Teaching Kindness to Middle School Kids

 Title: Kindness Scenario Worksheet 1

Instructions: Read each scenario carefully and choose the best response that demonstrates kindness. Then, explain why you think your answer is the right one, and why the other options are wrong.

Scenario 1: You see a new student sitting alone during lunchtime. What do you do?

A) Laugh with your friends and ignore the new student. B) Go sit with the new student and introduce yourself. C) Tell the new student they need to find their own friends.

Your Answer: Explanation: The correct answer is B. Going to sit with the new student and introducing yourself shows kindness and inclusiveness. Option A is wrong because it involves ignoring and making fun of someone, which is unkind. Option C is also unkind because it dismisses the new student's feelings and doesn't offer any help or support.

Scenario 2: Your classmate has fallen behind in their schoolwork and is struggling. What would you do?

A) Mock them for not keeping up with the work. B) Offer to help them catch up on their schoolwork. C) Pretend you didn't notice and walk away.

Your Answer: Explanation: The correct answer is B. Offering to help your struggling classmate demonstrates kindness and empathy. Option A is unkind because it involves mocking, which can hurt someone's feelings and self-esteem. Option C is also unkind because ignoring someone who needs help is not a kind approach.

Scenario 3: Your friend accidentally spills their juice all over their homework. What should you do?

A) Laugh and tease them for being clumsy. B) Offer to help them clean up and find a solution. C) Walk away and pretend you didn't see anything.

Your Answer: Explanation: The correct answer is B. Offering to help your friend clean up and find a solution is a kind and supportive response. Option A is unkind because it involves teasing and making fun of your friend when they are already upset. Option C is unkind because it is dismissive of your friend's predicament.

Scenario 4: You notice someone being bullied at school. What is the right thing to do?

A) Join in with the bullies to avoid becoming a target yourself. B) Tell a teacher or trusted adult about the bullying. C) Ignore it and walk away.

Your Answer: Explanation: The correct answer is B. Reporting the bullying to a teacher or trusted adult is the right thing to do. Bullying is unkind and harmful, and it's important to take a stand against it. Option A is wrong because joining in with bullies is unkind and can make the situation worse. Option C is also unkind because it involves ignoring the suffering of others.

Scenario 5: Your classmate is upset because they failed a test. What would you do?

A) Tell them they are just not smart enough. B) Offer a sympathetic ear and suggest studying together next time. C) Ignore them and go on with your own business.

Your Answer: Explanation: The correct answer is B. Offering a sympathetic ear and suggesting studying together shows kindness and support. Option A is unkind because it involves criticizing your classmate's abilities and can make them feel worse. Option C is also unkind because it dismisses your classmate's feelings.

Title: Kindness Scenario Worksheet 2

Instructions: Read the scenarios carefully and choose the best response that demonstrates kindness. For each scenario, one answer is right, and the others are wrong. After completing the worksheet, we will discuss why the chosen answers are correct and why the others are not.

Scenario 1: You notice a new student sitting alone at lunch, looking sad and lonely. What should you do?

A) Ignore them and continue eating. B) Invite them to sit with you and introduce them to your friends. C) Make fun of them to make others laugh.

Correct Answer: B) Invite them to sit with you and introduce them to your friends.

Explanation: This answer shows kindness by reaching out to the new student, making them feel welcome and included. Option C is unkind because it involves making fun of someone, which is hurtful.

Scenario 2: Your classmate accidentally drops their books in the hallway, and they look embarrassed. What should you do?

A) Laugh and walk away. B) Offer to help them pick up their books. C) Pretend you didn't see anything and keep walking.

Correct Answer: B) Offer to help them pick up their books.

Explanation: This response shows kindness by offering assistance and empathy when someone is in a difficult situation. Options A and C are unkind because they involve ignoring the classmate's embarrassment or making fun of them.

Scenario 3: Your friend is upset because they failed a test. How can you be kind?

A) Tell them it's their fault and they should study harder. B) Listen to them, offer comfort, and suggest studying together. C) Laugh at them for failing.

Correct Answer: B) Listen to them, offer comfort, and suggest studying together.

Explanation: This answer demonstrates kindness by being supportive and offering to help your friend improve. Option A is unkind as it blames and criticizes your friend, and option C is unkind as it involves making fun of their failure.

Scenario 4: You see someone being teased and bullied at school. What should you do?

A) Join in and tease them to fit in with others. B) Ignore it and pretend you didn't see anything. C) Stand up for the person being teased and report it to a teacher.

Correct Answer: C) Stand up for the person being teased and report it to a teacher.

Explanation: This answer shows kindness by taking action to stop the bullying and ensure the person's safety. Options A and B are unkind as they either participate in the bullying or ignore it, which allows it to continue.

Scenario 5: Your little brother or sister wants to play with you, but you have homework to do. What can you do to be kind?

A) Tell them to go away and play by themselves. B) Spend a few minutes playing with them and then explain that you need to do your homework. C) Lock yourself in your room and ignore them.

Correct Answer: B) Spend a few minutes playing with them and then explain that you need to do your homework.

Explanation: This response demonstrates kindness by finding a balance between your responsibilities and spending time with your sibling. Options A and C are unkind as they involve rejecting or ignoring your sibling's request.

Now that you've completed the worksheet, you can discuss the chosen answers with the middle school kids and explain why kindness is important in each scenario. Kindness helps build positive relationships, creates a supportive and inclusive environment, and makes everyone feel valued and respected. It's important to recognize that kindness can make a big difference in people's lives and contribute to a happier and more caring community.

Title: Kindness Scenario Worksheet 3

Objective: To teach middle school kids about kindness through scenarios and help them understand the right and wrong responses in each situation.

Instructions: Read each scenario and choose the best response. Explain why you think the selected response is the right one, and why the other options are wrong.

Scenario 1: You see a new student sitting alone in the school cafeteria during lunchtime. What do you do? a) Ignore them and continue with your lunch. b) Make fun of them to get some laughs from your friends. c) Walk up to them, introduce yourself, and invite them to sit with you.

Explanation: The right answer is (c). It is important to show kindness by welcoming new students and making them feel included. Option (a) is wrong because ignoring someone in need of a friend is unkind, and option (b) is wrong because making fun of someone is hurtful.

Scenario 2: Your friend is upset because they failed a test. What should you do? a) Laugh at them for failing. b) Ignore them and continue studying. c) Offer to help them study or simply listen to them to provide emotional support.

Explanation: The right answer is (c). In this situation, showing empathy and support is kind. Option (a) is wrong because laughing at someone's failure is unkind and hurtful, and option (b) is wrong because ignoring your friend's feelings is not a kind response.

Scenario 3: During a game at recess, your teammate makes a mistake that costs your team the victory. What do you do? a) Yell at your teammate and blame them for the loss. b) Tell your teammate that they are terrible at the game. c) Encourage your teammate and let them know that it's okay, and everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

Explanation: The right answer is (c). It is kind to be supportive and understanding when someone makes a mistake. Option (a) and (b) are wrong because they involve blaming and insulting your teammate, which is unkind and hurtful.

Scenario 4: You find money on the ground while walking home from school. What do you do? a) Keep the money for yourself. b) Try to find the owner by asking around and returning the money. c) Use the money to buy something you want.

Explanation: The right answer is (b). Kindness involves doing the right thing, which in this case is trying to find the owner and returning the money. Option (a) is wrong because keeping the money when it's not yours is not a kind act, and option (c) is wrong because using the money for personal gain without trying to return it is also unkind.

Scenario 5: You witness a classmate being teased and bullied by a group of students. What do you do? a) Join in and tease the classmate too. b) Walk away and pretend you didn't see anything. c) Tell a teacher or a trusted adult about the situation or stand up for the classmate by saying it's not right to tease them.

Explanation: The right answer is (c). It is important to stand up against bullying and seek help from adults. Option (a) is wrong because joining in on the teasing is unkind and harmful, and option (b) is wrong because ignoring the situation perpetuates the unkind behavior.

Teaching children about kindness through scenarios helps them understand the impact of their actions on others and encourages them to make compassionate choices. After completing the worksheet, discuss the scenarios and explanations with the students to reinforce the importance of kindness in their daily lives.

Worksheet: Teaching Kindness to Middle School Kids 4

Scenario 1: The Lunchroom Dilemma You see a new student sitting alone at lunchtime. What do you do? A) Walk over and introduce yourself, inviting the new student to join your table. B) Ignore the new student and continue eating with your friends. C) Make fun of the new student from a distance.

Correct Answer: A) Walk over and introduce yourself, inviting the new student to join your table.

Explanation: Option A promotes kindness and empathy. It shows that you care about the feelings of others and are willing to make someone feel welcome. Options B and C are unkind and hurtful, as they either ignore or mock the new student, which goes against the principles of kindness.

Scenario 2: The Lost Homework Your classmate accidentally left their homework at home and is worried about it. What do you do? A) Offer to help them by sharing your notes or helping them catch up. B) Tell them that it's their problem, and they should have been more responsible. C) Laugh at them for being forgetful.

Correct Answer: A) Offer to help them by sharing your notes or helping them catch up.

Explanation: Option A demonstrates kindness and understanding. It helps your classmate in a difficult situation and shows empathy. Option B is unkind, as it dismisses their problem, and option C is mean-spirited, as it ridicules their forgetfulness.

Scenario 3: The Playground Game You're playing a game during recess, and a classmate isn't chosen for any team. What do you do? A) Invite the classmate to join your team and make them feel included. B) Pretend not to notice and continue playing without them. C) Tease the classmate for not being good enough to be picked.

Correct Answer: A) Invite the classmate to join your team and make them feel included.

Explanation: Option A reflects kindness and inclusion. It ensures that nobody is left out and helps the classmate feel valued. Options B and C are unkind; B ignores the problem, and C bullies the classmate, both of which go against the principles of kindness.

Scenario 4: The Library Incident You witness a classmate accidentally knock over a stack of books in the library. What do you do? A) Offer to help them pick up the books and make sure they are okay. B) Laugh at them and make jokes about their clumsiness. C) Walk away without saying anything.

Correct Answer: A) Offer to help them pick up the books and make sure they are okay.

Explanation: Option A demonstrates kindness and compassion. It shows that you care about your classmate's well-being and are willing to help in a challenging situation. Options B and C are unkind, as they either mock or ignore the classmate's mishap, which is not in line with kindness.

Scenario 5: The Homework Swap Your friend is struggling with a difficult homework assignment, and they ask if you can share your answers. What do you do? A) Offer to help them understand the material and give guidance, but don't share your answers. B) Share your answers with them without hesitation. C) Refuse to help and tell them to figure it out themselves.

Correct Answer: A) Offer to help them understand the material and give guidance, but don't share your answers.

Explanation: Option A promotes kindness and integrity. It supports your friend in learning and understanding the material instead of simply providing answers. Option B is academically dishonest, and option C is unkind and unhelpful.

Use these scenarios and explanations to discuss the importance of kindness with your middle school students. Encourage them to choose kind actions and explain why unkind choices are hurtful and not conducive to building a supportive and caring community.