47 Fun Kindness Activities for Elementary Students

Teaching kindness to young children can be challenging.

Many educators struggle to find fun, age-appropriate ways to help students understand and practice compassion, and this is a common problem in elementary classrooms.

We’ve got good news! This article offers a solution with 47 enjoyable kindness activities for elementary students.

These creative ideas will make teaching empathy and consideration easy and fun.

In this post, we’ll share various games, projects, and exercises designed to boost kindness in your classroom.

From simple daily habits to more involved group activities, you’ll find options for different ages and learning styles.

Let’s explore these engaging kindness activities for elementary students to nurture caring hearts in young learners.

47 Creative Kindness Activities for Elementary Students

1. Kindness Tree

Start by placing a large paper tree on the wall or using real branches in a jar. Each time students perform a kind act, they write it on a paper leaf and tape it to the tree.

As the days progress, the tree “grows” with more leaves representing acts of kindness.

Material Required: Paper, markers, scissors, tape/glue, branch or bulletin board.
Learning Outcome: Students understand the impact of small acts of kindness and see the collective effect.
How to Make It More Interesting: Use colorful paper for the leaves or add “fruits of kindness” to represent positive feelings gained from each act.

2. Compliment Board

Designate a bulletin board or wall space where students can pin up compliments.

Provide slips of paper or sticky notes on which students can write something about their peers. Then, students can post their comments on the board for others to see.

Material Required: Bulletin board, sticky notes or paper, markers.
Learning Outcome: Students learn to recognize and express appreciation for others’ good qualities.
How to Make It More Interesting: Rotate “compliment themes” each week, such as “best teamwork,” or allow students to decorate their compliment cards.

3. The Smile Game

Play music and pass around a ball with a smiley face.

When the music stops, the child holding the ball must say something kind to another student. The game continues until every child has had a turn.

Material Required: Ball or beanbag with a smiley face, music player.
Learning Outcome: Encourages children to think of kind words and boosts self-esteem in the classroom.
How to Make It More Interesting: Add a timer challenge, where students must think of unique compliments within 15 seconds to score points.

4. Kindness Scenarios

Present different real-life scenarios where students must decide how to respond kindly.

After discussing their choices, allow them to role-play their responses to reinforce understanding.

Material Required: Printed scenario cards or a whiteboard to write the scenarios.
Learning Outcome: Teaches empathy, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
How to Make It More Interesting: For added engagement, let students create their own scenarios to share with the class.

5. Bucket Filling Activity

Introduce the concept of “filling someone’s bucket” by showing kindness.

Students write kind acts on slips of paper and place them in a classroom bucket to fill it over time.

Material Required: Bucket or container, paper slips, markers.
Learning Outcome: Encourages positive behavior and reinforces that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
How to Make It More Interesting: When the bucket is full, add a class reward, such as extra playtime or a fun activity.

6. Wrinkled Heart Activity

Cut out a large heart and fold it with each example of unkind behavior students share.

Afterward, unfold the heart and explain that while the heart opens again, the wrinkles remain, symbolizing the lasting effects of unkind words.

Material Required: Large heart cut-out, smaller hearts for students, markers.
Learning Outcome: Demonstrates how hurtful actions leave lasting marks, even after an apology.
How to Make It More Interesting: Allow students to decorate their small hearts with examples of kindness to “smooth out” the wrinkles.

7. Kindness Calendar

Create a monthly calendar filled with small, daily acts of kindness for students to complete.

These can range from saying something nice to helping a friend.

Material Required: Calendar template, markers, ideas for kind acts.
Learning Outcome: Helps students develop a habit of performing regular acts of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students suggest daily acts of kindness, making the activity more personal and engaging.

8. Make Joy Happen Video Discussion

Show the class a kindness-themed video like “Make Joy Happen.”

After watching, engage students in a discussion about what the video teaches and how they can apply those lessons in their own lives.

Material Required: Video player, “Make Joy Happen” or similar video.
Learning Outcome: Reinforces the concept of empathy and how acts of kindness can spread.
How to Make It More Interesting: Have students relate the video to their experiences by sharing times when they were kind or received kindness.

9. Celebrate Diversity

Read a book that celebrates different cultures and backgrounds.

Discuss how understanding and appreciating diversity is an important part of kindness.

Material Required: Books celebrating cultural diversity (e.g., “The Day You Begin”).
Learning Outcome: Fosters inclusivity and empathy by teaching children to appreciate differences.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create a “cultural day” where students share something from their own or a different culture, such as food or a traditional story.

10. Class Compliment Circles

Students sit in a circle, each taking turns complimenting the person next to them.

Continue around the circle until every student has received and given a compliment.

Material Required: Chairs or mats for the circle, quiet space.
Learning Outcome: Builds communication skills, self-esteem, and peer recognition.
How to Make It More Interesting: Introduce different themes for the compliments, such as compliments about teamwork or effort.

11. Kindness Coupons

Distribute printable coupons that have specific kind acts written on them, like “Help a classmate” or “Share a toy.”

Students redeem the coupons by completing the assigned kind acts throughout the week.

Material Required: Printable coupons, markers, reward system (optional).
Learning Outcome: Encourages proactive kindness and teaches responsibility in completing thoughtful actions.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students create their own kindness coupons for their peers, making it more personalized.

12. Daily Kindness Affirmations

Begin each day by leading the class in kindness affirmations, such as “I am kind to myself and others” or “My actions make a positive impact.”

These affirmations help set a positive tone for the day.

Material Required: List of affirmations, poster or whiteboard.
Learning Outcome: Promotes self-kindness and reinforces the habit of thinking positively and kindly toward others.
How to Make It More Interesting: Allow students to take turns leading the class in affirmations or come up with their own.

13. Kindness Mailbox

Set up a mailbox where students can write down random acts of kindness they plan to do or have already done. Each day, a few students can pick a note from the mailbox to inspire kind actions.

Material Required: A small box or decorated container, paper slips, markers.
Learning Outcome: Encourages self-reflection on kind actions and motivates students to perform daily acts of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create a “Kindness of the Week” showcase where the best random act of kindness is celebrated.

14. Kindness Rocks

Provide students with rocks to paint and write positive messages on. These rocks can be left around the school or community for others to find, spreading kindness beyond the classroom.

Material Required: Rocks, paint, brushes, markers.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students how small gestures, like kind messages, can greatly impact others.
How to Make It More Interesting: Organize a rock hunt where students search for and collect kindness rocks to share with new classmates or teachers.

15. Random Acts of Kindness Challenge

Challenge students to perform as many kind acts as possible over a week.

Each kind of act is recorded, and the class reflects on their progress at the end of the week.

Material Required: Chart or tally sheet, reward system (optional).
Learning Outcome: Fosters a culture of continuous kindness and helps students realize the value of consistent positive actions.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create themed days (e.g., “Compliment Day” or “Help a Friend Day”) to add variety and excitement to the challenge.

16. Kindness Quotes

Introduce a new kindness quote each day through a class discussion or by displaying it in the room.

Discuss the quote’s meaning and how students can apply it.

Material Required: List of kindness quotes, whiteboard, or bulletin board.
Learning Outcome: Helps students think critically about kindness and how it can shape their behavior.
How to Make It More Interesting: Have students submit their favorite kindness quotes to be featured during the week.

17. How Full is Your Bucket?

Read the book “How Full is Your Bucket?” and discuss how positive actions “fill” someone’s bucket while negative actions “empty” it.

Students can then create their bucket lists of kind acts they want to do.

Material Required: Book or video of “How Full is Your Bucket?”, paper, markers.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students how kindness impacts others and helps them recognize the value of positive actions.
How to Make It More Interesting: Set up a physical bucket in the classroom where students can drop in notes of kindness they’ve received or given.

18. Group Games

Play games like “If You’re Kind and You Know It,” where students perform actions (e.g., clapping or giving a compliment) to reinforce the concept of kindness.

Use other cooperative games to encourage empathy and teamwork.

Material Required: Music, space for movement.
Learning Outcome: Promotes kindness through interactive play and helps students understand empathy.
How to Make It More Interesting: Introduce different emotions or situations to the game, encouraging students to respond with kindness in various contexts.

19. Volunteer Day

Organize a trip to a local charity, animal shelter, or community center where students can volunteer.

Tasks may include cleaning, organizing, or helping with activities.

Material Required: Permission slips coordination with local organizations.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students the importance of giving back to the community and fosters responsibility.
How to Make It More Interesting: Allow students to vote on the type of organization they would like to help, making the experience more personal.

20. Growth Mindset Rocks

Students paint rocks with positive messages like “You are capable” or “Keep going” and place them around the school or community for others to find and feel encouraged.

Material Required: Rocks, paint, brushes, markers.
Learning Outcome: Encourages kindness and growth mindset, teaching students to spread positivity.
How to Make It More Interesting: Organize a “rock hunt” where students hide and search for kindness rocks left by their peers.

21. Classroom Pen Pal Program

Pair students as pen pals within the class or with another class.

They write kind messages and share thoughtful notes or questions to build friendships through writing.

Material Required: Paper, envelopes, pens.
Learning Outcome: Improves writing skills and encourages students to form meaningful connections through kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Allow students to decorate their letters or write poems, making the exchange more creative and personal.

22. Kindness Relay Race

Set up a relay race in which students must perform a kind act at each station before moving on to the next.

The acts include complimenting, helping a friend, or writing a kind note.

Material Required: Relay race markers and cards with kind acts.
Learning Outcome: Teaches cooperation and emphasizes how small acts of kindness can have a cumulative effect.
How to Make It More Interesting: Add a competitive element by timing each team and awarding a prize to the team that finishes fastest with thoughtful, completed acts.

23. Kindness Bulletin Board

Create a large bulletin board where students post kind messages or share stories of kindness.

These can be written on paper hearts, stars, or other shapes and pinned up for everyone to see.

Material Required: Bulletin board, paper shapes, markers, pins.
Learning Outcome: Encourages students to acknowledge and celebrate acts of kindness in their school community.
How to Make It More Interesting: Add a weekly “Kindness Spotlight” where one student’s kind act is highlighted with photos or more details.

24. Kindness Jar

Students write kind messages or share compliments on small pieces of paper and place them in a jar.

At the end of the week, pull out a few messages to read aloud to the class.

Material Required: Jar, paper slips, markers.
Learning Outcome: Reinforces recognizing and celebrating kindness in daily interactions.
How to Make It More Interesting: Offer a “Kindness Jar Challenge” where students aim to fill the jar by the end of the week, with a class reward when it’s full.

25. Kindness Song

Write a class song or chant about kindness.

Students can work together to create lyrics that focus on how they can show kindness every day.

Material Required: Paper for lyrics, musical instruments (optional).
Learning Outcome: Helps students creatively express their understanding of kindness through music and teamwork.
How to Make It More Interesting: Add a performance element by letting students create choreography or perform the song at a school assembly.

26. Kindness Skits

Use a storybook or situation related to kindness, and have students act out skits.

This is one of those kindness activities for elementary students that helps them explore how kindness works in different real-life situations.

Material Required: Storybook or printed scenarios, props (optional).
Learning Outcome: Reinforces kindness concepts through visual learning and helps develop empathy.
How to Make It More Interesting: To make the activity more personal, have students write their own short skits based on real or imagined scenarios.

27. Kindness Cards for Kids

Create a set of cards with kind actions written on them.

Students randomly pick a card and complete the day’s kindness task, such as “help a friend” or “write a thank-you note.”

Material Required: Pre-made or homemade kindness cards.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students to take initiative in performing kind acts throughout their day.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students create kindness cards to share with classmates.

28. Empathy Shoes

Students draw or decorate paper shoes and write about how they would feel in someone else’s shoes.

This helps them understand empathy by allowing them to consider others’ emotions and experiences.

Material Required: Paper shoe templates, markers, crayons.
Learning Outcome: Encourages students to practice empathy and think critically about the feelings of others.
How to Make It More Interesting: Have students decorate real shoes with kindness messages and display them in the classroom for a kindness “walkway.”

29. Reflection Journal

Encourage students to keep a journal where they can write about their actions each day. They can reflect on how they felt and their actions’ impact on others.

Material Required: Notebooks, pens.
Learning Outcome: Fosters self-reflection and helps students internalize the value of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Include drawing sections for younger students to illustrate their acts of kindness.

30. Classroom Discussion

Hold regular discussions about recent acts of kindness. Students share what they did, how it made them feel, and what they learned from the experience.

Material Required: Discussion space, talking piece (optional).
Learning Outcome: Encourages open communication and helps students articulate their understanding of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Use role-play or skits to visualize the kind acts discussed.

31. Kindness Awards

At the end of each month or term, recognize students who have consistently shown kindness.

Hand out certificates or small rewards to celebrate their efforts.

Material Required: Certificates, small rewards.
Learning Outcome: Reinforces positive behavior by celebrating acts of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: To further engage students in recognizing their peers’ actions, allow students to vote on a “Kindness Champion.”

32. Write Thank-You Notes

Encourage students to write thank-you notes to teachers, parents, or community members. They can express gratitude for any support or kindness they’ve received.

Material Required: Paper, pens, envelopes.
Learning Outcome: Teaches gratitude and the importance of expressing appreciation.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create a “Thank-You Note Station” in the classroom where students can write notes any time they feel thankful.

33. Appreciation Box

Set up a box where students can place appreciation notes for their peers. Each week, a few notes are read aloud to acknowledge the kindness.

Material Required: Box, paper slips, markers.
Learning Outcome: Fosters a sense of community and helps students express appreciation.
How to Make It More Interesting: Decorate the box with student input to make it a centerpiece of classroom positivity.

34. Donate Clothes or Toys

Organize a donation drive where students bring in gently used clothes or toys to give to those in need.

Discuss why giving to others is important.

Material Required: Donation boxes, communication with local charities.
Learning Outcome: Encourages generosity and teaches students about helping others.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create a competition between classrooms or groups to gather the most donations.

35. Create a Family Kindness Calendar

Involve students’ families by creating a monthly calendar filled with daily acts of kindness they can perform together at home.

Material Required: Calendar templates, markers.
Learning Outcome: Promotes family bonding and encourages kindness as a daily habit.
How to Make It More Interesting: Include space for families to write down their kind actions and share their experiences.

36. Kindness Jar at Home

Encourage students to take a kindness jar home, where their family can add kind acts throughout the week.

At the end of the week, the family shares and reflects on the acts performed.

Material Required: Jar, paper slips, markers.
Learning Outcome: Strengthens family relationships through shared acts of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: To keep the activity fresh, add themed weeks, such as “kind words week” or “helpful actions week. “

37. Research Kind Acts in History

Assign students to research famous acts of kindness throughout history, like those by Princess Diana or Oskar Schindler.

Have them present their findings to the class.

Material Required: Books or online resources.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students that kindness can significantly impact the world.
How to Make It More Interesting: Turn it into a mini “Kindness Museum” where students display their research findings.

38. Discuss Bullying

Hold a class discussion on bullying and its effects.

Teach students how kindness can help stop bullying and how they can stand up for themselves and others.

Material Required: Discussion prompts, video, or story about bullying (optional).
Learning Outcome: Promotes empathy and teaches students the importance of standing up to unkind behavior.
How to Make It More Interesting: Role-play scenarios where students practice how to intervene in bullying situations.

39. Acts of Misguided Kindness

Discuss examples of well-meaning but misguided acts of kindness, such as assuming someone with a disability needs help.

Help students understand when kindness might not be appropriate.

Material Required: Discussion prompts and scenario cards.
Learning Outcome: Teaches students to think critically about how and when to offer help.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students develop and discuss their examples as a class.

40. Self-Kindness Practices

Teach students about self-kindness, like speaking kindly to themselves when they make a mistake.

This is one of those kindness activities for elementary students that helps build self-esteem and compassion for oneself.

Material Required: Journals or mirrors (optional for self-affirmations).
Learning Outcome: Encourages self-compassion and helps students develop positive self-talk.
How to Make It More Interesting: Create a “Self-Kindness Corner” where students can write down or say kind things about themselves.

41. First Aid for Kindness

Teach students basic first aid and explain how helping someone in need, even in small ways, is a form of kindness.

Practice these skills through role-playing.

Material Required: First aid kits or bandages, role-play scenarios.
Learning Outcome: Empowers students with practical skills and shows how being prepared to help is an act of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Organize a “First Aid for Kindness Day” where students practice their skills and earn certificates of completion.

42. Kindness Worksheets

Provide students with printable worksheets that prompt them to explore what kindness means, such as “How can I show kindness to my friends?” or “What does kindness look like?”

Material Required: Printable worksheets, pencils, or markers.
Learning Outcome: Encourages self-reflection and helps students articulate their understanding of kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Allow students to share their responses with the class or illustrate their answers with drawings.

43. Kindness-Based Reading

Read stories like Enemy Pie and discuss their central messages about kindness.

Pause during the reading to let students share their thoughts and ask questions about the characters’ actions.

Material Required: Storybooks, discussion prompts.
Learning Outcome: Teaches empathy and reinforces kindness through literature.
How to Make It More Interesting: Have students act out scenes from the story or create endings highlighting acts of kindness.

44. Teach T.H.I.N.K.

Introduce the T.H.I.N.K. method (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) to help students evaluate their words before speaking.

Create posters or a class activity where students practice using this model in everyday conversations.

Material Required: Poster with T.H.I.N.K. acronym, scenario prompts.
Learning Outcome: Encourages thoughtful communication and helps students become mindful of their words.
How to Make It More Interesting: Role-play scenarios where students must decide whether their words meet the T.H.I.N.K. criteria before speaking.

45. Mindfulness Practice

Teach students simple mindful breathing exercises.

Emphasize how being kind to themselves through mindfulness can help them stay calm and be kinder to others.

Material Required: Quiet space, guided mindfulness audio or script.
Learning Outcome: Helps students manage stress and fosters self-kindness.
How to Make It More Interesting: Incorporate mindful movement, like yoga stretches, to keep the practice engaging for younger students.

46. Books and Role-Playing

Read books with kindness themes, then have students act out scenes from the story to reinforce the lessons learned.

Material Required: Storybooks, simple props (optional).
Learning Outcome: Reinforces kindness and empathy through active participation and visual learning.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students create short skits based on kindness themes or real-life situations.

47. Planting Kindness

Have students plant seeds in small pots, explaining that kindness grows when nurtured, just like plants.

Each student is responsible for caring for their plant, symbolizing their commitment to kindness.

Material Required: Seeds, pots, soil, water.
Learning Outcome: Teaches responsibility and demonstrates how care and kindness help things grow.
How to Make It More Interesting: Let students name their plants and create “growth charts” to track how their plants and acts of kindness grow.

Summing It Up

These 47 kindness activities offer more than fun for elementary students. They help build a caring classroom where empathy thrives.

By using these ideas, you’re not just teaching—you’re shaping young hearts.

Remember, small acts of kindness can make a big impact. Each activity plants a seed of compassion that can grow throughout a child’s life.

As you try these exercises, you’ll likely see positive changes in your students’ behavior and attitudes.

Why not start with one activity this week? Pick something that fits your class best. Then, watch how it affects your students. You might be amazed at the results.

We’d love to hear about your experiences. Which kindness activities for elementary students worked well for you?

Share your stories in the comments below.