Since the beginning of the pandemic, the people of British Columbia have been tuning in to Dr. Bonnie Henry’s daily (now bi-weekly) COVID-19 reports. Every one of these reports ends with a gentle reminder for us to be kind to one another, to be calm and to be safe.
I have heard this powerful mantra repeated in conversations, have seen it used to end emails and other forms of correspondence, and quoted on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Establishing a kind, calm, and safe environment in a classroom setting is always a focus for teachers. But, this year is especially challenging. Teachers are not only tasked with providing their students with new safety protocols and routines but they are being called on to provide extra empathy and support. With that in mind, I have gathered a few resources that could be used as conversation starters and discussion points when talking with students about kindness and friendship.
World Kindness Day: November 13
Initiated in 1998, World Kindness Day is an international day of observance. Numerous websites have information and suggestions for celebrating this day.
YouTube Videos
• Small Talk/Friendship/CBC Kids: March 20, 2017
• 10 Random Acts of Kindness/#The Cohen Show: Nov. 22, 2017
• A short story on Kindness/Jigyasa Vyas: March 11, 2018
Books
by Monique Gray Smith
illustrated by Nicole Neidgardt
Orca Book Publishers
ISBN 9781459825222
This thoughtful and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates small acts of kindness. Young readers are also encouraged to recognize how they feel when they receive or initiate acts of kindness in their own lives.
by Monique Gray Smith
illustrated by Danielle Daniel
Orca Book Publishers
ISBN 978-1-4598-2175-0
This colourful picture book highlights the important connections that young children make with their friends and family members. Readers are encouraged to demonstrate respect and empathy by supporting one another in their daily interactions.
written and illustrated by Nicole de Cock
translated by Margriet Ruurs
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
ISBN 9781554553648
This story is about two friends. Bolt is a donkey. Nut is a mouse. They are best friends and will do anything for each other. As the story progresses, the reader witnesses Nut doing many kind things for Bolt—bringing him food, brushing his teeth, braiding his tail, knitting him a scarf, etc. The reader is left to wonder, what is it that Bolt does for Nut? This question is finally answered on the last page when the reader realizes that the donkey provides friendship, safety, and a sense of home.
by Jordan Scott
illustrated by Sydney Smith
Penguin Random House
ISBN 9780823445592
I Talk Like a River is a new picture book that tells the story of a young boy who struggles to speak fluently. The author, who writes from his own childhood experience, shows how a caring father is able to reassure his son, relieve his anxiety, and help him to find his voice.
by Andrea Spalding
illustrated by Janet Wilson
Orca Book Publishers
ISBN 1-55143-177-7
When Ian and his mother move thousands of miles away from his father and the family farm, he has to come to grips with the many challenges of relocation. After he peeks through the garden fence and sees the elderly Mr. Mah working in his garden, Ian is inspired to create his own. Over the summer the two friends garden together and share memories and stories of their original homes. This is a heartwarming story of intergenerational and intercultural friendship.
by David Gutnick
illustrated by Mathihilde Cinq-Mars
Second Story Press
ISBN 978-1-77260-059-9
Shortly after arriving in Canada from China, a young girl and her father meet Mr. Mergler in their neighbourhood park. Mr. Mergler has been teaching music to young people for over fifty years, and now offers to give the girl piano lessons. Based on the life of the musician Daniel Mergler, this is a gentle story of friendship and generosity of spirit.
by Emily Pearson
illustrated by Fumi Kosaka
Gibbs, Smith Publisher
ISBN 0-87905-978-8
Mary is an ordinary little girl on her way home from her ordinary school. She stops to pick a bowlful of ordinary blueberries and leaves them, as a gift, for her neighbour. She has no idea that this simple act of kindness will prompt her neighbour to pass the kindness on to five others. This action triggers a chain reaction of people passing the kindness forward. After just fifteen days, the kindness has been shared around the globe and with 6,103,515,625 people.
by Patsy Dingwell
illustrated by Marla Lesage
Acorn Press
ISBN 978-1-77366-063-9
Broken Crayons is a new picture book that tells the story of Ms. Gillis, a preservice teacher who flies to Kenya to complete her International Teaching Practicum. When she meets the class of fifty-five grade three students that she will be teaching for the next six weeks, Ms. Gillis knows that school supplies are very scarce. She is excited to distribute the boxes
of crayons that she has brought with her from Canada, but she is not prepared for the children’s reaction. Once the initial excitement wears off, her students begin to snap each crayon into three pieces. When one student explains that the class plans to share their crayons with their friends in other classrooms, Ms. Gillis realizes that she is the one with the most to learn from this special teaching experience.
Brenda Boreham
Brenda has 35 years of classroom experience. She has presented workshops on literacy strategies and has written a number of resources for teachers. She remains passionate about matching up kids with books.
This article is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2021 issue.