Fun World Kindness Day Classroom Activities to Inspire Empathy and Joy!
World Kindness Day, celebrated every year on November 13th, is the perfect opportunity to teach children the power of compassion, empathy, and kindness. In the classroom, it provides a beautiful moment to pause the usual curriculum and focus on building emotional intelligence through fun and impactful activities.
Whether you’re a primary school teacher, a homeschooler, or an educator in a secondary classroom, these 20 engaging kindness activities will help your students connect, reflect, and grow into thoughtful global citizens. Plus, they’re easy to implement and adaptable for any age group.
Let’s dive in!
Fun World Kindness Day Classroom Activities
🧡 1. Create a Kindness Chain
Have each student write a kind action or word on a strip of paper. Link them together to form a kindness chain that grows longer each day. Hang it around the classroom as a visual reminder of positive behavior.
🧡 2. Start a Compliment Circle
Sit in a circle and have each student turn to their left and offer a sincere compliment. This boosts confidence and strengthens classroom bonds.
🧡 3. Kindness Jar
Place a jar in the classroom and have students drop in notes of kind things they’ve seen others do. Read a few aloud each day during morning meeting or story time.
🧡 4. Design Kindness Posters
Break out the art supplies and let students design colourful posters that promote kindness. Display them around the school to inspire others.
🧡 5. Thank You Notes to School Staff
Have students write thank you cards to lunchroom workers, janitors, office staff, or crossing guards—people who often go unthanked. It’s a powerful way to teach appreciation.
🧡 6. Kindness Bingo
Create a bingo card with simple acts of kindness (e.g., “Hold the door open,” “Say something nice,” “Invite someone to play”). Challenge students to complete as many as possible during the week.
Click here for a Free Kindness_Bingo_Card download
🧡 7. Acts of Kindness Calendar
Design a classroom kindness calendar with one small task for each day leading up to World Kindness Day—like helping a classmate, sharing supplies, or writing a friendly note.
🧡 8. “Caught Being Kind” Certificates
Recognize students when they’re caught doing something kind with a fun certificate or sticker. Celebrate at the end of the day or week.
🧡 9. Read Kindness-Themed Books
Choose books like Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud or The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig to spark meaningful discussion.
🧡 10. Kindness Role-Play
Divide students into groups and give them different kindness scenarios to act out. This helps children practice empathy in a fun, safe way.
🧡 11. Write Positive Post-Its
Give each child a stack of sticky notes to write uplifting messages on, then stick them to classmates’ desks, lockers, or bulletin boards.
🧡 12. Classroom Kindness Awards
Host a fun awards ceremony where students vote for classmates who have shown exceptional kindness. Create playful categories like “Best Encourager” or “Most Helpful.”
🧡 13. Gratitude Journal
Encourage students to start a mini gratitude journal where they write down 3 things they’re thankful for each day leading up to World Kindness Day.
🧡 14. Kindness Rocks
Paint rocks with positive messages and hide them around the school or local park. It’s a creative way to spread kindness beyond the classroom.
🧡 15. Kindness Skits
Let students write and perform short skits about showing kindness in everyday life—on the playground, at lunch, or during class.
🧡 16. “Kindness is…” Class Poem
Work as a class to create a collaborative poem finishing the sentence “Kindness is…” This can become a beautiful wall display or class keepsake.
🧡 17. Lunch Buddy Swap
Pair students who don’t normally sit together and encourage them to share one nice thing about each other while they eat.
🧡 18. Send Kind Messages Around the World
Use an app or classroom project to send messages of kindness to children in other countries. This promotes global citizenship and empathy.
🧡 19. Classroom Kindness Pledge
Create a class kindness pledge together and have everyone sign it. Display it prominently as a daily reminder of your classroom values.
🧡 20. Make a Kindness Video
Record students sharing kind messages or reading kind quotes. Post it on the school’s social media or newsletter to spread positivity far and wide.
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🌟 Why Celebrate World Kindness Day in the Classroom?
Incorporating kindness education into your classroom teaches more than just good manners—it supports social-emotional learning, strengthens community, and helps students become more thoughtful, empathetic people.
By marking World Kindness Day with intentional, fun, and meaningful activities, you create lasting memories and lessons that go far beyond the school walls.
🧁 Bonus Idea: World Kindness Day Party!
Wrap up your activities with a “Kindness Celebration” complete with healthy treats, music, and time to reflect on what students learned. Let them share their favorite act of kindness from the week!
For preschoolers!
✨ Final Thoughts
Teaching kindness doesn’t require a special curriculum—just creativity, consistency, and heart. These 20 fun classroom activities for World Kindness Day are just the beginning. With your guidance, children can become powerful agents of empathy in the world.
Want more inspiration? Explore our Kindness Quotes for Children and Empathy Activities for Kids for even more ideas!
Find out more about this special day HERE.
