"Be kind."  Have you seen all the signs around town saying, "Be kind"?  I love it!  A saying so simple yet so strong and very much needed in today's world.  Kindness is the focus of the guidance lessons for the month of December and a big emphasis for what we are doing during Advent, at the K-3 Campus.  In every lesson, we discuss the "ripple effect" and how each student has the power to cause a "ripple effect" through their kind actions.  Kindergarten will be reading a story about the "Do Good Dragons" and play a game that reinforces showing acts of kindness.  The kindergarten transition through 3rd grade classes will be reading the story "He Was Kind Anyway."  The kindergarten transition class will learn how superheros are kind and villains are unkind.  Then they will play a game where they decide if various actions are those of superheros or villains.  The first grade students will play a game similar to musical chairs but instead of being out when the music stops, they have to draw a case scenario from a cup and decide how they could show kindness in that particular situation and talk about whether or not showing kindness in that situation would be difficult our easy.  The second grade students will do a  little science experiment where they are given a picture of an object and are asked to pretend that they don't know what it is.  (The four groups are given different pictures of pineapples.)  After answering some questions, we talk about how you cannot judge a person by their exterior and sometimes actions, as well,  just as you cannot know the sweet fruit of a pineapple by looking at its exterior.  By being kind, even to the mean, snarky people, we can get to know them and help them.  Third grade students also will do a little science experiment!  The students watch as one drop of food coloring is added to a clear bowl of water.  We talk about what happens to the dye and slowly add more drops of dye.  Very slowly, the water changes color.  We compare acts of kindness to the drops of dye and discuss how our acts of kindness slowly spread more kindness to others.  The students then write two positive affirmation statements on white paper.  They wad up their two sheets of paper and have a quick "snow ball" fight.  At the end, each student picks up two "snow balls" and read the positive affirmations, which makes them feel good!  They then make a "cool to be kind" snowman.  There are some very interactive lessons this month.
     The month of December is always so exciting but always so busy.  It is too easy to get wrapped up in all the programs, parties and other festivities.  I hope everyone (myself included) is able to take a moment and truly enjoy the season and especially Christmas day!  Here is an article to help promote that thought.  (It also touches on the "being thankful" attitude that I mentioned last month.) www.foxnews.com/opinion/mom-didnt-enjoy-her-last-christmas-with-all-of-her-kids-and-thats-ok  Here is another article that tackles focusing on the "miracle and not the material."  www.foxnews.com/opinion/give-your-kids-what-they-really-want-this-christmas  There was a link inside the previous article that had suggestions for random acts of kindnesses that families can do together.  There really are some sweet ideas on the list.  Here is the link: https://courtneydefeo.com/lightemup/
     I hope that you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a New Year that brings even more blessings and peace!  As always, feel free to contact me at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or at (270) 684-7583