Adrienne’s OLLI – Online Learning Lesson Idea #16 – Leaving Our Heartprints

I originally created OLLIs when schools in my province of British Columbia shut down last spring due to Covid19. While we are now back in class, I know there are many districts still juggling virtual and in-class support. These OLLIs can be used both in class and virtually person. Either way, I hope you find some ideas that you can use with your students to lighten your load just a little this year!

Here is a list of the previous OLLI lessons and anchor books in case you missed any of them:

OLLI#1 (The Hike)

OLLI#2. (If I Could Build A School)

OLLIE#3 (Mother’s Day)

OLLI#4 (Everybody Needs a Rock)

OLLI #5 – (WANTED: Criminals of the Animal Kingdom)

OLLI #6 – (Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt)

OLLI #7 (All About Feelings – “Keep it! – Calm it! – Courage it!)

OLLI #8 (I’m Talking DAD! – lesson for Father’s Day)

OLLI #9 (Be Happy Right Now!)

OLLI #10 – (Dusk Explorers)

OLLI#11 (If You Come to Earth)

OLLI #12 (Map of Good Memories)

OLLI #13 (Harvey Slumfenburger)

OLLI #14 (New Year’s Resolutions)

OLLI #15 ( 100 Things That Make Me Happy)

THE INSPIRATION:

As we turn a page on a new month and start to prepare for Valentine’s Day, most of us will be talking to our students about kindness. Why not use this month to inspire a little heartprinting in your class! This lesson comes directly from my book Powerful Understanding (Understanding Others – page 101-103, 121), but in case you don’t have a copy, here it is!

THE ANCHOR (Primary)

A World of Kindness – Anne Featherstone

This simple book outlines clear, concrete examples of different ways you can be kind. From waiting your turn, to helping someone younger – this book is a great starting point for discussing “actions of kindness” that leave heartprints on others. You can find the online read aloud – HERE

Note: The read aloud narrator on Youtube starts by greeting “grade 1’s” so you may wish to just start the video a few seconds in if you don’t teach grade one!

The Anchor – Intermediate

Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed – Emily Pearson

One of my very favorite anchor books for introducing random acts of kindness and discussing how an ordinary deed can change the world. While it looks like it would be more geared for younger readers, the message is for everyone! A wonderful story about the ripple effect that kindness can have and a bonus math lesson on expediential growth at the end!

You can watch a video of the read-aloud HERE

The Lesson

Begin with the “one word” activity. Write the word “Kindness” on the board or chart stand. Invite students to think about a connection, a visual image, and a feeling connected to that word. Have students share their ideas with a partner and then brainstorm out.
Create a class web, recording their ideas around the word using one color of pen. Tell the students you are going to come back to this web at the end of the lesson to see if our thinking has stretched.
Show a photo of a footprint in sand. Ask the students what it is and how it’s made. Show a picture of a handprint and ask the same thing.
Write the word “heartprint” on the board. Ask students what they think it might be – discuss in partners and with the class.
Explain that a heartprint, like a footprint or handprint is something that you leave behind. But unlike a footprint or handprint, you can’t actually see it. But you do feel it inside your heart.
Ask students how someone might leave behind a heartprint. Invite students to share some ideas. Discuss that leaving heartprint is often done quietly, without being asked. Depending on your grade, you can introduce the concept of “random acts of kindness”.
Share the anchor book A World of Kindness. Invite students to listen for ways to be kind and leave heartprints.
After the story, discuss examples of kindness from the story. Discuss how the acts were sometimes very simple. Leaving a heartprint doesn’t have to be big or involve “buying someone a present”. It could be as simple as letting someone go first, or giving someone a compliment.
Revisit the One Word activity “kindness” on the board and invite students to reflect on the word. How has our thinking about this word changed or stretched? Invite students to share and record new ideas, using a different color felt, to show the change in thinking.
Explain that this month is Family Day and Valentines Day – both days give us opportunities to leave heartprints at home and at school
Create a T-chart and brainstorm ways they can leave heartprints at home (clean up my room, take out the garbage without being asked, thank mother or father for cooking the supper, do a chore in secret, share a toy with your brother or sister) and at school (leave a positive message on a sticky note on someone’s desk, clean out someone’s desk, hold the door for someone, let someone go infront of you)
Plan a Heartprint Week in your class next week. Invite students to come up with ways they will leave heartprints for others.
Pass out the template “Leaving My Heartprint” for students to complete. They set their goals at the top and then complete the bottom at the end of the week.

Download the template HERE

Additional books about spreading kindness:

Here are some additional books about kindness you can share throughout your Heartprint Week. I’ve tried to include options for both primary and intermediate ages. If you don’t have a physical copy of the book, many are available as online read-alouds. Just google the title and search “video”. One important theme I would try to include is how one person’s small act kindness can make a huge difference to many. Don’t forget to revisit the word “kindness” and add new thinking to the One Word Activity after you read.