This lesson plan for older primary students aged 9-11 looks at the theme of kindness and involves creating a 'kindness calendar'

Katherine Bilsborough


August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. The United Nations decided to make this a special day for two reasons: first, to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives doing humanitarian work, and second, to encourage support for people around the world who are affected by armed conflict crises.

The lesson starts with an age-appropriate activity to make sure learners understand the meanings of peace and war. Learners think about how they can live in peace and about the importance of kindness in our everyday lives. Then they are introduced to the idea of a kindness calendar, and they brainstorm ideas of acts of kindness that they could do at home, at school and in the community.

In the second half of the lesson, learners create their own kindness calendars, writing a kind act in each day’s box and decorating the calendar with illustrations.

Learners take their calendars home, and teachers set up a follow-up lesson at the end of the month to reflect on how focusing on daily acts of kindness made the learners feel.


  • To understand the meaning of peace, war and kindness
  • To practise sharing ideas and working together
  • To work creatively to make a kindness calendar
  • To think critically about the importance of being kind and living in peace

Age and level:

Older primary leaners aged 9–11 with a minimum CEF level A2


45-50 minutes




Add new comment

Log in or register to post comments