Opening Activity

Watch “The Importance of Kindness” (2-min video) in which writer George Saunders recounts the story of a girl named Ellen who was in his 7th grade class and how the class mistreated her.

Discuss:

• George Saunders says that he was nice to Ellen — that he “sometimes even mildly defended her.” He also says that he regrets his failure of kindness.
• Do you know anyone like Ellen at your school? Have you ever seen them being picked on?
• What would kindness look like in that situation?
• What can we do as a family to show more kindness?

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