• Grade 1
• The Little Engine That Could – Activity #5: “Pupils Positive Pledge”

Activity #5: “Pupils Positive Pledge”

This activity helps the students become aware of the impact of kindness by creating a classroom pledge of kindness.

Materials:

• Chart paper
• Felt pens
• Tag board
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Safety pins (for each student)

Teacher Preparation:

• Cut enough 3.5-inch circles for each student

Step by Step:

Part 1 – The Verbal Pledge

Step One: Discuss with the students that the classroom does not tolerate the use of any unkind words.

• Explain what a pledge is. Tell the students that they are going to promise that they will not use these unkind words.

Step Two: Brainstorm positive and kind phrases that could be used as a class pledge. Record the ideas on chart paper.

Examples of classroom pledges:

• I promise to be kind and caring to everyone today.
• We treat others with kindness.
• This is a class where we all care.

Step Three: Once the pledge is established, have the students stand and repeat it a couple of times. Repeat on a daily basis for at least one week.

Part 2 – Pledge badge

Step One: Provide students with a circle cut-out.

Step Two: Students write “No Put Downs” or any other positive phrase on the badge.

Step Three: Students colour/decorate the badge.

Step Four: Teacher assists in pinning the badges to the students’ shirts for the day.

End Product:

A classroom verbal pledge of kindness that is reinforced by a class-set of kindness badges. The teacher may collect the badges and bring them out another day.