Kindness must be the cornerstone of your classroom!
Kindness doesn't mean supporting any type of agenda. It is a simple and basic virtue, and one that should be nurtured every step of the way. The Friendship Flower is a keepsake for your classroom. It is a constant reminder of the kindness that permeates amid each moment of the day, and represents a most valuable lesson. Students quickly recognize and understand what the Friendship Flower represents, and most will use it throughout the day for a variety of purposes - some which may even surprise you!
The Friendship Flower can be introduced the first week of school in a kindness lesson. This way, it is something that students can connect with all year long. Keep it in a special place in the classroom that is easily visual and reachable for students. Simply put, the Friendship Flower serves as a tangible object for any situation that requires: thoughtfulness, helpfulness, consideration, empathy, connection, kindness, friendship, understanding, harmony, generosity, etc.
Students may want to use it for themselves or give it to another person. For instance, a student may give it to someone who is sad, angry, upset, hurt, or lonely. The Friendship Flower provides a way for students to reach out to each other, in a way that is unobtrusive. By simply placing it next to someone at a table can mean so much, and ultimately, that is the point. Teaching your students to be kind is a fundamental lesson that they will continue to carry with them throughout their lives....and to think that a little flower can be so valuable in teaching kindness....is well, noteworthy. I hope every teacher (and caregiver) creates a Friendship Flower for their classroom!
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