portrays the simple concept of kindness and inclusion with others.

I would introduce this to my students by asking them how each other is different. We all have different interests, hobbies, hair, eyes, etc. But does that mean we shouldn't show them kindness even if they are different? Nerdy Birdy wasn't like most of his other friends. He was so different from them and they didn't like that. Nerdy Birdy finally found someone who accepted him just the way he was.

This book is special because I feel like a lot of students could really relate (of all ages). I think everyone has experienced a time where they felt different from everyone and just wanted that one person to be kind to them. One thing that I might do is have the kids put themselves in the story. Imagine what it would be like to be Nerdy Birdy and have them write a narrative about their life as Nerdy Birdy. This could really get them thinking in how to be kind even when someone is different than they are.

The Quiltmakers Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

Book Overview

This book connects back to my passion project theme of kindness because it shows how happy someone can be when we just show them a little bit of kindness. It can change their whole day around. The king had everything he could ever want but once he started giving it to others, he realized what real kindness and giving was.

This book is a perfect example of kindness and how a small act of kindness can make a big impact not only on others but also us! The king was so greedy and had everything he wanted, but it wasn't until he gave it away when he found what he was really looking for.

I think a great way to connect this back to my passion project theme would be to have kids think of ways that they can make an impact for someone else. They could draw pictures of what they want to do for someone. I would then, as a teacher, challenge them to go home and do that thing and see how it makes them feel.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead

Book Overview

This book connects to my passion project theme because it is the perfect example of showing kindness to others and receiving it back from your friends.

I would introduce this book to my future classroom by asking what it takes to be a good friend. Amos Mcgee was an old man who did the same thing everyday. He would wake up and head to the zoo. At the zoo, he had all his friends who always needed his help. Amos was always there for his friends, and his friends were always there for him.

Students could respond in writing what the zoo animals did to help Amos Mcgee when he was sick. They could write a story of a time they were a good friend to someone or someone was a good friend to them. It is so important for students to realize that they can put kindness into the world, but they can also receive kindness from others.

Kindness Jar- I would implement this in my classroom as an activity that the whole class can participate in and embody the theme of kindness throughout the school day. 

“Be kind even on a bad day”

“One kind word can change somebody’s entire day”

“If you want more kindness in the world, put it there”

“We rise by lifting each other up”

“We don’t have to agree to be kind to one another”