Swap the word for the action
“She was very kind” tells a reader almost nothing. Ask students to describe one kind action instead: what was said, what was carried, what was noticed. Specific actions do the work that adjectives cannot, and they give students material for both the narrative and the persuasive task.
Surprise the reader with the helper
The narrative task asks for an unexpected helper. Invite students to list unlikely candidates, from a grumpy neighbour to a stray dog, and pair one with a real problem. The surprise creates interest; the problem gives the story a shape. Stronger writers can let the helper need something too, so the kindness goes both ways.
Nominate with evidence
The Kindness Award task asks students to convince a reader that someone deserves recognition. Treat it like a nomination form: each reason needs an example. Students can choose a real person or invent one. Either way, the argument is stronger when it shows the effect of the kindness on someone else.
Keep sharing optional
Writing about kindness can touch on personal experiences. Let students decide what they share and with whom. A finished nomination could be read to a partner, kept in a writing folder or, with the writer’s agreement, passed on to the person it celebrates.
