Superhero Students: Spreading Smiles & Service!

Pre-k Grade Project 2 weeks

Superhero Students: Spreading Smiles & Service!

MCS Director

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Purpose

Students will engage in activities that foster kindness and community spirit by actively participating in projects that spread joy and create a welcoming environment. They will collaborate on creative tasks such as designing and decorating items for local businesses, and distributing repurposed flowers to brighten someone's day. These hands-on experiences will help students understand the impact of their actions and develop a sense of civic responsibility, while reinforcing the importance of working together to make their community a better place.

Learning goals

Students will explore how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect in their community. They will develop collaboration skills by working together on creative projects that spread joy, such as crafting personalized thank-you cards for local service workers. Through these activities, students will learn the importance of empathy and understanding in fostering a welcoming environment. They will also practice communication skills by sharing their experiences and reflections with peers and community members.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6: Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

Products

Students will create "Joyful Jars" by decorating recycled glass jars and filling them with positive messages or drawings to distribute to community centers or nursing homes. They will also design and paint kindness rocks with uplifting words or images to place in local parks or sidewalks. Additionally, students will craft handmade thank-you cards for local service workers, such as firefighters or librarians, to express appreciation and build connections within the community.

Launch

Begin the Civic Engagement lesson with a "Kindness Parade" where students create colorful signs and banners with positive messages. They can march around the school or a designated area, waving their creations and greeting others with smiles and friendly gestures. This activity sets the tone for spreading joy and encourages students to think about how their actions can brighten someone's day.

Exhibition

Host a "Community Kindness Day" where students showcase their creations and activities. Set up stations where children can distribute their decorated coffee sleeves, paper bags, and flowers to community members. Invite parents, local business owners, and neighbors to participate in the event, allowing students to share their experiences and reflections on spreading joy. Incorporate a storytelling corner where students can narrate their experiences as "Superheroes of Kindness," highlighting the impact of their actions on the community.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Introduction to Kindness - Begin with a storytime focused on kindness and discuss how small actions can make a big difference in our community (15 min) Kindness Parade Prep - Students create colorful signs and banners with positive messages, using drawing and painting materials (30 min)	Kindness Parade - Conduct a parade around the school where students display their signs and banners, waving and greeting others with smiles (20 min) Reflection Circle - Gather in a circle to share experiences from the parade and discuss how it made the students and others feel (25 min)	Thank-You Card Crafting - Design and decorate thank-you cards for local service workers such as firefighters and librarians, using collage and drawing techniques (30 min) Community Conversation - Discuss who receives the cards and why their roles are important to the community (15 min)	Joyful Jars Creation - Decorate recycled glass jars and fill them with drawings or positive messages to distribute to community centers or nursing homes (30 min) Sharing Ideas - Talk about how these Joyful Jars can brighten someone's day and where they might be placed (15 min)	Kindness Rock Painting - Paint rocks with uplifting words or images to place in local parks or sidewalks, encouraging creativity and expression (30 min) Community Impact Discussion - Discuss how these kindness rocks can surprise and delight others in the community (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed Joyful Jars with positive messages 2. Decorated Kindness Rocks 3. Handmade thank-you cards for local service workers
Preparation	1. Gather recycled glass jars, paint, markers, and other decorating materials for the Joyful Jars. 2. Collect smooth rocks and painting supplies for the Kindness Rocks activity. 3. Prepare card-making materials such as paper, markers, stickers, and envelopes for thank-you cards. 4. Plan and map out the route for the Kindness Parade around the school. 5. Coordinate with community centers, parks, and local service workers for distribution of projects next week.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Community Visit Discussion - Recap last week's activities and introduce the plan to visit a local flower shop to collect discarded flowers for distribution (15 min) Flower Collection and Preparation - Take a supervised visit to the local flower shop, collect flowers, and prepare them for distribution by arranging them in small bundles (30 min)	Flower Distribution Role-Play - Practice how to greet and give flowers to community members with kindness and gratitude through role-play (15 min) Neighborhood Flower Walk - Walk to a nearby area and distribute the flower bundles to passersby, spreading joy and recording reactions (30 min)	Coffee Sleeve Design - Create and decorate coffee sleeves with positive messages for a local café, using markers and stickers (25 min) Local Café Visit - Visit the café to deliver the decorated sleeves and discuss with the owner how these can brighten customers' days (20 min)	Grocery Bag Art - Decorate paper bags with cheerful drawings and messages for a local grocery store, focusing on creativity and kindness (30 min) Bag Delivery and Discussion - Walk to the grocery store to deliver the bags and talk about their potential impact with store staff (15 min)	Kindness Reflection - Gather in a circle to share experiences from the week's community interactions and discuss feelings and insights (20 min) Exhibition Preparation - Set up for the "Community Kindness Day" by organizing all completed projects and practicing presentations (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Decorated 'Joyful Jars' filled with positive messages. 2. Painted 'Kindness Rocks' with uplifting words or images. 3. Handmade thank-you cards for local service workers.
Preparation	1. Gather recycled glass jars, paint, stickers, and markers for decorating the 'Joyful Jars.' 2. Collect smooth stones and appropriate paints for the 'Kindness Rocks' activity. 3. Provide craft supplies such as construction paper, markers, and stickers for making thank-you cards. 4. Coordinate with local community centers, nursing homes, and service worker locations for delivering jars and cards. 5. Plan logistics for 'Community Kindness Day,' including setting up stations and inviting community members.