For a tree to grow strong and tall, it has to have strong roots. Without good roots in the soil, it can’t get enough water and minerals to grow a big trunk, strong branches, or colorful leaves. You can build strong roots in your life by having good relationships with friends and family and being kind. That way you can grow up with love and happiness in your heart and your roots!

Actions speak louder than words! It’s nice to give people compliments and to use kind words, but we also have to take action and help others! How many ways can you think of that you could help other people or make them feel good about themselves?

Owls have huge eyes that help them to spot even the tiniest insect. 

Keep your eyes wide open!  If you see someone who is hurting, make sure you take care of them and help them to feel better.  If you see someone being bullied, help to stop the person who is hurting them or help them get away to where they feel safe.

Celebrate diversity! Our country was built on being a place where all different kinds of people could come to make their dreams come true. So try not to be afraid of people or things that are different than you’re used to, but to learn more about those new things! When we all mix together and learn about each other and embrace our differences, our country is the best it can possibly be!

Each of you has the power to make our country a better place, and you don’t even need to have a magic wand!  Just do your best to be kind and to take care of others. But a wand wouldn’t hurt!

If we love our country, we want it to be the best place it can be. That starts with us.

Always do your best to be kind, generous, and respectful of people around you, even if they are different from you.

Sunflowers are known for their large, striped seeds.  When those seeds get planted, more sunflowers grow. We need to plant positive seeds of kindness and light that will continue to grow in the future.

We plant those seeds by being kind and caring for all of those around us.

Sometimes it’s not the things we do and say, but the things we DON’T do and say that leave an impression. If we don’t show people that we love them and care about them, they might not know. We have to make sure to show people that we care and to tell them just how much we love them.

Everybody has a story to tell, and a life they have lived.  No two people’s lives or stories are exactly alike. We have to listen to one another to try our best to understand where someone is coming from and what they have to say.

Reading is an important skill, but it can be very difficult to learn.  Reading can also be a lot of fun, and it’s definitely great for your mind.  We want to take care of our friends’ minds and make sure they are healthy and growing stronger and smarter.

Decorate and make things beautiful! It makes people happy to see wonderful places that are clean and fun. Some people like colorful decorations, some people like things clean and white, and yet others like things to be dark or all black. Even though everyone likes their things decorated differently, with a classroom, having lots of color is fun. Let’s decorate ours!

People have hearts that are like a butterfly: beautiful, and gentle.  If we are kind and take care of each other, everyone hearts will be happy and healthy.  Let’s try our best to be gentle with everyone’s hearts!

Things change! During the spring and summer leaves are usually green, but in the fall they change to be yellow, orange, and red. Soon they’ll be gone for the winter.

When things change, we have to keep the important things the same- kindness and care. Remember that everything will be okay as long as you are kind and take care of yourself and others.

Look for yourself in others! Try your best to understand how they feel and why they are doing what they are doing. Put yourself in their shoes.

When you first try to catch the bead in the cup, it might be a bit difficult. But if you keep trying and working at it, you’ll be able to do it! If you practice a lot, you might even start to find it pretty easy. Practicing just about everything will make you better at it! So keep it up! You can do it!

Every person on the planet has a chance to change the world, even if only in a small way, even if only for one person.

Do you want to change the world in a positive way that makes it better? What are some ways you could do that? How could you help someone have a better time or feel better? What can you do to improve the world?

When we celebrate things, we have to shout them from the rooftops! Make some noise! Be happy! If something makes you happy and you enjoy it- let the whole world know! And if you’re respecting other people at the same time, so much the better!

Labor Day is a special day where we celebrate all the amazing people who work hard to make our country the best it can be.

What can you do to make America a wonderful place to live?  What do you already do every day?

Clowns and silly and never get embarrassed. Have fun! Wear whatever you like and don’t be embarrassed! People may not always like what you like, and sometimes they might say mean things. Just remember: you are who you are and you are amazing!

Sometimes it’s hard to tell people how we feel. It can be much easier to show them. Sometimes that means giving a hug or a kiss. Sometimes it means something as simple as sending an emoji. It’s hard to say “I love you” but sending a heart, or a smiley with heart eyes can be much easier. What are your favorite emojis?

During the fall, trees shed their old leaves.  It’s a beautiful process, colorful and bright.  

We should do this as well--we should get rid of bad habits.  Being mean, not listening to your teachers and friends, and thinking only about yourself are all things we can shed to make space for new, beautiful habits. This is how we grow strong- by making ourselves the best we can be.

Everybody has things about them that are wonderful. Look for the things that are wonderful about others. Tell your friends how they are great every day. And remind yourself that you are great too! Work on the things you aren’t so good at, but don’t forget the things about you that are special!

When people hear nice things and get compliments, it makes them feel happy and feel good about themselves. It gives them confidence and builds them up. We want to do that for others, right? We want to make sure everyone is happy and feels good about themselves. Make sure that when you think something nice about someone, you tell them!

Everybody likes different things. Some people like chocolate cookies, some people don’t like chocolate anything. Some people like oatmeal raisin and others don’t like raisins at all. Just because someone likes different things from us, doesn’t mean we’re completely different and cannot be friends. In fact, if your friend doesn’t like chocolate, it just means more chocolate for you!

A little sunshine helps things grow. If you’re kind to those around you and only shine light on all the wonderful things they do, they will grow to do those wonderful things more often. If we are mean to people, it won’t teach them to grow beautifully. It will make them afraid to grow at all.

People all over the world celebrate different holidays and celebrate things differently. We have to respect the ways other people are different from us and learn.

In Mexico, right after Halloween they celebrate the Day of the Dead. This is a day where people celebrate their ancestors- the people from their family who have died. They give them gifts and foods they loved when they were alive to show gratitude for the things they did in their lifetimes and to honor them.

A lot of people love to dance!  Sometimes people are really good at dancing and sometimes they aren’t.  Don’t make fun of someone or laugh at them for not being good at something.  If they love it and it makes them happy, celebrate it with them! That goes for anything someone likes.

How can we remember all the people we love and how important they are to us?  How can we celebrate and display things like photographs that remind us that we are loved and that we love people?

Empathy is when you think about how other people feel instead of just thinking about yourself.

If everyone in the world had empathy, tried to understand everyone else, and cared about how others feel, the world would be a kinder, more peaceful place.

Sometimes we have to take care of others, even if usually it’s their job to take care of us. If our moms and dads are having a bad day, it’s harder for them to take care of us. So we should help everyone around us, and be grateful for those who help us! Say thank you to your parents, teachers, and everyone else who helps you every day!

At Easter, there’s a tradition of hiding colorful eggs for children to find. Have you ever done an Easter egg hunt? It’s pretty fun. But in real life, there’s no need to hide all your wonderful colors. Show off all your beauty in the sunlight! And celebrate other people who do the same.

We can all be helpers to someone!  Sometimes when adults or our friends are working on a big project they can’t do everything by themselves.  We can help them with a lot of different things. It may be a little thing to help with or a lot, but it could make all the difference in the world to them.  Always do your best to help someone when you can!

Always bring a good attitude to whatever is in front of you!  If you have a bright, fun, sunny attitude whenever possible, you will make the world a better, more fun place for everyone around you.  The more positivity we put out into the world, the better the world will be!

Let your light shine!  Everyone has a beautiful light inside of themself.  Sometimes we get shy or we worry that people will judge us, so we lower the light and hide it away.  Let your light shine out and others will see how brave you are and do the same!

Gobble gobble!  That’s what a turkey says.  What does the word gobble mean?  It means to take everything and eat it very fast.  Should you eat all the food or should you share? We should share with our family and friends.  If we have extra, we should share with anyone who needs it.

Make a garden of beauty and plant seeds of love and happiness. The more we surround ourselves with love, the more we are kind to people, and the more we bring kindness into our lives, the more beautiful and happy our lives will be. You get what you give.

Even those who appear cold, need a warm hug sometimes! Be kind and spread love and warmth. Maybe you can help warm someone’s heart and help them to be happier.

Doves are a symbol of peace.  What does peace mean? Peace means no fighting and everyone getting along well.  How can we have peace? We can be kind to other people and help them out whenever we can.  We can try our best not to fight, but to talk about our feelings and listen to others when they talk about their feelings.

April showers bring May flowers! Sometimes, it’s the bad things in life that help us to build the good ones. Without rain, there can be no flowers. Without sadness, we wouldn’t know what happiness feels like. Sadness is not bad. Everyone is sad sometimes. But you can take your sadness and grow something beautiful out of it- empathy for others when they are sad. Empathy means caring about how others feel and trying to understand them. That empathy can help you build better friendships.

Figure out what you want and go for it! Maybe it’s a pot of gold, maybe it’s to have a certain job, or maybe it’s just to find a great group of friends that are fun to be around and who support you. Whatever it is that you want, you should work hard to get it, and hope that there is a pot of gold at the end of your rainbow path!

Bunnies are gentle animals who very easily get scared. They’re also soft, cuddly, and sweet. But if we’re too loud or aggressive with the bunnies, we will scare them and chase them away. Sometimes people are like that too. Some people are very gentle and can get scared easily. We have to be extra kind to be their friends.

When you are kind to yourself and build roots with a lot of love and care for you, it makes it easier to be kind to the people you reach your branches out to. So be kind to yourself!

It’s important to take care of people’s hearts, but also to take care of their minds. Reading is an important way to take care of yourself and to learn about how others feel.

So read! Read about people who are different from you and learn about them!

On the first of May, some people do a tradition called the May Pole. There is a huge pole with ribbons all around it and people each grab a ribbon and dance around the pole in circles together to wrap the pole beautifully in ribbons. A lot of people do this celebration with flowers! It’s a lovely tradition of togetherness.

When we love someone, what will we do for them?  Anything they need and anything we can. We love them to the ends of the earth, to the moon and back.  We work hard to show them how much we love them.

Aliens come from a whole other place than we do and they probably do things a bit different than we do. Just because someone is different or does things differently, doesn't mean they're wrong and you're right or that you're wrong and they're right. Sometimes things are just different. . And sometimes you can ever learn something new that you like!

Hats cover our ears to keep them warm when it’s cold outside.  When people we care about talk, we don’t want to cover our ears.  We want to listen as best we can, especially when they’re talking about how they feel or what they need.

Has anyone heard the story of the gingerbread man? He tries to run away from his friends and listens to strangers. While all strangers are not bad people, we still have to be careful who we listen to. We should always be kind to everyone, but that doesn’t mean that we should always trust strangers.

Everyone has traditions that are part of their family or their culture. In Mexico, a lot of children make a craft called “Ojos de dios” or “God’s Eyes”. They can be really fun to make! We should celebrate and respect other cultures. If there’s something that’s cool, we can try it out. As long as we’re being respectful and showing our appreciation, exploring other cultures can be fun!

Do you love your grandparents?  Of course you do! We all love our grandparents.  We’re going to make a book for our grandparents today for grandparents day!

What are some of your favorite memories of your grandparents?

What do you love about them?

How would you feel if you didn’t have grandparents?

When we love people, like we love our grandparents, how can we show them?

We can give them kisses, or hugs, or tell them how we feel.  How can we make something to give them to show them how much we love them that they can keep forever?

People say that if a groundhog in Pennsylvania doesn’t see his shadow, that means there will be six more weeks of winter.

Does that sound like something that really happens? Try not to place too much importance on little things and focus on the things that really matter!

A bouquet with only one color of flowers can be beautiful, but a bit boring. A bouquet with all the colors under the sun, on the other hand, is always an interesting, beautiful thing. It is what makes us different that makes us even more beautiful when we work together.

We can hold the hands of people we care about to show them our support.  In fact, lending someone a hand and helping them out is one of the best ways to show someone we care.  We want to make sure that we show people that we love just how much we care about them every day, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

Everyone celebrates different things in different ways. Some people celebrate Christmas, and some don’t. One isn’t right and the other isn’t wrong- it’s just different. Even if everyone celebrates Christmas, they don’t all decorate their tree the same way. Some have plastic trees, some get real trees, and some don’t have trees at all! Even if someone does something differently than you do- that doesn’t mean it’s wrong- take is an opportunity to learn something new!

Wreaths are put on the front door to openly celebrate the holiday. When you enjoy something or it is a part of your life, be proud! Don’t get embarrassed if other people don’t like it too, it’s what you love! Be proud of who you are, what you love, and what you do! When you see other people proudly showing who they are- celebrate it with them!

Tell your mom you love her every day! Make sure she knows how grateful you are for everything she does for you. Remember how much she takes care of you and think of all the things she does to help you and take care of you. Be thankful!

Some people say cats have nine lives. Do people have nine lives?

We only have one life, and we have to live it the best way we can. What should we do to make sure our life is a happy one? Should we live it with kindness and make as many friends as we can? Should we help take care of others, or think only of ourselves?

Leprechauns are small and they talk differently than we do.  They may seem a little funny to you, but if they were real, they would have feelings too.  We have to be kind to everyone, even if they look or sound different. Everyone deserves to be happy!

Rudolph may have been weird to the other reindeer, but he had skills, value, and feelings. Be kind to everyone, even if they are a little different.

We have to reach out our hands and work together to get great things done.  No one can do things all on their own all the time. So reach out! Shake someone’s hand, hold their hand, or pat them on the back to let them know you are there for them.  And, if you need it, don’t be afraid to reach out your hand to ask for help.

Ben Franklin called turkeys “birds of courage”. What is courage? Courage means being brave. It doesn’t mean never being afraid. It just means doing the right thing even if you’re afraid.

How do you have courage? How can you use courage to help others? Does it take courage to stand up for people when others are being mean?

Are there a lot of birds around in the winter time?  Why not?Just like birds need a warm environment, people need a warm environment as well.  They need people around them who show them love and care so that their heart will be warm and comforted.  Make sure to be kind and help build a classroom, a home, a world where everyone feels safe and taken care of.

Learning about other cultures can bring a lot of light into our lives. We can see things differently and it can also add a lot of beauty. Make sure you respect other people’s differences, are open-minded to learning new things, and care about people.

You never know what might be on the inside just from how something looks from the outside. No matter what the outside of something or someone looks like, inside could be something sweet and delicate that you should be gentle with.

Don't be afraid to come out of your shell! It can be scary to be vulnerable to others, and sometimes they might make fun of you. But when you come out of your shell you will meet some amazing people who will love you just as you are! When you see others coming out of their shells, be kind and help them to see what acceptance and friendship feel like.

Read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? with your class. Talk about the way the characters in the book treated one another.  Talk about all the different people and things in their lives that help make them feel happy.

We need to help other people fill their buckets. Being kind and giving people compliments helps them to have full buckets. Let’s do it!

Take the time to make something for someone. Then not only do they get a beautiful gift, but they also know that you put thought, time, and love into what you are giving them. Parents, grandparents, and other family members especially appreciate getting handcrafted gifts.

Keep the love flowing every day!  Not just on Valentine’s Day. Make sure you are kind and caring to those around you as often as possible.  Spread it to those all around you.

The more we know people, the more our love for them grows. Even if we disagree on things or we find out that they’re not perfect (remember- no one is perfect) we still love them. Love is the foundation on which we can build great friendships and relationships, and a great way to make sure we care for those around us.

We have to reach out to those all around us and lend a helping hand when we can. We should help everyone- not just our friends and family and people who look like us or believe the same things as we do, but everyone. Think of ways that you can help others and do whatever you can!

We have to make sure we are always using words of kindness. Saying something mean doesn’t help anyone, but if you are nice and use only words of kindness, you will find that words of kindness are what you get in return.

Let’s celebrate the togetherness of Kwanzaa. We can make links and connections. This is how we create a solid group of friends- we make connections whenever we can. The more we find ways to connect with one another, the more friends we will have.

Police officers and Firefighters risk their lives every day to help keep us safe.  But we have to remember the people who do things for us that we may forget about, like bringing us the mail.  Even the small things make our lives better. Try your best to do small things every day to help out others and make their lives easier!

We need to make sure we always show appreciation for other people’s hard work!  Always say thank you and remember that there are a lot of people out there who work hard so your life can be as easy as possible!

Every year, the president pardons a turkey and saves it from becoming dinner. Pardoning means to forgive. Have you ever forgiven someone before? Why is it important to forgive people when they make mistakes?

We have to take great care of our earth to make sure that it takes care of us. We can’t survive without a healthy planet, so we have to take care of it! Not just for ourselves, but for all the other people who live here too!

How are you lucky? Most people in the world have at least some ways that they are lucky, whether it’s because they have a loving family, live in a great house, have friends who are fun to play with, or a teacher who cares about them and helps them to learn. What are the things about your life that you are lucky for?

Without trees putting oxygen into the air and without plants to eat and animals to eat, we wouldn’t be able to survive. Our Earth keeps us alive, so we have to be grateful to it. So plant a tree! Maybe some flowers or food plants! At the very least, say thank you to a tree!

People put a lot of time and effort into Carnival floats, and they all come out different. Different ideas can all still be very cool and interesting, but you have to put the hard work in to make it great!

Jesters are silly people who make others laugh. But just because someone is silly and always seems to be having fun doesn’t mean that they aren’t also sad sometimes. Keep an eye on everyone around you to make sure they’re doing okay. Take care of each other, particularly when you can tell someone is having a hard time.

Sometimes people wear masks so they can do things that they usually wouldn’t.  They think that if they have a mask on, no one will know it’s them. But if you do something bad and don’t get caught, you will still know that you did the bad thing.  You have to make the choice to do the right thing, whether others will know you made a bad choice or not. Hold yourself accountable for your actions.

Mittens help keep people warm when it’s cold outside. Be someone’s mittens! When things aren’t going well in our life, the world can feel cold and lonely. Be that warmth for someone. Kindness and friendship can help warm anyone’s life.

Turtles may wear protection, but underneath there is still a vulnerable creature. Just because someone puts up walls doesn’t mean they aren’t still human underneath and doesn’t mean they can’t be hurt. Be kind to everyone.

What are some things that our grandparents like? Do they like reading the newspaper? Do they like drinking coffee? When we give someone a gift we have to think about the things they like, rather than only thinking about the things that we would like to get. It’s as important to give gifts as it is to get them, and when you give a good gift and make someone happy, it’s like a gift for you too.

Long before most of our families came to this country, long before it even was a country, there were people living here. We call them Native Americans. They contributed a lot to this country, including the help they gave to early settlers who came here from Europe and teaching others what kinds of food to grow and how to grow it. We want to celebrate that empathy, that help and generosity they gave. That is how we want to be.

Don’t drop the ball! Make sure you help hold up and lift those around you and take care of others. You don’t want to be part of the reason that someone stumbles and can’t get up. So if someone is having a hard time, help them get back to a good place- don’t leave them alone in their troubles.

A new year gives us a blank slate- a perfect chance to make our mark. Cover your year with kindness and see what other kinds of beautiful things that kindness brings into your life!

New Year’s Resolutions are ways that we can remind ourselves to keep improving and being better people. But making the resolution isn’t like having a magic wand- it doesn’t happen just because we want it to. We have to keep it in mind and work hard to make those dreams reality.

There are many fish in the sea! There are big ones, tiny ones, fat ones, thin ones, and they all come in a million colors. Just because they are different doesn’t mean they hate each other. They all share the ocean together. We have to do the same- we have to be kind to one another and work together, even if we’re different.

Hanukkah is a holiday where Jewish people celebrate the “Festival of Lights”. They light candles, eat special foods, and spend time together with their family. There is a game they play with dreidels. Playing games from other cultures is a great way to learn more about them and have fun at the same time!

We don’t have to agree with everyone all the time. Different people believe different things. That doesn’t mean that we can’t still be friends with people who are different from us. In fact, often we can learn a lot more by being friends with people who are different from us. We can even learn to see the world a little bit differently.

When school starts, there are all kinds of new opportunities! There are new backpacks to buy, new things to learn, and new friends to be made! Whenever an opportunity presents itself, be brave and make the most of it! It can be scary, but be sure to go forth with kindness!

Kwanzaa is another holiday this time of year. What do you see in this craft that it has in common with Hanukkah? Both of them burn candles every day of their holiday and both last for several days. Even when we are different, we still have things in common because we’re all still human.

Even though he may look scary on the outside, he can still be a nice, warm friend! Frankenstein was just misunderstood- he wasn’t a monster, he was just lonely! Make friends with people no matter what they look like!

Many different cultures have stories about animals like dragons. Are dragons real? No! That means that we can make whatever kinds of stories about them that we want. We can be creative and use our imagination to make silly, funny, or scary stories. Should we make up fake stories about real people? No, it’s not nice.

Different people like different things and that’s okay! It’s more than okay, it’s what makes the world beautiful!

Today, make exactly the hat you want and wear it with all your classmates while they all wear their hats. Have fun and enjoy being you!

It can be really hard to ice skate- a lot of times people fall down, especially when it’s their first time. When people are trying something new, we should help them if we can. And if they fall, if they fail, we don’t laugh. We help them back up.

Music is a universal language. No matter what language someone speaks, a piece of music can speak to their heart. Even if the words to the song are in another language, someone can still connect to the emotion. Try listening to some music from another country. You never know what you might like!

Cats are very picky about who they are friends with and who they let get close. They are even a little shy. What happens if you get too loud or excited and run toward a cat? They run away!

We have to remember that with some people, we have to be gentle and calm if we want to be their friend. Some people are shy or anxious so we have to be extra kind.

Ducks have special oil on their feathers that lets water roll right off of them. It's how they can swim AND fly. We have to remember to let some things roll off our backs too- don't let all the bad things get you down. If someone is being mean, don't take what they're saying to heart. It can be hard to do alone, so find a friend! When they're having a hard time be kind to them, and they'll do the same for you!

When it’s hot outside, a fan can help you cool down.  What about when you’re angry? What helps you cool down then?  Come up with ways to make yourself feel better when you’re having a hard time.  That way you won’t stay angry or upset as long, and you won’t say or do something you don’t mean out of anger.

There are lots of scary things around on Halloween! It’s okay to be scared.

Sometimes people in our lives feel scary to us and we don’t know why. They haven’t done anything to hurt us or anyone else. Maybe they’re just big, or loud. Scary isn’t always scary- sometimes it’s just misunderstood.

Nothing makes you feel better on a hot summer day than a yummy ice cream cone.! What makes you feel better and helps you cool off when you're angry? Talking to a friend? Drawing a picture? Writing about it in your journal? Getting a hug? Watching TV? Everyone calms down in different ways just like everyone likes their ice cream different ways. Find what cools down your anger best!

Lions are brave, strong creatures. Be the king of your jungle, and don’t let people be mean within it. Be a brave lion and stand up to bullies in your life, whether they're being mean to you or someone else. Kindness is brave!

Penguins aren’t like other birds- even though they have wings they can’t fly.  But they can do all sorts of other things that other birds can’t do, like swim!  Don’t focus on the things that you can’t do, focus on the wonderful things you can!

Sometimes Jack O’Lanterns are sometimes happy and sometimes scary. Which one do you like better? Which kind of Jack O’Lantern do you want to make? What kind of person do you want to be?

Sheep tend to stay in a flock- a big group all together to keep safe. It's great to have friends who have your back. If you see someone without a flock, invite them to yours! It's always good to make new friends. But if you flock, your friends, are doing something bad, it's okay to go your own way. You don't always have to follow!

Spiders weave webs to catch the things they need. If you weave a web of kindness, what kinds of things will you catch?

Friends • Happiness • Positivity

Keep on smiling and look for the positive things around you!  Sometimes it’s easy to focus on all the bad things, but if you focus on the good you’ll be surprised how many wonderful things you can find in your life!

Sometimes when bad things happen it seems like everything will feel bad forever. But always keep in mind, that even though the night is dark, the sun always rises. Things can turn around. And if you can be the reason that things get better for someone else, do it! It’s in our power to bring happiness, beauty, and light to other people’s lives.

Find ways to protect yourself from getting soaking wet in the rain! Sometimes when we are sad we let it pour over us and it takes over everything we do. If we find ways to still find the happy things in life, it makes it harder for the sadness to completely overtake us.

Be creative! Pasta isn’t just for eating! Think of new ways to use old things rather than throwing things out or wasting them. Next time you’re about to throw something away, think about whether it is something you could use again or something someone else might need. Don’t waste!

Everyone wants for the world to be a place where everything is peaceful and no one fights. That starts with us choosing to be kind whenever we can, and to think about how other people must feel and what they must be thinking.

So be kind, don’t fight, and always, always, always do you best to keep things peaceful.

The thing we should all want for the whole world is peace. What does peace mean?

How can we make the world more peaceful?

What can you do to make sure the world is a peaceful place in the future?

What is a community?

To have peace everywhere in the world, we all have to work together as one big group, as a community.

That means we have to work with lots of different people who are the same as us and also people who are different from us. We have to be kind to everyone as best we can.

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY

Everybody likes to wear different things in different colors.

Today may be National Wear Red Day, but even when everyone wears the same color you can still show your individuality! Don’t forget to respect the individuality of others- never tease someone for who they are and what they like!

No two people are exactly the same, just like no two slices of pizza are exactly the same.

However, there are some things that all pizza slices have in common, like cheese, sauce, and bread.

It’s the same with people: no two are exactly the same, but we all have some things that are the same. Everyone’s slice may be different, but they all still fit together.

Sometimes just letting someone know that you’re thinking of them in some small way is all you need to do to make someone’s day. If you make them something small or write them a note, it can help turn a bad day into a good one. Do your best to do those small little things so that the people around you can be happy. You’ll find that it will make you happy too, and that making things and writing notes can be fun!

To really understand someone, you have to get to the core of them.  You have to find the seeds, the things that helped them grow into who they are today. If you don't know who someone is in their heart, you don't really know them.

We can do little things every day to make life more fun, lively, and beautiful. With just a little bit of effort, we can make things better. Try to find the ways you can do it, no matter how small they seem. Make a craft, share a toy, give a gift, help a friend. Little things can add up to make a big difference.

Plant seeds of kindness and love everywhere you go! When you only plant kindness, the flowers that bloom around you will be beautiful and make the world a better place. If we plant mean seeds or seeds of hate, the flowers that grow will not only be ugly, but they will poison the beautiful flowers around them.

Even though characters like Frankenstein’s monster, Jack O’Lanterns, ghosts, witches, vampires, and other creatures aren’t exactly alike, they all do have one thing in common: they are a part of Halloween!

Find the things you have in common with others!

We have to bring light to life. Sometimes when things are bad it can seem like everything around us is dark. We have to look for positives and find the people who love and care about us. Then we can let them help us light up our lives. We can also be that light for other people.

You can’t have a rainbow without rain! Sometimes the sadder, harder things in life help us to truly appreciate the beautiful, good things we have.

Just because someone is prickly on the outside doesn’t mean they’re a bad person. Sometimes they’re just protecting a soft core. In the desert, sometimes there isn’t water for miles and miles. But if you cut open a cactus, even a super prickly one, you can find water inside. Often people who are a little tough at first, or even mean, are just trying to protect their soft hearts. So be kind!

When we do a craft, sometimes everyone’s will look different because everyone has different ideas and is creative in different ways. As long as you go slowly and take your time, you can bring your idea to life and make it look wonderful.

Even the tiniest things can all add up to make something big.  If a lot of people do small little things to help make someone’s life better, it can add up to a big change.

Read the book The Rainbow Fish.  Discuss how the Rainbow Fish helped his friends.  Rather than look at everyone like he was better than them, he helped them to feel special about themselves.  Help your friends find what’s special about them!

You can make beauty grow and flourish with your own two hands and a little love and care. Take the time to plant some seeds and do what they need you to so they can grow. Do the same for the people around you!

Make your own luck! Sometimes, people rely too much on luck. They wait for something good to happen to them. But you have to go out in the world and work hard to make things happen. If you do your best and try your hardest, you can make the most amazing things happen!

Four leaf clovers can be really hard to find, especially because there are so many three leaf clovers. But if you keep at it and look hard, the chances that you will find one are high. That’s a lesson everywhere- if you work hard, take your time, and never give up, you can find what you’re looking for!

Even scary things like sharks aren’t always so bad. Sometimes if you look beneath the surface of a classmate who scares you, you’ll see that on the inside, they’re scared too. Everybody has a heart, even if their teeth can hurt.

Sometimes things change. Spring turns into summer, which becomes fall and then winter.

When things change it can be scary, and it can seem like the new thing isn’t right. But give it time and look for the positives. For example, winter may be cold, but we also get to play in the snow!

Make your mark!  Try to decide what kind of mark you want to make on the world and what you want to do to the world around you.  Do you want to make it better or make it worse? Make choices that will ensure that the impression you leave on people and the world are exactly the impression you want.

Other countries wear different traditional clothing. While it may be beautiful and colorful and a lot of fun, we have to keep in mind that wearing them as a costume when we are not a part of that culture isn’t very respectful. However, we can appreciate how beautiful their tradition clothing is and we can celebrate their culture’s beautiful traditions.

Don’t be afraid to show your sparkle!  All those beautiful things about you are the things that should give you confidence.  Appreciate other people’s sparkle too! The things that make people different are the things that make them beautiful!

What do you know about spiders? How many legs do they have? How many eyes? Are they scary on nice?

Sometimes we might be afraid of something or someone, or find them intimidating. This doesn’t mean they don’t help us! Spiders eat a lot of the bad, annoying bugs that bother us every day. Without them, there would be even MORE bugs everywhere. Just because something is scary doesn’t mean it’s bad: maybe we just don’t know the whole story yet, or haven’t found the way they help others.

Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for the wonderful things that we have. What are you thankful for? What makes you happy? Who are you thankful for? Who helps you and makes your life easier?

Let’s think about all the good things we have!

You are all stars!  Each and every one of you has something that makes you special in some way.  When we find what makes us special, we should use it to help others and make our country a better place!

Everybody can be super in some way or another! How do you want to be super? Do you want to be super smart? What about super funny? How about super kind? Make a mask for your superhero alter-ego that is something super. Respect the ways in which others are super.

Symmetry is when things are the same on both sides, like a butterfly’s wings. We want to have symmetry in how we treat people: we want to treat everyone with kindness no matter what they look like or how they are different from us.  Always be kind!

We have to make sure that the people in our lives know we are thankful for them. How can we let people know what we are thinking? We can tell them or we can show them. Sometimes we can do both at once by making them something special as a gift!

We have to take good care of the world around us so that the plants and animals can thrive.  If we think only about ourselves, we could ruin the earth for those around us, and especially for the people of the future.  We want to make sure we leave the world a better place than we found it.

What do you know about polar bears? Polar bears live far away from most other animals. They could go their whole lives without ever seeing another kind of bear, or even one of their own kind. They’re lonely animals. When we see someone like that, someone at our school or in our class who doesn’t have friends, who plays alone, and who maybe is a little lonely, what do we do? How do we help?

Cruel words can burn the people around you like fire.  Try not to be a lunar dragon and hurt those around you.  Be kind and keep others safe!

You can also take this opportunity to teach your students about Chinese Lunar New Year.

Mermaids may not be real, but imagining them can be a lot of fun. It's fun to be creative and try new things. So when you see people who are different, who think differently, who like different things, don't make fun of them! Try those new things with them! Try their new ideas and see what you like. Let them be who they are and be who you are! Our creativity and differences are what make us wonderful!

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover! Monsters still have feelings. Maybe the only reason they are monsters is that someone hurt them and made them be that way. Be kind to everyone, even if they are not always kind, and you may find a new friend! Sometimes people put up walls to keep their warm heart safe on the inside.

Join together! Be a part of the group! When you are a part of a group, whether it’s a classroom, a group of friends, or a family, you have to contribute something to help everyone else out. What do you want to contribute? Do you want to be helpful? Do you want to be kind? If you’re both, you’ll find that there are a lot of groups you can belong to!

Read the book Those Shoes with your class.  

No one feels good when they are left out of a group.  We should always allow people to be included with us. When it comes to wearing the same thing as everyone else, what makes us different is what makes us special.  So be the unique you that you are!

Be proud to be an American! Part of that pride means working hard to make sure that everyone gets a fair chance at making their dreams come true. It means making sure that everyone is safe and taken care of. It means helping to keep all Americans happy!

Soldiers are people who do a really hard job and risk their lives for us.  We should do our best to be grateful to them for the sacrifices they make.

What do you know about soldiers?  How can we show them that we care about them?

No two snowflakes are alike- embrace the things that make you different from everyone around you. They are also the things that make you beautiful!

Everyone gets sad sometimes. What’s important is not trying to always be happy, but knowing how to take care of yourself when you are sad. Make sure you know things to do when you are sad to help yourself cheer up. Does watching movies help you? Or getting hugs from your friends? Take care of yourself!

Keep yourself warm in the cold- if you’re going through a hard time try to find something warm you can hold on to, something happy you can do to keep the sadness and anger from getting to be too much. If someone you know is going through a hard time, try to be that warm, happy thing for them.

We have to share our things with others who need them. Sometimes we find an apple that has a worm inside and we get upset or annoyed.  But that worm needs to eat too!

Make sure you are sharing things with people in need when possible. If your friend needs a pencil and you have two, share! Sharing is a great way to show people you care.

Find a cool new way to show you love someone- like making them a card like this and writing them a kind note! Be creative and take your time to make something wonderful!

It celebrates seven principals, including “unity” or togetherness. It is a time to celebrate our family and friends and how we work together. The holiday also celebrates cooperation (working together) and sharing.

Sometimes it might seem like we know what’s on the inside because of what we see on the outside. But what we forget is that we can’t see people’s hearts. Make sure you are looking at who people are on the inside and being gentle with their hearts.

Frogs: Hope into action when you see someone hurting. Do what you can to help.

Turtles: Go slow, think things through, take your time, and make sure you aren’t mean to someone by accident.

Caterpillars: Be fuzzy and warm to the people around you and they’ll absolutely love you.