Kindness – KS2 lesson plan

Developed with teachers and NHS-approved, this lesson explores the benefits of kindness and how this can impact thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Pupils learn how people can use positive self-talk to be kind to themselves.

A "Guidance for teachers" document contains details on how to link mental wellbeing lesson plans to school-wide approaches in place around social and emotional learning.

Curriculum

Supports the Relationships and Health Education curriculum

By the end of primary school, pupils should know:

• how to recognise and talk about their emotions, including having a varied vocabulary of words to use when talking about their own and others' feelings
• the benefits of physical exercise, time outdoors, community participation, voluntary and service-based activity on mental wellbeing and happiness
• the importance of self-respect and how this links to their own happiness
• that in school and in wider society they can expect to be treated with respect by others, and that in turn they should show due respect to others
• the characteristics of friendships, including mutual respect, truthfulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness, generosity, trust, sharing interests and experiences and support with problems and difficulties

Supports the PSHE curriculum

KS2 – Pupils learn:

• R19 – about the impact of bullying, including offline and online, and the consequences of hurtful behaviour
• R20 – strategies to respond to hurtful behaviour experienced or witnessed, offline and online (including teasing, name-calling, bullying, trolling, harassment or the deliberate excluding of others); how to report concerns and get support
• R30 – that personal behaviour can affect other people; to recognise and model respectful behaviour online
• R31 – to recognise the importance of self-respect and how this can affect their thoughts and feelings about themselves; that everyone, including them, should expect to be treated politely and with respect by others (including when online and/or anonymous) in school and in wider society; strategies to improve or support courteous, respectful relationships

Learning outcomes

After this lesson, pupils will be able to:

• identify the benefits of kindness
• analyse the impact of kindness on wellbeing
• suggest how people can use positive self-talk to be kind to themselves