Editor's Note: Bullying is an area
that educators and parents need to address. This "Be
Kind to Kids" Project may be something that you would
like to try in your classroom.
The Purpose:
The purpose of this group project
is to celebrate the uniqueness in children and help
them to realize similarities by using a visual
display that will highlight friendship and kindness
together with images of children that might need a
friend.
We use this poem in our anti-bullying program and
encourage schools to use the project to emphasize
it's positive message. Although the poem and
project are simplistic in nature, the results are
vivid. Children take pride in creating the
display and it serves as a reminder to the emotions
and empathy invoked when discussing kindness,
friendship, and understanding.
Bullying is a first step to prejudice.
Name-calling, taunting, and harassment at a basic
level might focus on generalizations, but as the
bullying behavior is fueled, it quickly spreads to
derogatory statements about race, color, and creed,
often mimicking words heard in the home or media.
The Project:
The “group” can consist of a
single classroom, an entire grade, or even the
entire school.
It is suggested this project be placed in a highly
visible an area where bullying frequently occurs,
such as the hallways or cafeteria.
The first stage of the assignment is completed at
the classroom level:
1) Read and discuss
the Be Kind poem.
BE KIND
Be kind to others,
take a good look around,
although we are different,
similarities abound.
Try not to judge, pick on, or tease,
treat each other fairly,
with kindness and ease.
Wait until you know
what’s deep down inside,
you might find a friend
standing right by your side.
Patricia Gatto ©2004
2)
Instruct students to collect four (4) pictures from
magazines, clip art, or personal photographs.
• 2 pictures will illustrate kindness and friend,
and
• 2 pictures will illustrate children needing
friendship.
3) Instruct students
to write their name in an artistic style (block,
balloon, graffiti) on a 5 x 7 piece of paper,
decorate it, and cut it out.
4) Instruct the
students to create positive words or phrases such as
“kindness”, “friendship, or “Don’t be a bully!” in
the same manner.
5) Prepare the poem on
a large poster board or banner. A teacher or a
group of children can prepare this. Note:
this poem looks wonderful with different handwriting
and a variety of colors—again, it symbolizes
uniqueness, yet emphasizes togetherness.
6) Trace and cut out
the words "The Be Kind Kids Project".
If possible, the second stage of this project should
be moved to the cafeteria or hallway and presented
as a ceremony.
The ceremony can be as simple or as involved as time
and circumstances allow. If you use the
cafeteria, children can sit at the tables, enjoying
a snack, while waiting their turn. And the
teacher might be able to use a microphone to address
the students. When we have time at the end of
our presentations, we allow students to come up to
our microphones, and they love it.
7) Hang the poem in
the center of the display.
8) Place the letters
spelling our "The Be Kind Kids Project" in an arch
around the poem.
(Items 7 & 8 can be completed ahead of time if
necessary)
9) One by one, call on
the students and have them step up to the display
and add their images and words in a sporadic,
collage manner.
10) As they do this, ask a few pointed
questions about the words and images they selected.
If using a microphone, children will step up to the
microphone to answer.
• What characteristics/feelings are illustrated in
your picture? (Kindness, friendship, giving,
happiness, loneliness, sadness, etc).
• What do you think the children in your pictures
have in common with you?
• Why do you think the boy/girl in the picture
would be a good friend, or why do you think they
need a friend?
• What games, television shows, or music do you
think these children would enjoy and why?
• Where do you think this child lives?
11) Take pictures to document the event.
12) Have the next class come in and add their
pictures to the display, building on the first
class, until complete.
If you decide to take on this project in your
school, please take pictures and send them to me.
I will follow up with an interview and submit it to
local newspapers and ezines covering your event.
In addition, I will add a link/or pictures to my
website featuring your school. Also, share the
project with parents by placing the results of the
activity in your school's newsletter.
Patricia also has a number of other projects and
activities focusing on anti-bullying and friendship
themes that I will be happy to share. She can
be contacted through her website below.
About the Author:
Patricia Gatto, together with her husband, John De
Angelis are the authors of MILTON'S DILEMMA, a
32-page children's book. Richly illustrated by
Kenneth Vincent, this is the tale of a lonely boy
and his struggles with the school bullies.
With the help of a mischievous gnome, young Milton
embarks on a magical journey to friendship and
self-acceptance as he answers the question,
"Wouldn't it be great to get even?" with an
emphatic "no", not even in his dreams. MILTON'S
DILEMMA addresses the issues in an entertaining, yet
thought-provoking manner. The authors present their
story at schools, libraries, and community events in
an effort to help children identify and cope with
the negative and aggressive behavior of bullying.
Their goal is to foster awareness and provide
children with an understanding of their rights to a
safe and healthy learning environment.
Inspired by John's personal childhood experience,
this husband and wife writing team share their
message with an animated and entertaining reading
from their book, original songs, and practical
advice. In addition, the program provides a platform
for educators to build and enforce anti-bullying
policies throughout the year as they encourage
children to come forward and report incidents of
bullying.
Patti and Johnny recently relocated to Pennsylvania
with their son, Alexander. The beautiful serenity of
Lake Wallenpaupack provides a perfect creative
backdrop to pursue their careers as screenwriters,
authors of children's books, and presenters.
Their personal goals include using film and printed
media as a means to present a positive, educational,
non-violent format for families and especially
children.
MILTON'S DILEMMA is available for $15.95 through
Joyful Productions on the web at
http://www.joyfulproductions.com, Amazon.com, a
variety of other online sellers, bookstores, and by
calling 570-857-0255. The authors / screenwriters
are available for interviews and presentations, and
are especially interested in participating in
fundraisers for the benefit of children.
