Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman Lesson Plans for Elementary and Middle School

Steve Hartman is a CBS News correspondent known for his heartwarming "On the Road" segments, where he travels across the United States to share inspiring stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartman launched "Kindness 101," a series of online lessons featuring his two children, aimed at teaching important values and character traits to young viewers.

 

Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman CBS journalist

Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman YouTube

Here are some lesson plan ideas for using "Kindness 101" with elementary and middle school students to teach positive behavior, empathy, and social-emotional intelligence:

Kindness 101: A lesson in comfort

1. Video Analysis and Discussion
- Show a "Kindness 101" episode to the class
- Have students identify the main theme or value discussed
- Lead a group discussion on how they can apply this lesson in their daily lives

2. Kindness Journal
- After watching an episode, have students write in a "Kindness Journal"
- Encourage them to record acts of kindness they observe or perform each day
- Weekly sharing sessions where students can read entries from their journals

3. Role-Playing Scenarios
- Create scenarios based on "Kindness 101" episodes
- Have students act out these scenarios, practicing empathy and problem-solving
- Discuss alternative solutions and outcomes as a class

4. "Kindness 101" Inspired News Report
- Students create their own "Kindness 101" style reports
- They can interview family members, teachers, or community members about acts of kindness
- Present these reports to the class or create a class newsletter

5. Kindness Chain
- Start a paper chain in the classroom, adding a link for each act of kindness observed
- Set a class goal for the length of the chain
- Discuss the impact of cumulative small acts of kindness

6. Community Service Project
- Inspired by a "Kindness 101" episode, plan and execute a class community service project
- Reflect on the experience and its impact on both the community and the students

7. Empathy Map
- After watching an episode, create an empathy map for one of the featured individuals
- Students identify what the person might be thinking, feeling, saying, and doing
- Use this exercise to develop perspective-taking skills

8. Values Collage
- Students create collages representing the values discussed in "Kindness 101"
- Use images from magazines, drawings, or printed photos
- Present collages to the class, explaining their choices and interpretations

9. "Kindness 101" Book Club
- Select books that align with themes from the series
- Hold regular discussions linking the books to lessons from "Kindness 101"
- Encourage students to find real-life examples of the books' themes

10. Peer Mentoring Program
- Inspired by Steve Hartman teaching his own children, set up a peer mentoring program
- Older students can teach younger ones about kindness and empathy
- Regular check-ins to discuss challenges and successes These lesson plans can be adapted for different age groups and can be used individually or as part of a larger unit on social-emotional learning. 

The goal is to help students internalize the lessons from "Kindness 101 How to Find Empathy" and apply them in their own lives, fostering a more empathetic and kind school community

Here's another lesson plan for a morning meeting focused on discussing the "superhero children" featured in Steve Hartman's "Kindness 101 " series, emphasizing their social-emotional skills. This lesson is designed to stir meaningful conversations and build social awareness among students. 

Lesson Plan: "Everyday Superheroes: Kindness in Action" 

Objective: Students will discuss real-life examples of children demonstrating exceptional social-emotional skills, reflect on these actions, and consider how they can apply similar skills in their own lives. 

Materials:

- A short clip from a "Kindness 101" episode (if available)

- Whiteboard or large paper for recording ideas 

Introduction (5 minutes):

Begin by asking students what they think makes someone a superhero. After a brief discussion, introduce the idea that real-life superheroes are often ordinary people, especially children, who show extraordinary kindness and empathy. 

Main Activity (15-20 minutes):

Share a brief story or clip from "Kindness 101" featuring a child demonstrating exceptional social-emotional skills. Then, use the following questions to guide the discussion:

 1. "What specific actions did this child take that you found inspiring?"

   (This helps students identify concrete examples of positive behavior.) 

2. "How do you think the child in the story felt while they were helping others? How about after?"

   (Encourages students to practice perspective-taking and emotional awareness.) 

3. "What social-emotional skills did this child demonstrate? How did these skills help them make a difference?"

   (Helps students recognize and name specific social-emotional competencies.) 

4. "Can you think of a time when you or someone you know did something similar? How did it make you feel?"

   (Allows students to connect the story to their personal experiences.) 

5. "If you were in a similar situation, what might you do? What challenges might you face, and how could you overcome them?"

   (Prompts students to imagine themselves in prosocial scenarios and problem-solve.) 

6. "How do you think small acts of kindness, like the one we discussed, can create bigger changes in a community?"

   (Encourages students to think about the ripple effects of positive actions.) 

7. "What's one small thing you could do today to be a 'superhero' in someone else's life?"

   (Motivates students to translate discussion into action.) 

Closing (5 minutes):

Ask students to share one thing they learned or one action they plan to take based on the discussion. Record these on the whiteboard or paper as a visual reminder of the class's commitment to kindness.

Extension:

Consider creating a "Kindness Wall" where students can add notes throughout the week when they observe or perform acts of kindness, reinforcing the morning meeting's message.

 This lesson plan is designed to engage students in meaningful dialogue about social-emotional skills, empathy, and kindness. The questions are crafted to encourage critical thinking, self-reflection, and actionable steps towards becoming more socially aware and empathetic individuals. By discussing real examples of children making a difference, students can see that they too have the power to positively impact their community.