The Science of Well-being Lessons: November-December

Mrs. Kennedy visited Villa this month for her November-December Science of Well-being lessons. Please see below for what students focused on.

K-2 Focus: Kindness and Empathy

This month in our Science of Well-Being lessons, girls in Kindergarten through 2nd grade expanded their understanding of empathy and kindness through a positive psychology lens-how it feels, how it spreads, and why it strengthens both our hearts and our school community. Through stories, discussions, and hands-on activities, the girls also practiced important SEL skills in self-awareness and self-management.

Kindergarten: The Power of Our Words – After enjoying the read aloud, Words and Your Heart, kindergarteners explored how our words have energy and impact. The girls practiced recognizing the difference between heartful (kind) words and hurtful (unkind) words. Through a demonstrated hands-on activity, they witnessed how kind words can make a heart happy, while unkind words can leave lasting marks long after the spoken word; helping the girls understand how even small words and actions can have big emotional effects on others.

1st Grade: Courage and Kindness in Action – Building on October’s focus of courage and listening to the story of Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark, first graders learned how bravery and using one’s voice helps us to be strong in standing up to scary or unkind behaviors. Through a sorting activity and discussion, the girls identified examples of kind versus unkind actions and brainstormed simple acts of kindness they can offer daily. The emphasis was on using empathy, their voice, and kind actions to make our spaces safe and caring.

2nd Grade: Understanding Empathy and Compassion – Following a reading of Claris the Mouse: Holiday Heist, the girls explored the deeper meaning of empathy; understanding how others feel and choosing to respond with acts of kindness. The girls determined what is and is not empathy and practiced ways to support others including offering a listening ear, sharing encouraging words, recognizing when someone needs help, and giving a hug or a high-five. Enjoying an early Christmas story also reinforced a message about the best types of gifts aren’t the ones received, rather it is the love and care given for one another.

At Home Tip – Practice micro-kindnesses…small, intentional moments of warmth and connection throughout the day. Try offering one intentional act of kindness each day: a thank-you note, an unexpected compliment, or a moment of undistracted listening. Research from Dr. Barbara Fredrickson shows that small acts of care and positive emotion strengthen relationships and increase overall well-being for both giver and receiver.

3-5 Focus: Kindness, Acceptance & Others

This month, students in Grades 3-5 explored kindness through the lens of relationships…how we treat one another, how our emotions affect others, and how empathy and appreciation help strengthen our classroom community. Each grade applied positive psychology concepts to deepen connection and build on the SEL competencies of social awareness and relationship skills.

3rd Grade: Kindness, Acceptance & Emotion Contagion – The Cool Bean by Jory John & Pete Oswald reminded the girls that being kind is cool. They explored the idea of Emotion Contagion, noticing how our feelings and actions can spread to others, and how intentional kindness can shift the emotional climate of a group. To put this into action and spread some of their own kindness, each girl received a Kindness Coin with the challenge to notice kindness in others by passing the coin forward.

4th Grade: Kindness Through Empathy & Perspective Taking – Following the fun read aloud, The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk, the girls focused on perspective taking and empathy, the two skills that make cooperation possible. Using optical illusions, students saw how two people can look at the same thing and see it differently, an important reminder for friendships and teamwork. The girls discussed how understanding another’s point of view strengthens empathy and guides kinder actions. They, too, received a Kindness Coin to share kindness with someone.

5th Grade: Kindness Toward Self & Others – Building on earlier lessons about noticing, savoring, and gratitude, fifth graders explored what it means to look for kindness inward and outward. The girls reflected on themselves as being a special gift then shifted their focus toward one another, recognizing a gift they see in each other. This practice reinforced that kindness begins with self-worth and expands through appreciation of others.

At Home Tip – You can strengthen your own well-being and model it for your child by intentionally noticing and naming small positive moments in your interactions with others each day. This builds emotional awareness and deepens connection. Try sharing one moment of kindness someone showed you today, and one moment of kindness you offered. Research by In Dr. Robert Emmons’ work, intentionally noticing and expressing gratitude strengthens emotional resilience, relationships, and overall happiness.

6-8 Focus: Engagement- Flow & Character Strengths

Middle schoolers continued their exploration of the PERMA model of well-being by diving into the “E” – Engagement. This month’s lessons helped students understand how they feel and function at their best through experiences of flow and the use of their character strengths.

Understanding Flow – The girls learned about flow (a high-engagement state where a task meets the optimal level of challenge matched with skill). Through a hands-on feather balancing activity, the girls experimented with key characteristics of flow themselves and reflected on activities in their lives that naturally draw them into a focused, energized state.

Character Strengths – The girls explored and discussed the 24 VIA Character Strengths and began practicing strength spotting (recognizing strengths in themselves and in their peers). They learned how strengths-based engagement builds confidence, improves relationships, and supports strong, values-driven leadership in middle school.

At Home Tip – Notice your own flow moments: Identify one activity where you feel “in the zone” (focused, absorbed, and energized) and make a little space for it weekly.