A Little Bit of Kid Karma
 
Because Teacher Karma is all about giving back in many different ways, today, we will discuss ways that your students can give back.

kids helping others 
Kids have KARMA too

This might come as a surprise, but children need to be taught how to give back.  Modeling and actually seeing what giving back and volunteering look like is very important.  
 

If a child volunteers and donates their time when they are young, there is a good chance that their giving will continue throughout adulthood! 

You may want to begin by discussing what it means to give back and to help others.  Sharing picture books about volunteering and giving back is a way to get them interested and excited about helping others.  

I will be sharing a student book list on giving back and volunteering very soon. Look for my post to come. 🙂 
 
Make a large anchor chart with your students.  List as many ways as possible that the kids can volunteer and actually make a difference in the world or even for one other person.

It’s about giving back
Kids LOVE to have fun!  In fact, kids live to have fun.  Try and make the event not only rewarding for the students but fun and enjoyable as well.

Here are some ideas that you might want to try with your students or children.

Ways kids can help others
  1. Read with younger students. First graders and up could read to younger students.  Students can help to come up with a plan to organize and form partners in reading.  
  2. Volunteer and spend time with special needs children:  Not only is this a positive experience for the child with special needs, builds tolerance for all, teaches and responsibility; but, it will also teach your child or student that people with special needs are just like everyone else. Volunteering to help with your local Special Olympics might be a good place to start.
  3. Make colorful artwork.  Students can create pictures or artwork to take to a senior center or a homeless shelter that houses children.
  4. Organize a school clean-up day. Older students can help plan all of the arrangements and teach the lower grades how to clean up. 
  5. Eat lunch.  Make a classroom or even a school-wide plan for having lunch with students new to your campus.  
  6. Gather or donate books to share with less fortunate children. All kids need books!  
  7. Make “You are Important” or “You are LOVED” greeting cards for elderly people at a local nursing home.
  8. Think about our furry friends. Organize and donate towels, shampoo, snacks, and toys for dogs and cats in the animal shelter.
  9. Donate old toys or clothing items.  Students can give their toys and clothes that they have outgrown to a homeless shelter or the Salvation Army.
  10. Write thank-you notes.  Teach your kids how and why to write thank-you notes.  Some ideas might be to write to the PTA or PTO, principal, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, office staff, parents, and especially from the kids to each other. Handwritten notes are almost a lost art.
  11. Make a new friend.  If you notice that someone looks sad or lonely, have lunch or play with them at recess.
  12. Donate stuffed animals to your local police department.  Police officers carry stuffed animals to give out to children who have to be removed from the home, or because their parents will be taken to jail…depending on the students’ ages, you may not want to go into too many details about this.
  13. Start gardening.  Create a school garden and have classrooms share the responsibility of planting, weeding, and watering the plants.
  14. Host a schoolyard sale. Students can help price items, put on price tags, organize, take money, make changes, and help to sell items.  This would also be a good time for students to work alongside their parents.
  15. Tutor younger students. Students in third grade and above can help with tutoring younger students or even listen to them read.
  16. Gather canned goods and packaged food items for a food drive. This is a good one to do in early November or early December.
  17. Take a trash walk.  Instead of going to recess, take your class around the campus and pick up trash.  For homeschool families, you could do this in your neighborhood common areas or the park.
  18. A penny counts.  As a class or school, decide on a cause you can donate pennies too.  Have a large bottle or another container in your classroom where students can bring pennies and see them grow over time.
  19. Box Tops for Education:  Most schools ask for donations of Box Tops and use the money to buy items for the campus.  But, wait! Kids can help.  Students can help with Box Tops by cutting out or trimming them, organizing, and even preparing them to be packed up and mailed.
  20. Need help?  Teach students to offer their help to other students or adults in need….without being asked to do so.
  21. Plant trees.  Along with volunteering to help people, helping the environment is important as well.  There are several places that you can get free trees to plant at your school or even the local park. This is a good activity to do in April. 
  22. Start a recycling program.  Because I am a Literacy Coach, I am frequently visiting different schools.  I am surprised at how many schools still do not have a recycling program.  Students can gather items, sort them and package them to go to the recycling center. 
  23. Write letters to soldiers.  Many soldiers living overseas or even in the United States are separated from their families and would love a kind word, picture, or piece of artwork from a kid.
  24. Random Acts of Kindness!  Try to help someone every day for no reason at all. 🙂 This is my favorite one!  
How have your students or children helped others?  How have you inspired others?

Jen

Let me know what you think HERE.