Tecumseh Public School in Burlington is using a popular board game to help connect students to each other during remote learning.
Kindness Bingo is similar to regular Bingo, but instead of a card full of numbers, the school is using cards outlining acts of kindness. Students are tasked to fulfil the activities to achieve five squares across, down or diagonally.
Teacher Denise Henderson says she created this activity for her Grade 6 and 7 students to help them better connect with each other in a virtual learning environment and to find ways to get more physical by minimizing screen time.
“When Bingo Kindness started, I could see that students and their families were working together on these challenges,” she says. “It was nice to see them interacting on activities like being outside on hikes, playing games and writing letters and mailing them. The second reason I created this was because I felt like students needed to be reminded of all the kindness and good there is in the world around them, and how one act of kindness, no matter how small, can lead to another.”
Bingo Kindness has a wide range of curriculum connections, Henderson says, including literacy skills (creating a poem and writing an email), visual arts (creating a painting/drawing ) and daily physical activity (hiking).
“Above all, my focus was to continue to help students make positive connections with peers and adults, and to build inclusivity in the classroom,” she explains. “I hope students learn that kindness is all around them. No matter how many challenges we face, it is important to be kind to each other and the world around us.”
The principal and vice-principal at Tecumseh PS say this kind of creative activity is indicative of staff always striving to find ways to engage students.
“As a school it is important for students to learn about kindness because it supports the development of an inclusive and equitable environment where all students feel accepted, valued and safe,” says Principal Cindy Bate. “Safe and caring environments promote student well-being and create learning conditions to elevate student achievement.
Says Vice-principal Shannon Pompili Bosco: “This kind of project is especially important and vital to support community development and our students during these challenging times. This project is an example of the commitment, dedication and creativity of staff in continuing to support the fostering of our goals.”