Answer key: Answer Key: Can Kindness Be Taught?

Lesson Plan:  Some Preschools Are Including “Kindness” Training  in Their Curriculums

II. While Reading Activities: Word Inference

  1. challenge |ˈCHalənj| noun– a call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel: he accepted the challenge.
  2. potpourri  |ˌpōpəˈrē|  noun (plural potpourris) a mixture of things, especially a musical or literary medley: he played a potpourri of tunes from Gilbert and Sullivan.
  3. Curriculum |kəˈrikyələm| noun (plural curricula |-lə| or curriculums) the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
  4. cope  1 |kōpverb [no object]- (of a person) deal effectively with something difficult: his ability to cope with stress | it all got too much for me and I couldn’t cope.
  5. global  |ˈɡlōbəl| adjective relating to the whole world; worldwide: the downturn in the global economy.
  6. concept  |ˈkänˌsept| noun-an abstract idea; a general notion: structuralism is a difficult concept | the concept of justice.
  7. empathize  |ˈempəˌTHīz| verb [no object] understand and share the feelings of another: counselors need to be able to empathize with people.
  8. prompt  |präm(p)t|  verb [with object]  cause (someone) to take a course of action: a demonstration by 20,000 people prompted the government to step up security.
  9. developmental  |dəˌveləpˈmen(t)l| adjective concerned with the development of someone or something: developmental problems | developmental psychology.
  10. altruistic |ˌaltro͞oˈistik| adjective– showing an  interested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish: it was an entirely altruistic act | I question how altruistic his motives were.

Source: New Oxford American Dictionary

Reading Comprehension: 

Fill-ins

One program working on kindness with older students, the Los Angeles-based ‘Kind Campaign’, founded in 2009, organizes middle and high school assemblies that target the problem of bullying between young women. The girls are invited to write a ‘kind apology’ and hand it to somebody who they have wronged.

 

Grammar Focus: Structure and Usage

I-2-a

The Kindness Curriculum was a natural fit.

II-3-a

The Kindness Curriculum is part of a growing global movement.

III-2-their

The program encourages children to identify their feelings and to put a label to them.