To help inspire you in your own quest for kindness, here are some of the world’s best quotes about kindness and just how worthwhile it really is.

• For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. – Audrey Hepburn
• Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. – Mark Twain
• Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. – Princess Diana
• No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. – Aesop

This video shows the tremendous ripple effect just one act of kindness can have.

Additional Resources:

• Here is a website that has many truly inspiring quotes about kindness.
• Here is another website with lots of awesome kindness quotes!

Topics for Discussion:

• Do you think you could start a chain reaction of kindness like the one shown in the video above?
• Which of the kindness quotes is most meaningful to you?

Take Action:

• Make it a goal to perform at least one act of kindness each and every day!
• Visit the Random Acts of Kindness website to learn more ideas for ways you can be kind today!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Kindness Is Contagious……Try Some Today! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

“How come we never see a child with a disability at a park?”

This casual remark from the parent of a child with a developmental disability inspired the idea of Kilikili, an organization dedicated to creating play spaces for ALL children, including those with disabilities. The founders of Kilikili realized that while some parks have ramps or smooth pathways, almost no parks or playgrounds have specially designed equipment for children with special needs. Watch this inspiring video to see how Kilikili is helping lay the foundation for a more inclusive society.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article about Kilikili and their amazing efforts.
• Here is a website for another group that wants to create playgrounds for all kinds of kids.

Topics for Discussion:

• What would it be like to have a disability? What parts of a playground might your disability keep you from enjoying?
• Do you know any kids with disabilities? Do they like to play just like you do?

Take Action:

• Get to know a disabled person. Learn what you can do to help make his or life a little easier!
• Check out the Kilikili website to find out how you can help encourage special needs playgrounds in your community!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Why Can’t Playgrounds Be For Special Needs Kids Too? and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article with pictures of Suryia and Roscoe.
• Here is another inspiremykids story about an unusual animal friendship!

Topics for Discussion:

• Do you have a friend who is different from you? What makes that person your friend?
• Why do you think Suryia and Roscoe are such good friends?

Take Action:

• Think about the kids in your class who are different from you. Get to know one of them and you may find a great new friend!
• Check out the “making friends” page of the Children, Youth, and Women’s Health Service website to learn great tips for making new friends!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Friends at First Sight – Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Dog and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

In honor of Valentine’s Day and the love it celebrates, here are some fun facts about the day, great ideas to make the day special, and inspirational stories of love at its finest!

This video shows how a girl named Molly decided to spread some Valentine’s Day happiness.

Additional Resources:

• Here is a website with lots of great Valentine’s Day trivia.
• Here are some other IMK posts that tell stories of great love:
• This post tells an unusual story of love between and orangutan and a dog!
• This post tells the story of the wonderful love between a military father and his daughter.
• This post tells about the love a janitor/coach had for his students and what it inspired him to do.
• This post shows the amazing love and devotion of a father for his disabled son.
• This post tells the story of how a woman’s love for her dog gave her the courage to reach out to others.
• This post tells about a girl’s incredible act of bravery, done out of love for her sister.

Topics for Discussion:

• What do you and your family like to do on Valentine’s Day?
• Which of the love stories above is your favorite?

Take Action:

• This Valentine’s Day, let your loved ones know how much they mean to you!
• Visit the Valentine’s Day page of the Family Fun website for great ideas about ways to make your Valentine’s Day special!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Valentine’s Day – A Day to Celebrate Those You Love! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

At 15 months old, Benjamin Mason was a typical toddler with a budding vocabulary and an active curiosity. But then, over the next few months, Benjamin started to withdraw, losing his vocabulary and turning completely inward. Doctors diagnosed Benjamin as having profound autism.

Despite his autism, the Masons tried to give Benjamin a normal life. However, his severe autism made it hard for him to participate in the usual activities of kids his age. The Masons struggled greatly with how they could help Benjamin, and that’s when they came up with the idea of Benjamin’s Hope. Benjamin’s Hope, which is currently in the planning stages, will provide a living community for people with autism and other disabilities. It hopes to be a place where such people can thrive and live happy, productive lives!

This video tells all about Benjamin’s Hope.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells all about the plans for Benjamin’s Hope.
• Here is a video that tells more about the progress of Benjamin’s Hope.

Topics for Discussion:

• Do you know anyone who has autism? What symptoms do they show, if any?
• How do you think the Benjamin’s Hope community will be able to help kids like Benjamin?

Take Action:

• Visit the Benjamin’s Hope website to learn more about this wonderful place and how you can help make it a reality!
• Visit the Autism Speaks website to learn more about autism and how you can help people with this condition.

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Benjamin’s Hope – A Place Where We All Belong and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

During World War II, many people had victory gardens. These were gardens that people planted in order to ease food supply shortages that occurred during the war. A victory garden was regarded as a patriotic way to help the war effort.

Today, victory gardens have had a resurgence. With the recent downturn in the economy, many people have turned to growing their own food in order to save money. Today’s victory gardens allow people to manage their food budgets more carefully. In addition, the victory gardens of today let kids take part in producing food to feed themselves and their families, and they also serve as a wonderful way to help the environment!

This video shows how victory gardens have made a comeback in today’s world.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells about the modern victory gardens of today.
• Here is a video of a 1943 Popeye cartoon in which Popeye plants his own victory garden!

Topics for Discussion:

• Why did people plant victory gardens during World War II?
• What are some benefits of having a victory garden today?

Take Action:

• Visit the Heirloom Seeds website to order a package that will allow you to plant your own victory garden!
• Visit the My First Garden website to learn how kids can plant their own victory gardens!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Victory Gardens – A Blast From the Past That’s Blooming Today! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

In 2008, 9-year-old Emily Lites became a big sister when her little brother Jude was born. However, Jude was not your average little brother. Jude had suffered a stroke before he was born and as a result was brain-damaged. Because of Jude’s condition, Emily spent a lot of time in hospitals supporting her brother. And she realized that for a kid, a hospital can be a sad and boring place. She decided she wanted to do something to help make hospital time a little easier for kids like her and Jude. Thus, the idea for Emily’s Smile Boxes was born.

With the help of friends and family, Emily began putting together activity boxes that contained items such as crayons, paper, card games, and stuffed animals. She began handing out her boxes at local hospitals to not just sick kids, but also their siblings as well! Through her Smile Boxes, Emily wants to make sure that all kids who spend time at a hospital, whether because of their own conditions or because they are supporting family, can have their stay be a little bit brighter.

This video tells all about Emily’s Smile Boxes and the wonderful impact they have.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells all about Emily and her wonderful boxes.
• Here is another IMK post about an unusual dog who helps bring cheer to the sick and disabled too!

Topics for Discussion:

• Have you ever had to stay in a hospital? How did it feel?
• Why does Emily feel it’s important to give Smile Boxes to siblings of sick kids?

Take Action:

• Visit the website for Emily’s Smile Boxes to learn how you can help Emily with her amazing effort!
• Visit the Hugs and Hope website to learn how you can bring a little cheer to sick kids, just like Emily does!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Emily’s Smile Boxes – Bringing a Little Joy to Sick Kids and Their Families! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

It all began in 2010, when Jackson asked J.D. “Why aren’t we doing more to make a difference?” That prompted J.D. to come up with a grand plan – he and his sons would take a year and travel all over the world. They would volunteer in 12 different countries on all the continents, visiting one country each month. And thus the idea for Twelve in Twelve was born. Today, the Lewises’ plan is in action – they started off in July 2011 and are now in the middle of their year of service. They are already making a huge difference and well on their way to making an even bigger one!

In this video, the Lewises talk about the incredible experience they are having with Twelve in Twelve.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells all about the Lewises and their amazing journey.
• Here is Jackson’s blog website, in which he chronicles his family’s great adventure.

Topics for Discussion:

• What would it be like to put your life on hold and travel the world like the Lewises are doing?
• If you could help people anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?

Take Action:

• Create your own Twelve in Twelve! Can you think of 12 things you can do to help others in the next 12 days, weeks, or months?
• Visit the Twelve in Twelve website to learn more about this incredible effort and how you can help support it!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Twelve in Twelve – A Family Making a Difference, One Country at a Time! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

For inspiration, here are terrific quotes from some of the finest athletes and sports figures in the world, people who have achieved greatness through their hard work, commitment, and determination. Let their words of wisdom motivate you for success in sports and in life!

This video shows some great motivational sports quotes and the athletes who gave them to us.

Additional Resources:

• Here is a website with lots of truly inspirational sports quotes.
• Here is another website that has lots of great quotes for sports and for life!

Topics for Discussion:

• Which sports quote means the most to you? Why?
• Why do you think these sports quotes can be applied to other areas of life as well?

Take Action:

• Focus on your favorite quote and try to apply it to your sport, hobby, schoolwork, or other pursuit!
• Visit the Better Homes and Gardens website to learn how you can use sports as a tool to teach kids great life lessons!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See Great Sports Quotes…..They’re Not Just for Athletes! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was particularly important, because it was the amendment that outlawed slavery in America, changing the course of our country’s history. As such, February 1 is a day in which all Americans can celebrate the freedom we have and the great country that makes it possible!

This video tells all about the 13th Amendment and the freedom it gave.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells all about National Freedom Day.
• Here is another article that tells about National Freedom Day.

Topics for Discussion:

• How do you think African-Americans felt when President Lincoln outlawed slavery?
• Why is freedom so important to our country?

Take Action:

• Visit the National Freedom Day page of the Joe Foss Institute website to learn great ways to celebrate this observance in your classroom!
• Visit the IMK post about Tyler Page to learn how he has raised money to help stop human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery, and how you can support his cause!

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

See National Freedom Day – A Day to Celebrate America! and other inspiration for kids at InspireMyKids.com