resources for EDUCATORs
Teachers and school counselors are on the front lines of a child's social-emotional development. The Say Something Sweet movement was built with you in mind. Change doesn't just happen at home. It happens in hallways, cafeterias, and classrooms where trusted adults help children see the power their words carry.
The resources below go beyond a read-aloud. They're designed to integrate into existing SEL frameworks and meet students where they are, from the first days of kindergarten through middle school.
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Building the Foundation
Early elementary is where the language of kindness takes root. At this stage, concrete, visual, and interactive learning works best. These resources focus on naming feelings, identifying kind vs. harmful language, and celebrating what makes every student unique.
Classroom-Ready Resources:
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The Sweet vs. Sour Words Anchor Chart - After reading Perri's Pencil Problem aloud, create a class anchor chart together. Students contribute words or phrases they've heard and sort them into "Sweet" (welcoming, affirming) and "Sour" (dismissive, harmful). Leave space to add to it throughout the year.
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Kindness Bingo - Our downloadable Kindness Bingo card includes actions like "gave someone a compliment," "noticed when a friend was left out," and "stood up for someone." Play as a weekly or monthly challenge. Students mark their cards and share their stories during morning meeting.
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Our Class, Our Words - A short pledge-writing activity where the class collaboratively creates their own "Say Something Sweet" classroom promise. Display it prominently and revisit it after conflicts or community moments.
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The Compliment Circle - During morning meeting, have students pass a "kindness token." Whoever holds it gives a compliment to someone in the room. Rotate the token each day.
SEL Standards Connection: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making
3rd - 5th Grade
Building Vocabulary for Empathy
Upper elementary students are ready to engage with more complex social dynamics, including the concept of microaggressions. These resources help students move from awareness to action, without shame or blame.
Classroom-Ready Resources:
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Introducing Microaggressions (Without the Word First) - Start with the question: "Has anyone ever said something to you that felt like a tiny pinprick? Maybe it wasn't a big deal on its own, but it happened again and again?" Let students share. Then introduce the concept: "There's actually a word for that." Use Perri's Pencil Problem as the primary text to anchor the discussion.
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The Expanded Crumpled Paper Experiment - A frequently used SEL activity, expanded for this movement. Students write a kind note about themselves on a piece of paper, then crumple it after hearing a series of "sour word" scenarios read aloud. When they try to smooth it back out, wrinkles remain. Discussion: "What does this tell us about words we can't take back?" Download our expanded version with reflection questions tied to the Say Something Sweet movement.
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Two Truths and a Stereotype - Your students already know how to play Two Truths and a Lie. This version turns a familiar game into a powerful conversation about assumptions without anyone having to share anything personal. The educator reads three statements about a fictional student: two that are true, and one that is a stereotype someone might make based on how that student looks or where they're from.
Counselor Corner: These materials work equally well in small-group counseling settings for students navigating belonging, identity, or peer conflict.
SEL Standards Connection: Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Grades 6 and up
Deepening the Conversation
Middle schoolers are developing their identities, testing the boundaries of peer relationships, and becoming increasingly aware of social hierarchies. This is exactly the right moment to go deeper into allyship, accountability, and what it means to create a culture, not just follow one.
Classroom & Advisory-Ready Resources:
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The #SaySomethingSweet School Challenge - Launch a campus-wide campaign using the hashtag. Invite students to post affirmations, tag classmates for kindness, or share a moment when someone's words made a real difference. Debrief as a class: What does it mean to use your platform intentionally?
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Allyship in Action Workshop - A two-part lesson. Part one: What is an ally vs. a bystander? Part two: Practice. Students work through scenarios and identify specific language they can use to intervene, support, or report. Designed for advisory periods or school counseling sessions.
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The Student Promise Wall - Encourage students to write and sign their own Say Something Sweet pledge as their specific, personal commitment to kindness. Display in a hallway or communal space. Photograph and share with #SaySomethingSweet.
SEL Standards Connection: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
