respect assignment middle school

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26 Lesson Ideas On Respect For Middle School: Activities, Games, Books, Movies, And More

November 7, 2023 //  by  Ashley Charles

Respect is a word that means many things to many people. Some argue it can’t be taught, but there is character education embedded in many of the lessons in schools so why is respect any different? It’s worth a try, right? Especially since kids these days don’t seem to be coming into classrooms armed with much of it on their own.

Here are 26 lesson and activity ideas to help teach your middle school students a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

1. Give Examples

Anchor charts are beautiful representations of anything a teacher needs to teach. Character education is no different, and keeping a chart like this up in the classroom reminds students what respectful behavior is supposed to look like.

Learn More:  Haley O’Connor (Instagram)

2. Host a Class Brainstorm About Respect

One of the best ways to teach is to start by creating buy-in. If we expect students to understand the issue of respect, they must be the ones to come up with what respect actually looks, sounds, and feels like so that they have no excuse when they forget.

Learn More: Twitter

3. Explicit Lesson 

Working in a classroom with peers and adults requires a certain level of unspoken respect to function flawlessly. Teaching children about respect means teaching them the expectations you and others have within the classroom setting to work together.

Learn More:  Overcoming Obstacles

4. Practice a Week of Respect  

Whether you use the ideas presented on this calendar, or you choose your own ways to incorporate respect, each day for a week, keep it at the front of students’ minds to help improve the school environment!

Learn More:  Morning Bell NYC

5. Have Students Take a Quiz

There is nothing more powerful than asking yourself honest questions. Have students take this quiz to see if they consider themselves respectful or not, and then create a plan of action to incorporate more ways to show respect in their lives.

Learn More:  Free Spirit

6. The Character Chronicles

With the many modalities of learning, good character education programs should include visual and auditory examples. This DVD helps teach grades 4 through 8 the important impacts of practicing respect and being respectful.

Learn More:  Live Wire Media

7. Amazing Grace 

This short story is a perfect quick read-aloud for students. Grace encounters some adversity and some struggles that end up teaching her and others how respect can play a role in making one another feel important and included.

Learn More:  Amazon

8. Respect Others Read-Aloud

This story would make a great read-aloud for students as it teaches students about respect for others even when you don’t agree with their opinions or choices. This is an important virtue to teach in today’s society as people are learning to become more and more comfortable in their own skin.

9. Model Respect

While this might sound obvious to some people, a lot of times disrespectful behavior is met with disrespectful behavior. Some teachers and adults do not realize that the way they behave around children is exactly what those children are going to emulate. So, modeling what respect looks, sounds, and feels like is always the right way to go.

Learn More:  Stepping Stone School

10. No One Eats Alone Day

National “No One Eats Alone” day is important for teaching respect. It forces students to step from their comfort zones, approach people they typically wouldn’t associate with, and extend that bridge of respect that simply says, “hey, I see you and I respect that we may be different but I can still be kind and empathetic towards you.”

Learn More:  Beyond Differences

11. Respect Task Cards

These cards are a helpful addition to character education lessons. Kids are asked to read a scenario and then respond to it. It is helpful to practice responses before they need to so that their bodies learn to react in a calm, respectful manner.

Learn More:  Worksheet Place

12. Parent Newsletter

Get parents involved in helping teach respect by sending home a newsletter focusing on this important quality. Many parents want to be involved in helping their kids become better people and if we can get learning at home and in school, it will help make our job much easier.

Learn More:  Crestview Rebels

13. Use Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS)

There are many programs like Kickboard that reward students for positive behaviors. Showing respect is one of those that can be easily reinforced to help and provides real-life practice and support for kids. Pair the points with awesome prizes to encourage the kinds of respectful behavior you want to see.

Learn More:  Kickboard

14. Establish Fair Classroom Practices

Kids are some of the first to be able to pick out inequity in any setting. If we take the time to evaluate our practices as adults and teachers, we can easily take direct action to eliminate these issues and create open and honest classroom discussions around what expectations on respect are from both sides.

Learn More:  Nee Advantage

15. Create Respect Stickers

Get your middle schoolers creativity flowing by allowing them to create stickers about respect that they can use on water bottles, computers, folders, and more. Host a contest for the most creative version.

Learn More:  Love To Know

16. Whole Group Lesson in Class

This option doesn’t require any frills or additional materials. You simply need a whiteboard, some participants, and a facilitator. Perfect for a first-time lesson or a revisit of respect, this will help kids recognize disrespectful actions immediately.

Learn More:  Study

17. Summarize Respect

Practice literacy skills and learn about respect with the Talking With Trees website. This great resource gives kids all the details of what respect is. Once they are done doing their research, have them summarize in their own words what they learned about this quality.

Learn More:  Talking Tree Books

18. Book Study: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Teach kids respect and a little history about WWII as they see the world through the eyes of human rights and the Holocaust. This book is a great way to open discussions about caring and responsibility as ways to show respect.

19. Movie: Charlotte’s Web

A favorite among kids, Charlottes’s Web is the perfect example to show kids what respecting others, even of the tiniest size, looks like.

20. Create a Photography Exhibit

Unleash creativity and get students to take pictures in their daily lives of people respecting or disrespecting the environment around them. These photos will serve as awesome discussion starters.

21. Teach With Movies

Teach With Movies has a great list of ideas for teaching respect through movies – every middle school kid’s favorite break from the usual! Utilize this list as a way to really hone in on what your group needs so that you can get them engaged and learning!

Learn More:  Teach With Movies

22. An Unexpected Lesson in Respect

Launch your lesson on respect with this sweet video that is so short, yet says so much. Teaching kids how to lead an inspirational life isn’t so difficult, especially with resources like this video.

Learn More:  Meir Kay

23. Respect YouTube Video With Worksheets

Morgan uses the Golden Rule and offers plain examples that any student will understand. Pair this with the accompanying worksheets and you’ve got a great morning meeting or quick lesson on respect!

Learn More:  Rocket Kids

24. Music Videos – Get Kids Pumped

Have your staff or student body create a fun, entertaining music video to pump the school up about respect and show them on the morning show or at a pep rally. See the sample below to spark inspiration!

Learn More:  CG_Panthervision

25. Develop a Play or a Drama Around Respect

Really get students involved by having them create an entire play or drama that shows what respect does and does not look like to show on a morning show or during classes. This example offers short checkpoints throughout the video to get the viewer engaged.

Learn More:  Robb Underwood

26. Start a Gentleman’s Squad or Ladies Club

These clubs offer students who may not otherwise have role models a way to learn how to be respectful, show etiquette, and be a part of an elite group of students who lead by example and become upstanding citizens at their campuses.

Learn More:  WMAR-2 News

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Respect Lesson and Activities

In some of the educator/counselor Facebook groups I’m a part of, there has been a lot of talk about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. People complaining their students are disrespectful, people wondering how they can teach respect to their students, and people worried that their faculty and students have differing ideas of what respect really means. As human beings, we all have an innate need to feel respected by others. Everyone is happier and more productive when people show respect to one another at school. So how can you teach students about respect in a meaningful way?

Laying the Groundwork

The first step is getting students thinking about their own beliefs and ideas about respect. Four corners is a great movement-based way to do this. Ask your students questions about respect, or ask them to finish sentences about respect, by going to one of four designated corners. For example, “I feel respected at school…” A) All of the time, B) Usually, C) Sometimes, or D) Not very often. As you read the answer choices, move to different corners of the room so students know where to go to show their answers.

Next, come to some sort of an agreement with your students about the definition of respect . Here are the two I provide them:

Ask them what they think about the definitions. What would they want to change or take away or add?

Then work together to get a clear picture of what respect actually looks like, sounds like, and feels like within the school. I recommend tackling one section at a time, letting students chat with a partner about their ideas and then sharing out whole group. Or, have students work on their own mini-anchor chart  independently first.

And then comes the discussion that might make some folks a little uncomfortable. The discussion about WHO deserves our respect and HOW we decide to respect someone. In my experience, there’s more disagreement here than there is in defining respect. Often times, faculty feel disrespected by students when there’s a mismatch between how someone gets respect. Here’s a quick script for how you can facilitate some student reflection here:

“We know what respect is and what it looks and sounds and feels like. Now let’s talk about who we give our respect to, and how you decide whether or not to give someone your respect. I’ll read an idea about how someone might get your respect and you give me a thumbs up if it’s something that makes you choose to respect someone. (if students need more movement, consider asking them to stand to show their agreement, maybe even included a crouch/half stand for partial agreement)

• Does someone get your respect…because of their intelligence? Do you give someone respect because their smart?
• Is it about them being a certain age? Like you choose to respect someone because they’re older versus younger?
• Does someone need to earn your respect? (if students give a thumbs up for this one, ask them how someone would earn their respect)
• Does someone get your respect by showing respect to you first?
• Or does someone get your respect just for being human?”

You likely won’t come to a consensus about this with the group, but it’s important for students to reflect on their own beliefs about this and for faculty to see where the students are coming from.

Getting Specific While Teaching about Respect

Once the main ideas behind respect are clear in your students’ minds, you can work with them on some specific examples. One way to do this is by having students examine different actions or words to determine if they’re respectful or not AND why or why not. Use pre-made example cards  or come up with ones that fit your group best. You can do this whole class, or put students in groups to have them go through different examples. Cards can just be pulled one at a time from a pile, or they can do something more structured like a “pick a card!” where they take turns having different “jobs”: fanning the cards, selecting and reading a card, answering, and adding on or agreeing/disagreeing.

There are lots of different ways to show respect in different types of situations. Some students are champs at being able to generate ideas on their own. Some need some more scaffolding. I made a set of “types of respect” puzzles ; ten different things or places to show respect with two examples each. They were created to be put together and talked about in groups.

Reflecting and Moving Forward

Once students have a firm grasp of what respect is, what it looks like, and how it’s applied in schools, it’s helpful to include some more self-reflection pieces. You can do an activity where students mix, find a partner, then both respond to the same “finish the sentence” prompt, then mix, find a new partner, finish a different sentence about respect, etc. You can incorporate questions like:

• My teacher respects me when they…
• I respect my teacher by…
• My classmates respect me when…
• I show respect to my classmates by…

Students can also reflect with a simple exit ticket, sharing an example of how/where/when they feel respected and how/where/when they wish they were respected more at school. I also believe (and research has shown!) that peer reinforcement is really strong. Simply having students give “Kudos Cards”  when they notice their classmates showing respect can help keep these ideas on their minds.

Tell me about your school. What are some ways you or your faculty help students understand and demonstrate more respect? How do faculty and administration help  faculty show more respect? What other suggestions do you have for how to teach students about respect?

• Filed Under: MTSS/PBIS/Behavior , SEL and Guidance Lessons , Social Skills

11 Responses

This was really helpful the students had fun

Yay, thank you for sharing that!

Great ideas and very helpful. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome, Serenity, I’m glad it was helpful!

I’m an elementary SSW employed by a public school district and also a business owner. I tried this lesson with a class and it went over well! Thank you!

Yay, I am so glad to hear that, you are very welcome!

I appreciate how your post provides a variety of activities and lesson plans that cater to different age groups and learning styles. These resources are especially helpful for parents and educators who may be looking for new and engaging ways to teach respect to their children or students.

It was really helpful! Thank you

You are very welcome!

I am wondering what other questions did you use at the beginning of this lesson? A list of quetions would be wonderful. I am buying this lesson.

Hi Beverly! There are three “four corners” questions/prompts included in the lesson, and there is a slide for each of them. You’ll see them in both the PDF lesson plan as well as the slideshow included!

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Teaching Respect to Middle Schoolers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Teaching respect to middle schoolers is an essential part of their development. It lays the foundation for healthy relationships and prepares them for the challenges they will face in adulthood. In this step-by-step guide, we will explore the importance of teaching respect, how to create a respectful classroom environment, the role of modeling respectful behavior, engaging students in discussions about respect, and incorporating social and emotional learning activities.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Importance of Teaching Respect

Respect is not just a buzzword; it is the cornerstone of a harmonious society. When students learn to respect themselves and others, they become empathetic and compassionate individuals. Studies conducted by renowned Pediatrician Dr. William Sears have shown that teaching respect at a young age improves children’s self-esteem and social skills.

But what exactly does respect entail? Respect goes beyond mere politeness or good manners. It involves recognizing and valuing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their differences. By teaching respect, we are instilling in our students the understanding that every person deserves to be treated with kindness, fairness, and consideration.

Furthermore, teaching respect has far-reaching benefits that extend beyond the classroom. When students learn to respect others, they develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity. This fosters a sense of inclusivity and acceptance, creating a more harmonious and tolerant society.

Exploring the Benefits of Teaching Respect in Middle School

Respecting others cultivates a positive classroom environment, where students feel safe, accepted, and valued. Middle school psychologist Dr. Becky Bailey points out that teaching respect helps reduce bullying and creates a culture of kindness. This positively impacts students’ mental health and overall well-being.

Moreover, teaching respect in middle school sets the foundation for healthy relationships and positive interactions later in life. As students navigate the challenging transition from childhood to adolescence, they are faced with various social dynamics and conflicts. By equipping them with the tools to navigate these situations with respect, we empower them to build strong and meaningful connections with their peers.

Additionally, teaching respect in middle school helps students develop essential life skills. It enhances their ability to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts peacefully, and collaborate with others. These skills are not only crucial for academic success but also for future personal and professional endeavors.

The Role of Respect in Building Positive Relationships

Respect is the glue that holds relationships together. Obstetrician Dr. Laura Markham emphasizes that teaching respect in the classroom helps students develop interpersonal skills, such as active listening and conflict resolution. By treating others with respect, students build trust and foster healthy connections with their peers and teachers.

Furthermore, respect forms the foundation for effective teamwork and collaboration. When individuals respect each other’s ideas, perspectives, and contributions, they can work together harmoniously towards a common goal. This not only enhances productivity but also promotes a sense of camaraderie and mutual support.

Moreover, teaching respect in the classroom helps students develop a sense of empathy and understanding. By encouraging them to consider different viewpoints and experiences, we broaden their horizons and nurture their capacity for compassion. This, in turn, fosters a more inclusive and empathetic society, where individuals are willing to listen, learn, and grow together.

In conclusion, teaching respect is not just a moral obligation; it is an investment in the future of our society. By instilling in our students the values of respect, empathy, and compassion, we are equipping them with the tools to navigate the complexities of the world with grace and understanding. Let us strive to create a culture of respect, where every individual is valued and treated with dignity.

Setting the Foundation for Teaching Respect

Building a respectful classroom environment requires intentional steps. Let’s explore two essential components: creating a respectful classroom environment and establishing clear expectations and boundaries.

Creating a Respectful Classroom Environment

Just as a lovingly decorated living room creates a welcoming atmosphere, a respectful classroom environment sets the stage for positive interactions. When students enter your classroom, they should feel a sense of warmth and acceptance. To achieve this, decorate your classroom with posters and quotes that promote respect and kindness. Choose images and messages that resonate with your students, reminding them of the importance of treating each other with dignity and empathy.

Consider displaying artwork that celebrates diversity and inclusion, showcasing different cultures, races, and abilities. This visual representation will not only foster a sense of belonging but also encourage students to appreciate and respect the unique qualities that each individual brings to the classroom.

In addition to visual cues, create a class mantra or motto that students can recite daily. This simple yet powerful affirmation can help establish a shared understanding of the values and expectations within the classroom. For example, you might encourage your students to say, “In this classroom, we treat each other with kindness and respect.” By repeating this mantra regularly, students internalize the message and are more likely to embody these principles in their interactions with one another.

Establishing Clear Expectations and Boundaries

Similar to a well-marked hiking trail, clear expectations and boundaries provide students with guidance and structure. When students know what is expected of them, they feel more secure and are better equipped to navigate the classroom environment.

Start by having a class discussion about what respect looks like and sounds like in your classroom. Encourage students to share their thoughts and ideas, allowing them to actively participate in shaping the expectations. By involving them in this process, they will feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for creating a respectful atmosphere.

Together, create a list of respectful behaviors that align with your classroom values. This list can include actions such as listening attentively, using kind words, and valuing others’ opinions. As a visual reminder, post this list where students can see it daily. Whether it’s on a bulletin board, whiteboard, or even as a screensaver on your classroom computer, this visual cue will serve as a gentle reminder of the standards you expect them to uphold.

Furthermore, it is crucial to establish clear boundaries that define acceptable behavior and consequences for any breaches. Communicate these boundaries to your students explicitly, ensuring they understand the consequences of their actions. By setting these boundaries, you create a safe and respectful space where students can learn and grow.

In conclusion, creating a respectful classroom environment and establishing clear expectations and boundaries are essential steps in teaching respect. By intentionally designing a welcoming space and involving students in the process, you lay the foundation for a positive and respectful learning community.

Teaching Respect through Modeling

Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults. As an educator, you can be a role model for respectful behavior in and out of the classroom. Let’s dive into the two key aspects of modeling respect: being a role model for respectful behavior and demonstrating respectful communication.

Being a Role Model for Respectful Behavior

Imagine you are a lighthouse, guiding your students towards respectful behavior. Show them what it means to respect others by actively listening, using polite language, and valuing each person’s opinion. Famous psychologist Dr. Lawrence Kutner suggests that adults who model respect create an encouraging environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and treating others with kindness.

When you actively listen to your students, you not only show them that their thoughts and opinions matter, but you also teach them the importance of giving others their full attention. By using polite language, such as “please” and “thank you,” you demonstrate the power of politeness and how it can positively impact relationships. Valuing each person’s opinion, even if it differs from your own, teaches students the importance of embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment.

Furthermore, being a role model for respectful behavior extends beyond the classroom. Whether you are interacting with colleagues, parents, or members of the community, your actions and words should consistently reflect respect. By doing so, you not only reinforce the lessons you teach in the classroom, but you also inspire others to follow suit.

Demonstrating Respectful Communication

Communication is at the heart of respectful relationships. Encourage your students to use “I” statements to express their feelings and perspectives, rather than resorting to blame or criticism. Famously known child psychologist Dr. Ross W. Greene emphasizes the importance of teaching students how to negotiate and resolve conflicts respectfully. Role-play different scenarios with your students and guide them towards respectful communication strategies.

When students use “I” statements, such as “I feel…” or “I think…,” they take ownership of their emotions and opinions, fostering a sense of self-awareness and empathy. This approach encourages open and honest communication, creating a safe space for students to express themselves without fear of judgment or retribution.

Teaching students how to negotiate and resolve conflicts respectfully is a crucial life skill. By role-playing different scenarios, you provide students with practical experience in handling difficult situations with respect and empathy. This not only equips them with the tools to navigate conflicts in the classroom but also prepares them for future challenges they may face in their personal and professional lives.

Additionally, it is important to teach students the value of active listening in communication. Encourage them to give their full attention to the speaker, maintain eye contact, and ask clarifying questions. By practicing active listening, students learn to understand and appreciate different perspectives, fostering a culture of respect and understanding.

In conclusion, teaching respect through modeling is a powerful tool in shaping the behavior and communication skills of students. By being a role model for respectful behavior and demonstrating respectful communication, you create an environment where students feel valued, heard, and empowered to treat others with kindness and empathy. Remember, your actions as an educator have a lasting impact on the lives of your students, so strive to be the lighthouse that guides them towards a future filled with respect and understanding.

Engaging Students in Discussions about Respect

Respect is a topic that invites interactive and thought-provoking discussions. By creating a safe and inclusive space for students to share their thoughts, you encourage them to develop their understanding of respect and its importance. Let’s explore two effective methods: facilitating meaningful conversations about respect and encouraging active listening and empathy.

Facilitating Meaningful Conversations about Respect

Think of your classroom as a round-table discussion where every voice matters. Present real-life scenarios, such as bullying or conflicts between friends, and ask open-ended questions about respect. Encourage your students to share their personal experiences and perspectives. Pediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton suggests that meaningful conversations about respect help students develop critical thinking skills and expand their cultural awareness.

Encouraging Active Listening and Empathy

Active listening is the key to understanding and empathizing with others. Teach your students to listen attentively without interrupting and to ask clarifying questions when necessary. Use role-playing activities to help them develop empathy for different perspectives and experiences. Psychologist Dr. Daniel Goleman stresses that empathy fosters deep connections between individuals and promotes tolerance and understanding.

Teaching Respect through Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides an effective framework for teaching respect in a holistic manner. Incorporating SEL activities in your daily lessons can empower your students to build respectful relationships and navigate conflicts. Let’s explore two ways you can integrate SEL in your teaching: incorporating SEL activities to foster respect and developing emotional intelligence for respectful interactions.

Incorporating SEL Activities to Foster Respect

Just as music is the universal language of the soul, SEL activities create opportunities for students to understand and practice respect. Use cooperative learning strategies that require students to work together towards a common goal. Assign group projects that emphasize teamwork, cooperation, and respectful communication. Famous pediatrician Dr. Stanley I. Greenspan highlights the importance of SEL activities in helping students develop social and emotional skills.

Developing Emotional Intelligence for Respectful Interactions

Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in respectful interactions. Teach your students to recognize and navigate their emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Use literature or real-life scenarios to explore different emotions and discuss appropriate responses. Dr. John Gottman, renowned for his work on emotional intelligence, suggests that developing emotional intelligence enables students to respond empathetically and respectfully in challenging situations.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can help middle schoolers develop a deep understanding of respect and cultivate a respectful environment both inside and outside the classroom. As you embark on this journey, remember the words of famous psychologist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” Your role as an educator is to mold young minds and teach them the power of respect. Start today, and watch as your students grow into compassionate and respectful individuals.

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Teaching Guide: Respecting Others

• For grades 5-9

This material is from the teaching guide for the video   “ Respecting Others “ in the 12-part DVD series   Big Changes, Big Choices.

HOW TO TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT

Treating people with respect makes your world a nicer place to live in, whether it’s at home, at school, or out in your community. And it’s easy – all you have to do is treat people the way you like to have them treat you. Here are a few ideas.

• Don’t insult people or make fun of them. • Listen to others when they speak. • Value other people’s opinions. • Be considerate of people’s likes and dislikes. • Don’t mock or tease people. • Don’t talk about people behind their backs. • Be sensitive to other people’s feelings. • Don’t pressure someone to do something he or she doesn’t want to do.

We live in a diverse nation made up of many different cultures, languages, races, and backgrounds. That kind of variety can make all our lives a lot more fun and interesting, but only if we get along with each other. And to do that we have to respect each other. In addition to the list above, here are some ways we can respect people who are different from us.

• Try to learn something from the other person. • Never stereotype people. • Show interest and appreciation for other people’s cultures and backgrounds. • Don’t go along with prejudices and racist attitudes.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

If you are using the video, ask the first question before viewing.

1.  Agree or disagree: It’s okay to insult or make fun of people as long as they don’t hear it.

2.  What are some common signs of disrespect that you see in people here at school? How do you feel about that?

3.  What do you dislike most about the way people treat each other here at school? What do you like the most? Why do you feel that way?

4.  Are there a lot of put-downs here at school? Are put-downs a sign of disrespect? How, in what way?

5.  Is there a difference between a put-down and an insult? What’s the difference?

6.  Do you have to like a person in order to be respectful, or can you be respectful to someone even if you don’t particularly care for him or her?

7.  When you’re with a group of kids, what things might other people do or say that make you feel good? What things make you feel bad?

8.  Do you think there is racism here at school? How is it expressed? How does that make you feel?

10.  Do the kids in your school tend to stay within their own racial and ethnic groups, or do they mix. Why do you think that happens here?

11.  Several of the kids in the video commented that they feel pressure to stay with their own kind rather than mixing. Do you find the same pressures here at your school?

12.  Do you think people are afraid of differences sometimes? Can you give some examples? Why do you think that’s true?

13.  Is it harder to respect someone who is very different from us? Why?

14.  What are the benefits of having friends who are different from us?

15.  Have you ever learned something new about a different culture from a friend?

16.  How well do you kids know each other? What things stand in the way of getting to know people better?

17.  What responsibilities do you feel you have toward your classmates?

18.  Is it ever okay to treat another person with disrespect?

19.  What are the benefits of treating people with respect?

20.  The kids in this video said they think everybody is entitled to be treated with respect. Do you agree?

21.  What was most meaningful to you in this video? 22 .  Did anybody in this video say anything you disagree with? What would you say to that person?

(If you wish to copy or use any material from this website, please click here for Terms of Use.)

Other teaching guides in this series:   

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

1.  What does it mean to treat other people with respect? Have the class brainstorm a list of do’s and don’ts for treating people with respect. Ask for specific examples of each behavior they identify. Compare their list with the one at the top of this column. Hang the list up on the wall as a reminder.

2.  Have the class identify as many differences as they can among their members. This should include national, racial, and cultural differences, as well as different talents, disabilities, etc. How do they feel about all this diversity?

3.  The kids in the video suggested having class discussions about different ethnic backgrounds so they can learn to understand what other people are feeling. As one boy put it, “knowledge is the basis for harmony.” Organize a multi-cultural appreciation week. Have kids representing different groups put together presentations designed to help other kids understand and appreciate the special characteristics of that group. Include such things as history, customs, values, cultures, anything that might contribute to breaking down the barriers that prevent people of different cultures from getting along.

4.  Have the kids role play the following situation: Four good friends are planning to spend a day at an amusement park. Two of them want to invite another kid who’s new in school. The other two don’t want to include this person because he/she is different in some way (different race, a “nerd,” from a foreign country, etc.). After the role play have a class discussion. Then, have four others do another role play changing what it is that’s different about the new kid (for instance, he or she is HIV positive). Repeat this process changing the difference each time.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

1.  Imagine that someday you will have a child. Write a letter of advice for that child to open when he or she reaches the age you are right now. Tell the child about the way kids in your school or other groups treated each other at this age, and how you hope he/she will treat people.

2.  How is the issue of respect portrayed on television or in the movies? Watch a movie or TV show and write about how the characters interacted with each other. In what ways did they treat each other with respect or disrespect? (Give some specific examples.) Do you approve of the way they treated each other? Did you feel different toward characters who treated others with respect than those who didn’t? Which did you like better? Why?

3.  Are some kids ridiculed at your school? Why? What do they get picked on about (height, weight, appearance, disability, accent, skin color, etc.)? Exactly how are they picked on? How do you think these kids feel about this? How do you feel about it? How does that kind of behavior affect the climate in your school?

4.  Have you ever been made fun of for something that you couldn’t change? Can you give some examples? How did (do) you deal with it? How did it make you feel?

5.  In what ways do you treat people with respect? Are there any ways in which you don’t?

6.  Have you ever seen anybody mistreated for being different? Describe the incident. How did it make you feel? What would it take to prevent things like this from happening again?

This video helps young adolescents:

•  Develop an understanding of the importance of respectful behavior.

•  Become aware of the many ways in which they show both respect and disrespect toward each other.

•  Adopt a value for treating people respectfully.

•  Learn to appreciate people’s differences rather than fear them.

•  Become interested in learning more about their own roots and those of their schoolmates.

see story synopsis . . .

For more information about individual videos in this 12-part series, click on the title below.

•   The Three Rs of Growing Up •   You and Your Values •  Enhancing Self-Esteem •   Setting & Achieving Goals •  Dealing With Pressures •  Handling Emotions •  Preventing Conflicts & Violence •   Saying No to Alcohol & Other Drugs •  Speaking of Sex •  Friendship •  Getting Along With Parents •  Respecting Others

If your school or organization does not have these videos, you can purchase them from Live Wire Media , or request them from your local library.

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Home » Blog » General » Middle School Respect Lesson Plan

Middle School Respect Lesson Plan

In middle school, students are at an age where they are developing their independence, and this can sometimes lead to a lack of respect for authority figures and peers. Use the following middle school respect lesson plan and printable worksheet to teach showing respect!

What You’ll Teach

It is crucial to teach students to respect their teachers and classmates to create a positive learning environment where everyone can thrive. As an educator, you play an essential role in shaping your students’ behavior and creating a culture of respect in the classroom.

Objective: Students will learn to show respect to their teachers and peers in the classroom.

• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart paper and markers
• Handout on respectful behavior
• Start by explaining to your students what respect means. Use the whiteboard to write down the definition of respect and ask your students if they have any examples of respectful behavior.
• Next, divide your students into small groups and ask them to brainstorm a list of ways that they can show respect to their teachers and peers. Have each group share their ideas with the class and write them on the chart paper.
• Discuss the ideas on the chart paper with the class, highlighting the importance of each behavior. Ask your students to think about why it is essential to show respect to their teachers and peers.
• Distribute the handout on respectful behavior and go over each item on the list. Ask your students to practice each behavior in the classroom.
• Role-play scenarios where students have to show respect to their teachers and peers. Use our printable PDF at the top of this page with 5 scenarios to walk through!
• End the lesson by asking your students to write down one thing that they will do to show respect to their teachers and peers.

Conclusion:

Teaching respect is an ongoing process, and it is essential to reinforce these behaviors consistently. By using this lesson plan, you can help your middle school students develop respectful behavior, creating a positive learning environment where everyone can thrive. Remember, modeling respectful behavior is crucial, so be sure to lead by example and show your students what it means to treat others with kindness and consideration.

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Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here !

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Lesson Plan: Showing Respect

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Students believe that the well-being and dignity of all people is important simply because they are fellow human beings and they treat every individual with respect, judging them on their character and ability without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology, gender, age, or other physical or personal characteristics.

Key Beliefs:

I will be a better student if I act on the following beliefs:

• I will treat others the way I want to be treated.
• It is important to treat everyone with respect, even if I feel they don’t deserve it.
• I need to treat everyone the same by accepting their differences, whether they are my friends or people I don’t know very well.
• I must respect the personal space of others and keep my hands to myself.
• It is important for people to be included.

Application:

• Explain and illustrate how it is possible to treat everyone with respect, specifically when you are reading a story or having a discussion related to academic content.
• Practice courteous communication for email, phone, and in–person interactions.
• Role–play some typical situations in which disrespectful behavior leads to hostility and maybe even violence. Then, change one of the disrespectful actions into one of respect to demonstrate how the outcome is altered.
• Use examples from current events or literature to demonstrate the effects of bullying and discuss what can be done to strive for creating a culture of kindness and respect.
• Brainstorm ways to make your school environment more respectful. Create a list of recommendations and place them in your school newspaper or on a poster.
• Develop a list of dos and don’ts for being a respectful person. What happens when people live in accordance with these guidelines? What happens when they don’t? In what ways do respectful and disrespectful behavior affect our school and community?
• Bring in articles from newspapers and magazines describing situations in which respect or disrespect are issues. Reflect on who is acting respectfully in these situations, and then discuss who is acting disrespectfully. Using the articles as evidence, teach the class about the consequences of disrespectful and respectful behaviors.
• How does government “of, by, and for the people” depend on respect? Have students connect the concepts of democracy and respect. What is it about the concept of democracy that relies upon mutual respect among people? How is the very concept of democracy related to respect for the individual?
• Bullies often try to make people ‘respect’ them. Is this really respect, or is it fear? What is the difference? How are bullying and violent behavior an act of disrespect?
• Identify three things you could do to be a more respectful person. Consideration should be given as to how respectful behavior would affect your relationship with others.
• “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• “There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.” – William Hazlitt
• “The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.” – Ann Landers
• “Prejudice is the child of ignorance.” – William Hazlitt
• “I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” – Booker T. Washington
• “When you go to a donkey’s house, don’t talk about ears.” – Jamaican proverb
• “Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius
• “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson
• “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self–respect leads to self–discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.” – Clint Eastwood

The Art of Peacemaking

Learning Objective: Students discuss how negotiation skills can solve conflict and find solutions to problems in real life.

Materials: Paper, pencils, or pens

Instructions:

• Ask the students to share examples of when they had a disagreement with a family member or friend and acted in a respectful way to solve the problem (sitting and talking, not yelling, not fighting, looking at things from the other person’s point of view, etc.).
• Suggest that resolving disagreements often involves compromise. As a class, define compromise. Explain that these are all examples of respectful peacemaking.
• Win-Win Solution — both sides talk things out so each gets something he or she wants. There is no “loser.” It is peaceful.
• Win-Lose Solution — one person gains something at the expense of the other person. It reflects competition instead of compromise.
• Lose-Lose Solution — no one gets what he or she wants. This isn’t a solution, but sometimes this outcome is inevitable. As long as the conflict is settled peacefully and respectfully, something has been achieved.
• Pair the students up. Invite them to discuss conflicts that occur at school or that they’ve heard about in the news. Instruct each pair to imagine that one of these situations was peacefully resolved. Have them write how a solution was reached, who helped, and if it was a “win-win” outcome. Have them share their solutions. Suggest that we must act respectfully if we want to gain self-respect and earn the respect of others.

Playing Card Hierarchy

Learning Objective: To raise the consciousness of respect and how student’s feelings are impacted by their interactions with others

Materials: Deck of playing cards; make four signs to represent the four hierarchy groups. Label each sign as follows:

A, K, Q, J         10, 9, 8            7, 6, 5              4, 3, 2

• Place the signs in separate corners of the room. Remove cards from the deck equal to the number of students with roughly the same number of cards for each of the four groups.
• Pass out the cards face down, one to each student, not looking at the card that has been given. Be sure not to allocate a low card (2,3,4) to anyone who is perceived by others or themselves as being a low card in real life.
• Say: “Don’t look at your card. Even when I signal the end of the activity, don’t look at your card until I say so. When I say ‘Go,’ place your card on your forehead so others can see it. The higher your card is, the more ‘popular’ you are. Everyone must treat and react to others based on their cards. For example, if someone is a King, show that you want to hang out with him or her. That person must in turn respond to you based on your card.”
• “When I say ‘Go,’ mingle and ask people if they want to have lunch or do something with you this weekend. Respond verbally and non–verbally based on the person’s card only. When you find people you want to be with and who want to be with you, stay with them.”
• When students think they know what range their card falls into, ask them to move to the designated sign that you have placed in the corners of the room.
• When everyone’s reorganized, say, “Look at your card. Was it what you thought it was?”

Process and Reflection:

• How many questions did it take before you knew which group you were in?
• What verbal responses did you get? What non–verbal responses did you get?
• Ask each of the four groups: “How does it feel to be in your group?”
• How does this activity relate to respect ?
• How is this activity similar to what happens in a school or community?
• Why do such groups form? Where do these judgments come from? Is that a good thing? Why or why not?
• How do such judgments show disrespect and prevent people from getting to know others?
• If you don’t like someone or don’t want to spend time with him or her, is there a way to get that across respectfully?

Accepting Differences

Learning Objective: To understand that despite differences, we still should respect others – not just those who can help or hurt us

• Choose five to eight categories with four options for students to consider.
• Ask students to complete this sentence: I am a(n) ___________________.
• After they have done this, ask them to complete the same sentence in four different ways.
• Have each student place his or her list (written side down) on the table and pick up someone else’s list.
• Debrief by calling out various categories and asking for examples from different lists.

Here are some suggested categories:

Activity level                                Age                                         Birth order

Ethnicity                                       Family type                              Interests

Outside of school activity            Personal characteristic          

Personality type

Physical characteristic

• Did you notice as you changed from one group to another as various categories were presented that there were different people in each group? What conclusion can you reach?
• How often do we categorize others either by race, national origin, background, or academics and then create assumptions as to what they are like?
• What does this say about how we should treat others, particularly those we do not know well, or pre–judge?
• In our school, how would you apply the principles around the value of respect?
• How should we respond to those who are different than us?

$1 or 100 Pennies

Learning Objective: To realize respect is desirable and represents the way we want students to treat each other

Materials: A dollar bill and 100 pennies or depending upon your local currency, a bill with an equal value of coins

• Show a dollar bill and 100 pennies. Divide a sheet of chart paper in half, using the heading of ‘Differences’ on one side and ‘Similarities’ on the other. Ask the class to brainstorm ways in which the $1 and 100 pennies are different first and then ways they are the same.
• Ask table groups to decide what this activity has to say about respect and how we would like students to treat each other.
• Conclude that the $1 and 100 pennies are equal in value. Make the comparison to students. Even though we are different in many ways, we are all of equal value or worth.
• Are there more differences or similarities in the people we meet?
• Even though they are different in many ways, what is true of the dollar bill and the 100 pennies?
• What does this activity say as to how we should treat others we associate with or come in contact with on a daily basis?
• Why is it hard to treat everyone as if they have the same worth?
• What are the practical applications of this activity to what we would like to see at our school?
• Can you think of what would be different at our school if everyone clearly understood that in spite of differences, all students have the same worth?

Jesse Owens and Luz Long by Michael Josephson In 1936 the Olympic Games were hosted by Germany, governed by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. Hitler’s well–known hatred of Jews and his disdain for non–white races was part of the atmosphere of the Games and, to America’s most famous and accomplished African American athlete Jesse Owens, competing in a stadium filled with swastikas and “Heil Hitler’ straight–arm salutes to the German dictator was distressing, to say the least.

Owens, who held the world record in the long jump, foot–faulted on his first two qualifying jumps. If he fouled again, he’d be eliminated. According to Owens, Luz Long, the only man who had a chance to beat Owens, introduced himself and suggested that Owens play it safe by making a mark a foot before the takeoff board to assure he could qualify. It worked, and Owens advanced to the finals to compete against Long.

This decision to help a competitor is still viewed as one of the great acts of sportsmanship but the fact that Long was Germany’s premier long–jumper and made the act even more extraordinary.

In Long’s first jump, he set a new Olympic record, but Owens beat that jump, setting a new World Record. In the end, Owens won the gold medal and Long took the silver.

Sportsmanship

Though he knew it would not please Hitler, Long was the first to congratulate Owens. That’s sportsmanship. But Long went further. He embraced Owens and walked around the stadium with him, arm–in–arm before the astonished German crowd. Later they posed together for pictures. That’s character.

Describing the event, Owens said, “You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24–karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment.” Though they never saw each other again, they kept in touch and as a soldier fighting for Germany in 1942, Long wrote this letter to Owens:

“My heart is telling me that this is perhaps the last letter of my life. If that is so, I beg one thing from you. When the war is over, please go to Germany, find my son and tell him about his father. Tell him about the times when war did not separate us and tell him that things can be different between men in this world. Your brother, Luz.”

Luz Long died from battle wounds a year later at age 30. In 1951, Jesse Owens kept his promise and found Long’s son in war–torn German. He later said that what he valued the most from the Olympic experience had been his friendship with Luz Long.

Most Important Lesson

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired, and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count towards our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

• Respect – One can find treating others with respect while even riding on a bus. https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/167-bus
• Homecoming Queen – Shellie Eyre school years culminated in her senior year when she was selected as Homecoming Queen. Shellie’s inspirational life is an example of what true beauty can be and where love, acceptance, and inclusion can triumph over any disabilities.   https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/96-homecoming-queen
• Cafeteria – A story that shows simply being new is reason enough were verbal aggressiveness to hurt and what one does to stand out and make a difference. https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/66-cafeteria
• Ant Bully – When bullies bigger than he is torment Lucas, he takes out his anger on ants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEyO4C5NMJM
• Queen Creek High School – Shy Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jE6j5oCay4

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

What Middle Schoolers Can Teach Us About Respect

What teacher does not want a more respectful classroom? Days are packed full with new content to teach, tests to give and grade, and unexpected demands on teachers’ time and attention. Students’ respect for teachers can go a long way toward reminding teachers why they went into teaching in the first place. 

Yet rude seems to be in style—we see unruly passengers on airlines, hurtful comments online, and impasses among legislators. Can the pendulum swing in the other direction for this next generation? We think so, and we see educators making this happen.

We partnered with EL Education , an organization focused on the development of ethical character in youth, including respect, for a two-year study of their school-wide model. Conducting interviews and focus groups with 58 fifth, sixth, and seventh graders at nine middle schools in the U.S., we asked students, “What do you think respect means?”

We chose respect in middle school for an important reason. By age 13, most youth have experienced a surge of pubertal hormones that lead to intense sensitivity to hierarchy and status . They know if adults respect them. Given this sensitivity, middle schoolers can teach us a lot about what respect means to them. Here we share insights from culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse students, and we offer research-based recommendations to cultivate deep, authentic respect in your students.


What do youth say about respect?

Most youth defined respect as caring actions and showing kindness. For example, one student described respect as “showing courtesy and that you will help them along, make sure they’re OK.” Another said, “to be able to care for one another,” and yet another said, “helping someone . . . and making their day.” Just a few students described respect as showing honor: “Having respect is admiring someone” or “If someone was in the military and they fought in the war, then we’ve got to show respect for them and you honor them because they helped you out.” 

Some students took a different approach by focusing on compliance with authority. For instance, one student said, “Just listening to people who are older than you.” Another said, “​​When you obey them, and like when they tell you something you just do it that first time. They shouldn’t have to ask you again.” 

Still other youth described respect in very exciting ways that gave us great hope for the future. One theme present was reciprocal respect . Some youth understood that respect goes both ways—if they respect others, they know that others will respect them back. For instance, one student said, “My friends do deserve my respect because they’re really good friends, they show me respect.” Another theme matched the Golden Rule: “Respect is treating others the way that you think they should treat you.”

The most powerful responses were those that talked about respecting people who were different from them. One student shared, “Respect means to respect other people’s culture and don’t judge them by their food, their clothes, what they wear.” Another explained, “Respect is respecting somebody for their culture, or race, their beliefs, and their traditions, and without respecting somebody, I don’t think anyone would really feel good about themselves.” Yet another said that respect means that “everyone has different rights and traditions and just still be fond of that.”

As we think about our goals for youth and our desire to create a better future, we target reciprocal respect and respecting those who are different from us as what we hope to teach.

The science of respect

The students’ responses illustrate two types of respect identified in research: “ought-respect” and “affective-respect.” Ought-respect comes from a way of thinking, not feeling—it’s what we think we ought to do to show respect. Ought-respect is a general idea about showing regard to others. Youth often learn ought-respect from parents or teachers. In contrast, affective-respect comes from how someone feels toward another person. With affective respect, a person is noticing a behavior or trait of another person and expressing esteem for them.

Put simply—respect involves both head and heart ; ought-respect is mostly head and affective respect is mostly heart .

The most basic ought-respect is compliance, meaning that someone knows they should listen and follow the rules. Youth show ought-respect by tuning into someone who is speaking because they know they ought to do so, not because they feel an emotion that leads them to stop and listen.

More advanced ought-respect stems from the reality that all humans share a common humanity and, for that reason, everyone has a right to be respected. In this way, ought-respect has elements of justice, equity, and fairness—all themes that become more prevalent in youth in the middle school years. 

Affective-respect is positive regard for other people based on an emotional state from within. When a teenager sees a best friend stand up for herself against someone acting mean, she may experience affective-respect toward that friend. When a teacher has a conversation with a struggling middle schooler, listens carefully, offers encouragement, and shows high yet realistic expectations, that teacher is showing affective-respect, which, in turn, may support students’ development of reciprocal respect.

We talk about these two types of respect to anchor our recommendations for teachers. Healthy development in youth needs to incorporate both types of respect, and here’s why. Most people naturally show homophily in their choice of friends: We tend to befriend people who are similar to us. In friendships, youth find it easy to show respect to friends who share many attributes with them—like age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and religion. The motivation for this type of respect emanates from the feelings that youth experience toward these people around them.

But what kind of world will we have if youth only respect the people who are similar to them? Not a very good one. We need to help stretch students so that they care about others outside of their immediate circle of friends. In doing so, we can help them learn and practice being respectful to people when the initial feeling they have toward them may be judgment, questioning their choices, or even opposition.

How do we do this? We start by teaching students that all people deserve respect and that there are good reasons to appreciate and understand the people with different worldviews . Then, in supportive environments, as a result of ought-respect and the respectful relationships that follow, youth will start to experience positive feelings toward those people, resulting in affective-respect .

Five ideas to cultivate respect

Among the middle schools we studied, five were using the EL Education school-wide model and the other four were not. During analysis, we discovered that EL Education students were more likely to talk about reciprocal respect and respecting people who were different from them than students at comparison schools. This finding led us to ask what unique strategies EL Education teachers were using to teach these special types of respect.

Here are recommendations from the respect research literature and EL Education on what teachers can do to create more respectful classrooms. In these efforts, keep in mind that the goal of respect is not compliance. The goal is to support youth’s healthy development of reciprocal respect and respect of people who are different from them.

Create a culture of respect. All schools have a school culture. Truly great schools spend time and energy, especially in the beginning of the year , to explicitly plan what the school culture will look like. Spend time with your students talking about how you want your classrooms to look and feel, and integrate respect into those norms. Next step: Keep those norms alive during the year.

To do that, in elementary school, teachers can remind students about ways to show respect in their day-to-day behavior, notice situations that have gone well, and point out how mutual respect was important in those situations. When things do not go well, you can unpack these situations, explore what emotions interfere with respect for others, and identify ways that showing respect could have made the situation better.

In middle school , you can co-create classroom norms and embed regular opportunities for self-reflection. EL Education teachers often ask students to complete a short survey offering them an opportunity to self-reflect on their academic performance. If the assignment included group work, the survey includes questions that ask students if they were respectful of the other members of their team, even if disagreements came up.

I See You. Everyone Matters

Members of the classroom or meeting stand and respectfully acknowledge each person in the group.

Model respectful behavior and hold yourself accountable when things don’t go as planned. Every interaction with a student or teacher creates an opportunity to enhance (or detract from) the development of respect. Students, as we know, are watching us constantly. Yet we know we are far from perfect. So, if situations arise where we didn’t show respectful behavior—perhaps because of the heat of the moment or frayed nerves—acknowledge that aloud, be vulnerable, and use that as an opportunity to teach.

For example, if that moment of disrespect occurred with an individual student, it is OK to have a brief one-on-one with that student and say, “I wish I had handled that situation with more respect.” Keep in mind that youth learn respect from our moments of glory as well as those “oops” situations that we’d rather sweep under the rug. 

Leadership matters. We discovered that school leaders at the EL Education schools created a unique experience for teachers and other school staff. School leaders were friendly and approachable but also were treating teachers as their equals and demonstrating a willingness to make changes based on teachers’ suggestions. The adults at these schools were treating each other with respect and promoting equity by showing care and respect for every single student at the school. Yet again, we are reminded that teachers can do so much more in their classrooms if they feel respected and listened to by their school leaders .

Integrate examples of other cultures, races, and ethnicities into instruction in ways that lead to perspective-taking and respect . Take a strengths-based approach to discussing culture, race, and ethnicity, especially when discussing cultures that may be different from your own or those of your students. Instill curiosity, not judgment .

Middle school students thrive from opportunities for meaning-making narratives as they discuss these topics because it increases relevance. For instance, in a conversation about xenophobia toward immigrants, teachers can lead students to think beyond the “here and now” about what national issues and broader contextual factors (e.g., perceived threats to their livelihood) led to harmful discrimination toward specific ethnic groups. This type of narrative helps students understand aspects of a situation that may not be directly observable, like the contribution of societal systems and historical or cultural context. These lessons help students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, exercise their perspective-taking skills, and be inspires to create a better, and more respectful, future. Show students respect. Adolescents are keenly attuned to whether or not adults are showing them respect. How adults respond to middle schoolers is crucial. Youth need to feel like they matter and need more voice and choice in their day-to-day experiences.

One way to show respect is to use alternative approaches to assess student learning. For instance, the New York Performance Standards Consortium offers performance-based approaches that are more likely to lead to reciprocal respect between students and teachers. Likewise, EL Education recommends student-led conferences instead of traditional approaches to parent-teacher conferences.

Each and every generation faces new challenges. Improving racial equity, protecting the environment, and preserving democracy are just a few of the projects that lie ahead for today’s youth. Success on these thorny problems rests on youth’s ability to develop mutual respect with people who are different from them. We believe that respect is essential for children and youth to contribute to society now and in the future.   

About the Authors

Sara E. Rimm-Kaufman

Sara Rimm-Kaufman, Ph.D. , is the Commonwealth Professor of Education at the University of Virginia. She engages in research on social and emotional learning to create more equitable school experiences. She is deeply committed to sharing new research findings with educators, as evidenced by her new book for teachers, SEL from the Start .

Lia E. Sandilos

Lia E. Sandilos, Ph.D. , is an assistant professor of school psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Lia conducts research exploring classroom interactions that facilitate students’ learning and social-emotional development, as well as school conditions that support teachers’ own well-being.

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Kindness in the Classroom ®

6th - 8th Grade

Our new Kindness in the Classroom® curriculum is a Tier 1 evidenced-based social emotional learning curriculum designed to help schools create a culture of kindness. Each unit teaches six core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage.

Use the links below to find everything you need to effectively teach important kindness skills to your kids. Click here if you are looking for Grades K-5

• Rooted in Kindness
• Focus on Teacher Self Care
• Digital Citizenship
• Mapped to Standards
• Strong Equity Lens
• Teacher Approved
• Available In Over 100 Languages

Note: We use Google Translate to create translated materials, so please be aware that translations may not be 100% accurate.

Make kindness the norm® at your school—here's everything you need to teach important kindness skills to your kids.

Mini-lessons

For those of you looking to include social emotional learning into your daily/weekly curriculum, we've added some mini-lessons that can be done at home.

Download Mini-lessons

Also check out our distance learning tips for schools and parents and other free school resources below.

2024-25 School Kindness Calendar

More Information

Scroll down to read more about Kindness in the Classroom®

Kindness Beyond The Classroom ®

NEW! Teach important kindness skills in an out of school time setting.

Kindness Beyond the Classroom® is a concise yet comprehensive curriculum that you can use to extend kindness beyond the typical school day. There is a mix of whole group and small group lessons that focus on one of our six kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. We also have two “kindness boost” lessons at the end of each unit that you can use when you feel that students need a quick shot of kindness!

Free Kindness in the Classroom ® Training Materials

Don't expect kindness in schools—teach it! We'll show you how!

We are very proud to announce that all of our training materials are available online so that anyone can use them! Much of the training is focused on self-care for you—the educator. Specifically, building resilience, gratitude, kindness and reconnecting to what you do best—teaching. (That’s why we titled the training “Kindness in the Classroom®: Cultivating Resilience Through Kindness”.)

We hope you take the time to check out the new training! Here is a quick overview video to help you get acquainted. ( download video here if you can't access YouTube) If you aren’t an educator, consider using it (with a few tweaks) where you work. The information & activities can be used in any context.

Better yet, share these materials with educators you know! The training (and the curriculum) is fun and will benefit anyone who participates because all the activities and information are based on scientific research. We invite you to share your feedback with us at [email protected] .

Our Approach

Why teaching kindness matters & how we go about it.

The Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Foundation is a small nonprofit that invests our resources into making kindness the norm. We are rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. We follow a simple framework for everything we do: Inspire, Empower, Act, Reflect and Share. Our evidence-based Kindness in the Classroom® curriculum gives students the social and emotional skills needed to live more successful lives. We create a common language between schools, work and home with all of our resources.

What does social emotional learning (SEL) have to do with kindness?

Reading. Writing. Arithmetic. They’re the keys to the success of our kids, right? But what about the skills that will help when things get tough?

What about the ability to communicate your feelings and needs? To really listen to others? To keep your emotions in check, and understand other points of view that you may not agree with? To empathize with people who are different?

We believe these skills—all linked to kindness—are just as important as academic skills.

Our Kindness in the Classroom ® program was created to integrate intentional kindness skill building with the development of social and emotional competencies. Our lessons include six kindness concepts which, when used consistently, provide students a scaffold to build the necessary skills to move from self-awareness to action.


According to a CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning) study, 93% of teachers believe it’s important to teach SEL—and 95% of them believe it can be taught. Their confidence was well founded—because they found that teachers who included SEL programs in their instruction saw an 11-17% increase in the academic scores of their students. Check out our research for more information on the benefits of teaching kindness .

The Kindness Framework

There's a lot to read about kindness here on our website. But one of the most beautiful things about kindness is its ease and simplicity.

That's reflected in our "Kindness Framework", which is what we call the simple, five-step cycle that we follow in each of our lesson plans. Here's how it works:

Kindness in the Classroom lessons teach kindness skills through a step-by step framework of Share, Inspire, Empower, Act, and Reflect. Each lesson starts with the ‘share’ step to reinforce learning from previous lessons. The ‘act’ piece is woven into the lessons but really takes place in the projects.

STEP 1: SHARE

Each of our lessons starts with a 'share' where the class can share what they've learned and experienced with others since the previous lesson. This reinforces what they've learned and experienced, helps others to experience it and makes it far more likely that they'll express kindness again!

STEP 2: INSPIRE

Through various modalities, each kindness lesson is designed to inspire students and allow teachers to feel inspired as well!

STEP 3: EMPOWER

Inspiration is good—but transformation begins to happen when students are given the tools that will let them act on that inspiration. The 'empower' step is for teachers to lead the class through discussions designed to empower students to find ways to be kind in their daily lives.

STEP 4: ACT

The opportunity to act exists throughout the lessons, but it really comes into play in the projects. Once students have the ideas and the tools, they put it all into action. The unit projects will have students bringing real, tangible kindness into the world.

STEP 5: REFLECT

At the end of each lesson and project, students will have experienced how great it feels to perform acts of kindness. And what does everyone want to do after doing something that feels great (besides ‘do it again')? Talk about it, of course! At the end of each lesson, teachers guide students to reflect on what they've just experienced and learned & identify how doing kindness affects their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Success Stories

Read about other schools & districts who've seen great success using our curriculum.

D11 Colorado Springs Schools

Kindness in the Classroom is being implemented in 35 elementary schools (K-5) with a total of over 11,000 students over a five year period between 2017 and 2022. The first year of implementation, five schools taught the Kindness in the Classroom curriculum.

Teaching social emotional competencies, at a universal level, is one of the primary goals within our Comprehensive Student Support Model in Colorado Springs District 11. We were looking for a curriculum that would help increase prosocial behaviors and we have definitely seen the benefit to our community while using Kindness in the Classroom. We chose Kindness in the Classroom for many reasons including the fact that it had strong research behind it showing improved culture and student outcomes.

One of our pain points, as with many schools and districts, is how we’d find the time to implement the program. We ask teachers to spend 30 minutes, once a week, teaching the lessons and they have been able to integrate it very well. Some teachers have gone beyond with projects and ideas outside of the curriculum to embed the concepts into their schools.

Our students come from varying backgrounds and lifestyles, often coming to school lacking the skills needed to effectively and happily socialize, cope with various struggles and still perform academically. Kindness in the Classroom gives students a safe environment to discuss emotions and ethical/moral views with an educated and trusted adult. In one of our schools, we have seen a 38% decrease in discipline referrals after the first year of implementation. Staff, parents and students are really seeing a difference.

One student said, “No one is alone. There are people all around them. People just need to ask to be their friend or play with them.” He explained that he has learned to “never give up, work hard, and help anyone that needs the help.”

Generation Schools

Generation Schools Network’s mission is to co-create healthy school ecosystems by partnering with educators, students, families and communities to elevate the education experience.

Along with their school improvement work, GSN has been offering their social/emotional program called “Advocacy” and using the Kindness in the Classroom curriculum in 11 rural schools in Colorado.

At Bayfield Primary School, grade level teams decided to work through the same units at the same time in order to keep a consistent message throughout each grade level. Students created artwork representing their interpretations of the concepts being taught to display throughout the school. The school counselor said, “The most significant outcome is witnessing students being able to advocate for their needs, resolve or avoid conflicts and employ the concepts of social emotional learning.”

Student survey results showed that more than 78% of students agree that they have developed skills that will help them succeed in school, work and life and 93% of teachers reported that they have developed meaningful relationships with their students through GSN’s Advocacy Program and use of the Kindness in the Classroom curriculum.

Rocky Top Middle School

One of the priorities at Rocky Top Middle School has always been to intentionally address the social emotional needs of staff and students in order to increase academic achievement and maintain a positive climate and culture throughout the building. However, last year was the first time we changed the structure of the master schedule to ensure delivery of direct instruction in the area of social emotional learning.

Using Kindness in the Classroom as the foundation for that class, our staff was empowered to facilitate learning in a creative way that allowed them to truly connect with their students. Families reported that their children felt safe and welcome in the school environment and that the direct instruction of the KiC curriculum gave them a strong foundation for conversations at home.

“Our students are really excited to focus on kindness. In fact, the Yearbook Club declared kindness as the theme of the entire yearbook. The cover boasts the quote, 'Kindness is the opportunity that we all have everyday to change the world.' The first photos in the yearbook show students displaying signs advertising 'We choose kindness here!' Throughout the yearbook there were even quotes and poems from students about kindness received and given.

Since including Kindness in the Classroom as our social emotional learning curriculum there has been a significant increase in academic achievement and the positive climate and culture throughout the building.

Teaching kindness really does make a difference!

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has taken our highly effective, evidence-based Kindness in the Classroom social emotional learning curriculum and only made it better. By including a focus on equity, teacher self-care, and digital citizenship, we are excited to share a more engaging, relatable, and inclusive curriculum.

• SRI Pilot Study
• University of British Columbia Research
• CASEL: The Impact of Enhancing Student's Social & Emotional Learning
• Standards Mapping Report (2019)
• Focus Group Report (2018)
• Equity Report

According to their findings, teachers using our curriculum report feeling more connected to their students, seeing more kindness in their classrooms, halls and on the playgrounds, and noticing their students demonstrating more empathic, caring traits.

That’s great news, but it doesn’t stop there. The teachers also noted improved trust, fewer referrals to the office, more respect between students, and a generally more positive school and classroom culture!

To understand why social-emotional learning is so important, read this Teaching the Whole Child brief created by the Center on Great Teachers & Leaders at American Institutes for Research . It also includes good information on practical ways schools & districts can incorporate social-emotional learning programs into their schools.

Additional Resources

Even more resources to help you teach kindness to your kids.

Our handy guide with tips on how to start a kindness club at your school.

Our hand-picked collection of kindness-themed books used in our lessons. Listed by grade.

Need a few fun game ideas to play with kids? Grab our list of games and go!

Introduce the Kindness in the Classroom® curriculum to parents & caregivers at home.

Here are the answers to some common questions about Kindness in the Classroom ® .

Let us know if you have questions that aren't covered below.

What is Kindness in the Classroom ® ?

Kindness in the Classroom ® is a free Tier 1 evidenced-based social emotional learning curriculum designed to helps schools create a culture of kindness. By including a focus on equity, teacher self-care, and digital citizenship, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is excited to share an engaging, relatable, and inclusive curriculum.

How much does Kindness in the Classroom ® cost?

THE CURRICULUM IS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. Many of the materials required for lessons are items that teachers and schools already have on hand. There are some books that are required for a few of the lessons which might need to be purchased, though most lessons link to a video of someone reading the book if funds are not available to purchase the required books.

How long are the lessons and how much preparation is needed?

Teachers’ time is precious. With that in mind, the lessons and projects can be taught for 30-45 minutes once a week. Each lesson gives a time estimate to aid teachers in adapting the lesson into shorter class periods. Most teachers report needing no more than 15 minutes to prepare for the lessons.

What is the Kindness Framework?

Read about our approach to teaching kindness & the Kindness Framework here .

Do I need to teach all the lessons? Do they need to be taught in order?

Lessons are sequential within each unit. The units are designed to help students develop their social emotional skills through a process of being inspired, feeling empowered to be kind, acting on that feeling, reflecting on what they have learned, and sharing their experiences. However, you may implement selected lessons based on your students needs.

How does the curriculum fit with district, state and national standards?

All Kindness in the Classroom ® lesson plans have been mapped to the five CASEL Core Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Education Standards (NHES), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards, when applicable, and the national Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy, Mathematics, History/Social Studies, and Science & Technical Subjects. Utilization and adoption of these national standards and competencies vary by state, however, teachers can align their own state standards with each lesson as well. For each unit, a Standards Map was created to summarize each of the standards met by all lessons within that unit.

Why is it important to teach social and emotional learning (SEL)?

There are so many reasons! Aside from increased academic performance, SEL programs like Kindness in the Classroom ® improve attitudes and behaviors and reduce emotional distress. Research shows that students receiving the curriculum had greater empathy and sympathy for fellow students and teachers, were intrinsically motivated to be kinder and caring and showed decreased aggressive and antisocial behaviors. Interestingly, teachers reported they had significantly fewer conflicts with their students after teaching the curriculum and said they had more time for teaching... all resulting in students having more time for learning.

How can I successfully implement Kindness in the Classroom ® ?

The fact that you’re even considering implementing SEL in your classroom means you’re already on the road to success. To get started, you can complete an initial Implementation Assessment to help plan a roadmap to successfully bring Kindness in the Classroom to your school—with full support of staff, administration and parent / guardians. After that, you can check our Grades K-5 and Grades 6-8 how to get started documents and then review the teacher training materials .

Do I need training in order to implement Kindness in the Classroom ® ?

Training is not required to use the curriculum, but it is encouraged. The lessons are designed for ease of use and minimal preparation. If your school is planning to use the curriculum within a grade level or throughout the school, it is beneficial to use our free training called Cultivating Resilience Through Kindness to get acquainted with our materials.

Does the entire school need to implement Kindness in the Classroom ® ?

While it is advantageous to use Kindness in the Classroom ® school-wide, you may also wish to implement by grade levels first, and then roll out the program to other grades later.

Is Kindness in the Classroom ® an anti-bullying program?

Kindness in the Classroom ® is designed to pro-actively build healthy relationships among students and a culture of kindness within your school. With this effective curriculum, bullying can oftentimes be prevented.

Does Kindness in the Classroom ® align with CASEL?

Yes, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)—the world’s leading organization for advancing social emotional learning—has recognized Kindness in the Classroom ® as a CASEL SELect program for excellence in supporting SEL in schools and districts nationwide.

Is Kindness in the Classroom ® culturally responsive? (Equity)

The curriculum has been rated “excellent” by the Equity Project based on this report .

Is there a difference between the K-5 and 6-8 curriculum?

Yes! The elementary and middle school programs were designed differently with the needs of those children and schools in mind. Please see our implementation guide for K-5 here and the guide for grades 6-8 here .

What does the research say about the effectiveness of Kindness in the Classroom ® ?

Please refer to our Research & Reports section to review several reports we commissioned on the effectiveness of Kindness in the Classroom®. Spoiler alert: it works!

Respect Worksheets and Teaching Resources

Respect Teaching

Respect is a basic building block of all social emotional learning. Once children understand that respect is about caring how they impact others, they can develop social skills around courtesy, having positive relationships, being part of a team and other essential skills for success. These free respect worksheets and teaching resources make it easy to teach kids about showing respect for others and having respect for themselves. Each respect worksheet can be used independently, or use some of the respect resources together for a complete lesson in respect.

Free and Ready for Remote Learning

Our PDF worksheets are free to print or share for non-commercial use. Talking with Trees respect worksheets are available as downloadable PDFs that can be printed, or post them to your Google classroom or other Learning Management System. Built-in fillable fields enable children to type in their answers online.

Respect Resources by Type:

• Presentations
• Lesson Plans
• Coloring Pages
• Definitions
• Songs / Videos

Respect Worksheets

Showing Respect

A worksheet on showing respect for people, places and things.

What is Respect

Respect worksheet with scenarios that are respectful or direspectful.

Being a True Friend

A worksheet on treating friends with respect, even when feelings are hurt.

Respect Presentations

Presentation on how to show respect for people, places, things.

Presentation

Respect Lesson Plans

What is Respect Presentation

Lesson plan using presentation about how to be respectful.

Lesson Plan

Respect in Friendship

Lesson plan using a story about friends showing respect and caring, even when their feelings are hurt.

Respect- What if?

This respect lesson plan teaches children to ask "what if?" before they act or speak so they can choose to act with care for others.

Respect Coloring Pages

Character Counts

Color in examples of good character traits, including respect.

Coloring Page

Super Powers

Fun coloring page reminding kids that being respectful is its own type of super power.

Color in this poster that reminds children to think before they speak or act so they can choose to be respecful.

Respect Quotes

Respect means...

Shareable quote image that explains what respect is, in terms kids can understand.

Treat others...

Shareable quote image reminds children to treat others as they would like to be treated.

Shareable quote image about showing respect by thinking about how your actions will impact others.

Speak with Respect

Shareable quote image about speaking with respect.

Shareable quote image about being respectful even in the face of adversity.

Respect Posters

Treat others with Respect

Download and print this poster that reminds kids to treat others with the respect they would like in return.

Download and print this poster to help children remember to think before they act so they can be more respectful.

Respect Books

Two siblings keep finding themselves in trouble because they don't think before they act or speak. Read along as they learn to ask "What if?" and consider whether their words and actions will be respectful.

What If Book

When a young girl has hurt feelings, the only thing she can think to do is to be mean to her friend. See how she learns to be bigger than her hurt feelings, treat her friend with respect, and save her friendship.

Be Bigger Book

Best of the Web

Explore our curated collection of some of the best picture books about respect for children.

Respect Definition

Respect Defintion

Definition of what Respect is and examples of treating people with respect, all in terms children can understand.

Respect Songs / Videos

Songs About Respect

Explore our curated collection of some of the best songs about respect from YouTube content creators.

Songs- Social Skills

Songs- Character Ed

Videos About Respect

Find videos about what respect is, being respectful. Videos from YouTube content creators.

Videos- Social Skills

Videos- Character Ed

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30 Activities to Teach Kids About Respect

Respect Activities for Kids: Activities, games, and ideas to teach kids about respect at home and in the classroom. Interesting ideas for your social-emotional learning lessons, classroom discussion, or family conversations. Be sure to download the fun respect activity available at the end of this post.

What is Respect?

Respect is the ability to value and honor others, even if we don’t share the same views, values, or opinions, and regardless of their individual characteristics.

Respect means accepting others and treating them with dignity.

Respect permeates our acts and shows when we treat people and property with consideration. It also allows us to build trust and relationships.

Respect can also have a connotation of admiration toward something or someone, but our focus in this article will be on respect as a character trait or a value.

Different Types of Respect

We can identify different types of respect depending on the object of our respect. For example:

·     Respect for other human beings

·     Self-respect (appreciating yourself and valuing your own worth)

·     Respect for laws, rules, decisions, institutions

·     Respect for non-human beings (e.g., animals, nature)

How Do We Show Respect to Others?

Respect shows in our acts.

Respect is a lot more than being polite and showing good manners. These are just a few examples of respectful behavior:

We can show respect in our everyday live interactions when we:

• Give our full attention to the person who talks to us
• Accept different opinions without judging or trying to change them
• Have due regard for other people’s feelings
• Use kind words
• Show compassion and empathy
• Tell the truth and show honesty
• Apologize for acts that may have hurt others
• Listen to people’s opinions and try to understand them
• Communicate assertively (we respect ourselves and our opinions while we try to understand others)
• Deal with our frustration without unloading it on those around us
• Disagree politely
• Show gratitude
• Keep our commitments

Kids learn behaviors from the people around them, their family and friends, and their teachers. One of the best ways to teach respect to children is to act as respectful adults.

No matter what you are doing, show respect to those around you. You will be surprised how much easier teaching respect is when you are a strong role model.

(Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can also read our Disclosure & Disclaimer policy  here )

Teaching Respect to Kids: 30 Fun Respect Activities and Ideas for the Classroom

Let’s explore some activities and ideas to teach kids about respect.

Defining Respect Activities

1. Definition of Respect

The word “respect” can feel overwhelming to kids, so a great way to help your students learn about respect is to go over the definition of respect and have them list out different character traits and behaviors that can go along with that (such as good manners).

2. Respect Show and Tell

Have students bring in an object that represents something they respect or admire and share why they chose it with the class.

3. Talk about the Golden Rule

This reciprocity concept of the Golden Rule is present in major religions and ethical traditions.

The Golden Rule asserts that we should treat others as we would like to be treated.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

This rule is vital to teaching kids the value of respect.

4. Respects Synonyms & Antonyms

Ask your students to divide a paper into two columns. In the first column, they have to come up with words that have a connotation of respect. Examples of respect words can be:

• Appreciation
• Consideration
• Take into account
• Treating with dignity

You can even include sentences like

• you have my full attention
• I disagree, but I respect your opinion.

In the second column, they must write words that denote a lack of respect (or disrespectful behavior). Examples of non-respect words and behaviors can be:

• Disrespect / Saying disrespectful things (even if said as a joke)
• Bad manners
• Rude behavior
• Name-calling
• Making fun of someone
• Not listening
• Excluding people

Self-Respect Activities for Kids

“Respect yourself, and others will respect you.” Confucius

5. A Letter to Your Future Self

Ask your students to write a letter to their future self explaining all the reasons why they are great kids.

6. My Inner Qualities Activity This activity helps your kid reflect on those important inner qualities that you can’t see from the outside but make them special. Examples of inner qualities could be being kind, thoughtful, optimistic, brave, patient, friendly.

Related: Self-Confidence Workbook for Kids

Other Respect Activities for Kids

7. Respect Journal

Journaling is a great tool to help us reflect on personal experiences.

Ask your kid or student to devote a few minutes to think about the day and situations where they showed respect and consideration or other another day and situations where they should have acted differently.

8. What Would You Do If..?

What would be your student responses to different situations that occur in real life?

Everyday situations are the best way to talk about the importance of respect. They can see how they play an important role in society and how their social skills can influence everyone around them.

Before class, write out different situations that can occur to anyone and have your students journal how to respond with respect. Some situations that you could write are: 

• Someone bumps into you in the hallway.
• You lend your pen to your classmate, and they forget to return it.

9. Act it Out

Have your students in small groups and give them different scenarios to act out. Some are authority figures while others are trying out different ways to behave – some respectful, some not. 

Through this exercise, students can see how a child’s behavior can create positive results or negative consequences.

10. The Respect Circle

 Have students stand in a circle and take turns saying something respectful about the person to their left. This game encourages positive communication and fosters a sense of community.

11. Personal Space Activity

This activity will help you teach how to respect personal space .

Draw a circle on a big sheet of paper. The inner circle will be the intimate space (1.5 feet radius), surrounded by  personal space  (4 feet radius), and the area outside is the social space.

Put that paper on the floor. Take turns to role-play conversations where kids speak to each other without trespassing in their personal spaces. (You may also use a string to create the circle or a hula hoop)

Related reading: 21 Personal Space Activities for Kids

12. Respect Relay

Divide students into teams and have them race to complete a series of respectful actions, such as shaking hands, using polite language, and showing gratitude.

13. Respect Bingo

Create bingo cards with respectful behaviors such as saying “please” and “thank you,” listening to others, and using polite language. As students observe these behaviors in their peers, they can mark off the corresponding square on their bingo card.

14. Respect Rocks

Have a jar in your classroom that is primarily for encouraging positive behavior and being respectful. Whenever one of your students is seen doing something positive, add a small rock to the jar. Once the jar is full, have your classroom receive a reward such as popsicles during recess. 

15. Create a Class Mural About Respect

Using a bulletin board, have your students work together to create a beautiful piece of artwork for the entire school to enjoy. This exercise aims to explore the meaning of respect and create a feeling of community by working hard to build a mural together. Once a community is established, then showing respect is much easier in the classroom. 

16. Establish Respect Rules

A group of people is more likely to be respectful to one another once a strong foundation is laid through an understanding of what is and what is not allowed. 

Create a poster (this can be a class activity) where you lay out the respect rules in the classroom or at home. For example:

In this classroom, we use kind words; we look after our class property and others’ property; we help and support each other; we care for each other.

17. Gratitude Message

Have students write a positive note to a classmate, teacher, or family member, expressing gratitude or admiration. This activity fosters a sense of community and encourages positive communication.

18. Thank You Notes

Encourage your children to say “please” and “thank you” regularly and to express gratitude for the people and things in their lives.

For a more in-depth activity, have your students write a letter to express their appreciation or a card to say thank you. 

Related: Gratitude Activities for Kids

19. How to Show Respect Poster

One of my favorite hands-on activities is on a poster board, have your students write down the names of their family members and teachers as well as different things that they could do on a daily basis. This can help them set clear expectations for how to show their appreciation for their family and school community.

20. Respect Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt where students must search for objects or complete tasks that promote respectful behavior, such as picking up litter, holding the door open for someone, or complimenting a stranger.

21. Respect Charades

Write down different examples of respectful behaviors on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Students take turns drawing a slip of paper and acting out the behavior while others guess what it is.

(This game is so much fun, so make sure you reserve a lot of time for it in your lesson plans! Be sure to download this fun respect group activity at the end of this post.)

22. Voicing Disagreements

One of my favorite respect games to help children understand the topic of respect is to discuss the idea of respecting others while disagreeing with them.

Write down a situation on the board that your students may disagree on. Then, have them journal respectful ways to disagree with the person. Some things that they can write down are:

• use respectful words to explain why their viewpoint is the right thing
• show mutual respect

23. Respect Role-Playing

Use scenarios to demonstrate how to show respect in different situations.

For example, acting out how to greet someone politely, listening to someone when they’re talking, or asking for permission before touching someone else’s property.

24. Create a Respectful Pledge

Together with your children, create a pledge to respect others and treat them kindly. Display the pledge somewhere visible as a reminder like on your fridge or your classroom door.

25. Learn to Say I’m Sorry I have a very detailed article with advice on how to teach kids to apologize (it includes activities and worksheets)

26. Assertive Communication Activities

Good communication skills also contribute to self-respect and respect from others.

Assertive communication is empowering, and it boosts our confidence. We are not afraid to defend our opinions and express how we feel.

It is likely to gain the respect of people around us because they see that we defend our rights but we respect others. It balances both our needs and desires with other people’s needs.

Check out these Assertive Communication Games and Activities

28. Turn-Taking Activities These activities can help kids learn to take turns and not interrupt others

29. Listening Skills Activities

Giving our full attention is a sign of respect. These tips and listening activities will help you teach how to listen with our whole body.

30. Read Books About Respect

One of the simplest ways to begin teaching young children the concept of respect can be done by pointing out disrespectful behavior. Finding a book or tv show where the character is doing unkind things is one of the best ways to do this casually. 

List of Picture Books About Respect (for inspiration):

• Teach Your Dragon Respect: A Story About Being Respectful (My Dragon Books – Reading age 2 -5) I love the Dragon series books. Having a dragon pet is super cool, but what happens if your dragon is disrespectful?
• Teach Your Dragon Manners: Train Your Dragon To Be Respectful . (Reading age 2-5) And what happens if your dragon is rude?
• A Little Respectful SPOT: A Story About Respecting People, Places, and Things (Reading age 5-7) A cute little yellow SPOT shows different ways to be respectful to people, places, and things in everyday scenarios (being polite, respecting personal space and property)
• Respect – The Best Me That I Can Be (Reading age 3-6) In this book, a boy named Keigan walks us through real-life situations to teach us what respect means.
• Respect and Take Care of Things (Reading age 2-7) This book is about respecting property and nature. It teaches us to take care of our planet, encourages kids to pick up after themselves, and to ask permission to use things that don’t belong to them.
• Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent, and Respect : Teach children about body ownership, respect, feelings, choices, and recognizing bullying behaviors (Reading age 4-7)

Other Social-Emotional Learning Resources

• Fun Social Skills Activities for Kids
• Leadership Activities
• Self-Awareness Activities
• Anger Management Activities for Kids
• 101 Kindness Activities for Kids

Respect Group Activity for Kids (Free PDF Download)

Really hoping this good info will help my ODD/ADHD/Autism spectrum son.

Alicia Ortego

First of all, you’re right to say that children deserve respect as well. Some people say that you don’t even need to teach kids anything, you just need to show things with your own example. But I think that reading books about respect and immersing yourself into the world of fun and exciting character would be a perfect quality time spending for you and your kids.

This is exactly what I need as a couselor at an elementary school in teaching my kiddos about respect and responsibility

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Respect for middle school students

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Why You Should Teach Manners and Respect To Middle Schoolers

Jul 5, 2021 | Teaching Manners

Middle school is a vulnerable time for many students. As children grow into adolescents and start experiencing a whole new set of social, academic, and personal challenges, focusing on personal development is important. That’s part of the reason why it’s so important to teach manners and respect to middle school students. 

As the last stop before high school, college, and the adult world, middle school prevents a pivotal opportunity to help students develop. There are lots of reasons to teach middle schoolers manners….but even more important, how do you do it? 

Why Is Teaching Manners and Respect Important In Middle School? 

Teaching life skills, manners, and respect to middle school students is imperative to their well-being. In fact, these elements are the key to giving students a happier adult life long-term! 

First, students are making impressions on each other in a deep, lasting way throughout middle school. The impressions they create in middle school often follow them into high school and impact their ability to excel, both academically and socially.

Many middle school students don’t learn about manners and respect (or other key life skills) at home. In those cases, school is the only opportunity they’ll have to receive a manners education that will shape their adolescent years for the better. 

Teaching manners in the middle school classroom is surprisingly both easy and fun! 

Actually, middle school students know they need these skills and are eager to learn them. When given the opportunity, many students will rise to the challenge and embrace learning manners and respect at school. This is especially true if you can show them how valuable these skills are, both long-term and short-term! 

Manners, etiquette, character education, life skills, and social-emotional learning are all intertwined. However you categorize these topics at your school, education can (and should) include many aspects of human behavior. 

Manners and respect are a foundational piece of human behavior , and socialization is so important. So focusing on manners and respect alike, along with skills like math, literacy, and culture, is essential. 

How To Teach Manners and Respect To Middle Schoolers

Where should you begin teaching manners in middle school? Let’s explore how you should actually go about teaching manners and respect to your middle school students. 

Start With The Basics

The best place to start when teaching manners and respect is with the basics. Don’t assume what your students know —not every student is comfortable with fundamental social skills or basic manners. 

Remember, every student has a different home life. It’s our responsibility as educators to meet them where students are, not expect them to jump to where we expect them to be.

Every middle school student needs to have a certain set of skills that will help them socially and academically. No matter what subject you teach, focusing on manners and respect in your middle school classroom is very important….and easier than you think to add to your classroom. 

An added bonus is that teaching manners and respect actually makes your job easier ! When your students respect you, themselves, and each other, your classroom will be easier to manage. Add in basic manners across the board, and your students will perform better and feel better equipped to deal with daily life. 

Some basic manners and respect hallmarks to focus on with your middle school students include:

• How to make (and appropriately maintain) eye contact
• How to introduce themselves
• Conversation skills
• Using appropriate language when speaking with others
• When to put devices away and be completely present 
• Digital decorum
• How to navigate a place setting
• How to manage (and present themselves well on) social media
• Expressing gratitude
• Good posture when sitting or standing
• Good hygiene

Receiving these basic skills will help every middle school student navigate the world more smoothly. All of these skills are easy to teach. But each one is also incredibly valuable and will last a lifetime! 

How To Add Manners and Respect Topics and Activities to Your Middle School Curriculum

Manners and respect don’t have to be the entire focus of your classroom. It’s easy to add small, teachable moments to your lessons, no matter what subject you teach! 

First, make sure you model great manners and respect in your classroom. Consistently model the social behaviors you’d like to see your students learn. 

You should point out moments where you practiced specific etiquette skills. Remember, you should always point out and celebrate when a middle school student in your class is using amazing manners and respect. Whether it’s skills from a lesson you’ve taught or something you haven’t covered yet, celebrating small wins helps your students see the value of manners right away.  

Everyone’s home situation, background, and lifestyle are different. Create an even playing field by showing and telling what’s right (and explaining why it’s right!). 

You’ll also want to highlight the true benefits of good manners and etiquette for middle schoolers in your classroom. 

Why should your students care about this? In middle school, young pre-teens are focused on the now , so tailor your explanations to social issues they’re currently facing. Then, as you make progress in teaching manners and respect, you can shift to prioritize long-term benefits! 

Teaching manners and respect in your middle school classroom is an amazing decision. Especially since so many students are facing new struggles (and likely aren’t receiving these valuable social skills at home), you’re providing them with skills that truly last a lifetime.

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5 ways to teach respect to middle school students.

Students expect to come to school to learn math, English, science, and social studies. They expect to attend lunch and spend time with their friends and learn something. Through all of the content lessons that students experience in school, there is also a hidden curriculum that we can find across most schools. This hidden curriculum is character education, as we help students navigate social relationships, expectations, and personal development.

Teaching respect to students is an integral piece of this educational experience. We expect students to follow the rules in the classroom and treat others well. There are multiple ways to support this learning in our students as we move through our school year.

1. Explicitly Teach What Is Expected

We can not ask students to demonstrate what we have not explicitly taught them. Spending one class period discussing what respect means and what it looks like can be an extremely valuable tool in teaching students to act in respectful ways. It is also important to notice that respect looks different to different people. Exploring different perspectives as they relate to respect can be key in raising awareness of these differences in student backgrounds and prior experiences.

Practice makes perfect, so as part of your lessons, you may want to consider role-playing activities to give students a chance to practice being respectful in a controlled environment. Provide students with scenarios in small groups and have them act out those scenarios. Have them discuss amongst themselves or with you as you circulate the room and share your observations. If you have an outgoing group, you may choose to have them act them out in front of the rest of the class and talk through different things that the class sees. 

2. Modeling, modeling, and more modeling.

“Do as I say, not as I do” is an ineffective model for anything in life. It’s unrealistic to expect that others, particularly young people, will see others acting one way and act a different way simply because of what we tell them. The actions, behaviors, and cues that happen around us make much more of an impact than the words someone speaks to us. As an adult in this world, but particularly as a teacher in a school, you are responsible for showing students what it looks like to be a respectful person.

Some of your students have great examples at home, so school is not their only learning opportunity. Other students are not as fortunate and can only learn these positive characteristics from adults they encounter at school or other environments. We must model respect in situations where we are excited and happy, but also when we are frustrated and need to extend grace to others. Students are paying attention in those times, whether we are aware or not.

Honestly, it is during these times that they pay the most attention. Your actions speak louder than your words, so be aware and use them to make a difference.

3. Catch them Being Good

Positive reinforcement is key. This doesn’t have to be tangible rewards such as food or tokens, but it may be. Most times, praise and recognition are enough to let a student know that they have done a good thing and you see it. We all want to be recognized and encouraged for the positive things we do. 

You can encourage and reinforce respect by catching students doing the little things—responding appropriately when frustrated, helping classmates, demonstrating respectful behavior such as active listening, and maintaining attention.

The students who may struggle to show respect the most are the ones who benefit most from this type of reinforcement. While students may not always show respect consistently, I guarantee that if you look for it, you will find it. Search for it, encourage it, and continue to recognize it.

4. Respect Raffle: Teach Students to Look for it in Others

As students start to recognize what respect looks like in different settings or with different people, it is a good time for you to change their perspective. You’ve already taught them how to show it themselves. Now teach them to look for it in others.

This changes their mindset without them even realizing it—if your students are looking for how their peers are showing them respect, they will be less likely to overreact to the ways their peers are not. This is a positive shift in perspective and culture and can create major gains in your classroom.

Create a respect raffle—students fill out tickets with other students’ names on them (and turn them into the teacher) with situations in which they saw respect shown in their classroom or school. At the end of a designated amount of time (week/month), shout out the students who have had their names entered, and draw a winning ticket. The winner gets to pick from a prize box or access another prize or reward from a menu of intangibles (extra recess, choose your own seat, etc.) 

5. Calm, Clear, and Consistent Redirection

Teaching respect, especially in middle school, is an imperfect practice. There will be moments (maybe many of them) that do not go according to plan. The key is to redirect students to appropriate behavior calmly, using clear and consistent messages when this happens.

Discuss what those messages should sound like with your grade level or school-wide teams, and make sure that they are clear. Address a behavior the same way every time, whenever possible, and do it calmly. Many students do things that appear disrespectful in an attempt to gain peer or adult attention. Choosing not to give it more attention than it deserves is an important piece in extinguishing undesirable behavior.

Character education is an important piece of learning that students are exposed to as they progress through their education. Using the strategies above can help you prepare your students for their future in the classroom and the workplace. It is a foundational skill to leading a successful life, and there is no better time to learn it than in middle school - if not earlier!

Written by Jacqueline Underwood

Education World Contributor

Copyright© 2021 Education World

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Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more! No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education! COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2024 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SchoolNotes.com The Educator's Network 486 IMAGES 26 Ideas for Teaching Respect in Middle School Respect Activities for Kids Visual Tool for Teaching Respectful vs Two Worksheets for SEL Instruction or Counseling on RESPECT; Grades TK Show Respect For Everyone Respect Assignment by Rachel Inkala Middle School PBIS Respect Lesson Plan with Printable Worksheets VIDEO please respect teacher 🙏💓#teacher #respect #school #teaching #teachers #viral Respect your Teachers || 🙏🙏#school #schoollife #vijaysaiwal Middle seat assignment dilemma. Would you be entitled to a refund? Attorney Ugo Lord reacts! #shorts Middle school teachers warming up for their job #teacherlife #middleschool #teacher Laguna Middle School Teacher on Special Assignment Respect middle class children #akela COMMENTS 26 Lesson Ideas On Respect For Middle School ... Here are 26 lesson and activity ideas to help teach your middle school students a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T! 1. Give Examples ... Have your staff or student body create a fun, entertaining music video to pump the school up about respect and show them on the morning show or at a pep rally. See the sample below to spark inspiration! Learn More: ... Respect Lesson and Activities This set of activities is designed to help students: better understand the concept of respect, practice identifying what respect looks like in various situations, and reflect and share on their own opinions and experiences with respect. The ultimate goal is to help develop more respectful students and a more respectful classroom and school ... Teaching Respect to Middle Schoolers: A Step-by-Step Guide September 2, 2023. Teaching respect to middle schoolers is an essential part of their development. It lays the foundation for healthy relationships and prepares them for the challenges they will face in adulthood. In this step-by-step guide, we will explore the importance of teaching respect, how to create a respectful classroom environment ... Lessons and Activities for Teaching Respect Play a variation of Simon Says to highlight people's similarities and differences. (Grades K-5) RESPECT popcorn party. Reinforce respect by celebrating examples of it in your classroom. Student work sheet included. (Grades K-8) Positively respectful. Create a positive environment by teaching students to show respect and share compliments. Teaching Respect This award-winning six-part video series brings character education and social emotional learning alive for upper elementary and middle school students. Presented from the point of view of a middle school video blogger, this series explores Character Counts' Six Pillars of Character through the thoughts and personal experiences of young ... Teaching Guide: Respecting Others Teaching Guide: Respecting Others. in the 12-part DVD series Big Changes, Big Choices. Treating people with respect makes your world a nicer place to live in, whether it's at home, at school, or out in your community. And it's easy - all you have to do is treat people the way you like to have them treat you. Here are a few ideas. Middle School Respect Lesson Plan Conclusion: Teaching respect is an ongoing process, and it is essential to reinforce these behaviors consistently. By using this lesson plan, you can help your middle school students develop respectful behavior, creating a positive learning environment where everyone can thrive. Remember, modeling respectful behavior is crucial, so be sure to ... Respect Lesson Respect Lesson - Character Counts! Respect. Students believe that the well-being and dignity of all people is important simply because they are fellow human beings and they treat every individual with respect, judging them on their character and ability without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology, gender, age, or ... What Middle Schoolers Can Teach Us About Respect The science of respect. The students' responses illustrate two types of respect identified in research: "ought-respect" and "affective-respect.". Ought-respect comes from a way of thinking, not feeling—it's what we think we ought to do to show respect. Ought-respect is a general idea about showing regard to others. 6th 6th - 8th Grade. Our new Kindness in the Classroom® curriculum is a Tier 1 evidenced-based social emotional learning curriculum designed to help schools create a culture of kindness. Each unit teaches six core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. Use the links below to find everything you ... Respect Worksheets and Teaching Resources Free and Ready for Remote Learning. Our PDF worksheets are free to print or share for non-commercial use. Talking with Trees respect worksheets are available as downloadable PDFs that can be printed, or post them to your Google classroom or other Learning Management System. Built-in fillable fields enable children to type in their answers online. PDF Lesson and Activity Excerpted From the Tanenbaum Interreligious Make copies of the worksheets for the class. "Respecting Each Other" can be a great tool in creating a classroom culture of respect and reducing bullying and negative behavior. Use them throughout the year, adding to them or changing them where necessary. Start out your lessons by reminding students of the agreements. 30 Activities to Teach Kids About Respect 11. Personal Space Activity. This activity will help you teach how to respect personal space. Draw a circle on a big sheet of paper. The inner circle will be the intimate space (1.5 feet radius), surrounded by personal space (4 feet radius), and the area outside is the social space. Put that paper on the floor. Respect For Middle School Students Teaching Resources Learn Respect Activities | GAME | For Middle School | Interactive Version is the interactive version of this lesson that includes 40 questions, a theme song, sound effects, a score sheet, and "RESPECT tickets" to go with it!...It is a FUN & ENGAGING way to learn about different respect skills while discussing different categories all related to ... Why You Should Teach Manners and Respect To Middle Schoolers Teaching life skills, manners, and respect to middle school students is imperative to their well-being. In fact, these elements are the key to giving students a happier adult life long-term! First, students are making impressions on each other in a deep, lasting way throughout middle school. The impressions they create in middle school often ... PDF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATORS TOOLKIT reate and maintain a healthy relationship:Speak Up. In a healthy relationship, if something is bothering them, it. s best to talk a. out it instead of holding it in.Respect Each Ot. r. Each partner's wishes and feelings have value. Let each other know. 5 Ways to Teach Respect to Middle School Students 5. Calm, Clear, and Consistent Redirection. Teaching respect, especially in middle school, is an imperfect practice. There will be moments (maybe many of them) that do not go according to plan. The key is to redirect students to appropriate behavior calmly, using clear and consistent messages when this happens. PDF Conflict Resolution Activities for Middle School Skill-Building Create a large number line across your classroom wall by posting three signs, reading 0, 50 and 100. Ask your students to stand along the line, in random order at first, and listen to the statements you read. Read prompts aloud to the class. Use the prompts provided or create your own. Lesson 4: Respect 15 Minutes. Define respect. (Respect is a person's feelings and/or actions toward other people, ourselves, and things.) Say, "Today, we are going to talk about ways that we show respect at school, at home, and out in the community.". Display the "Showing Respect" activity sheet where students can see it. Give an example of how people ... Curriculum MOSCOW MIDDLE SCHOOL WEBSITE. ... Respect & Responsibility: Students are to exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self, others, facilities and equipment. (PE Standards 4 & 5) ... Students complete quizzes, reflections and other assignments based upon personal fitness, nutrition, goal setting and more! (PE Standards 3 & 5) PDF Moscow Middle School Students are required to make up all missed assignments because of absence. You should ask each teacher for the assignments and make a plan for the completion of the expectations. You may want to ask a friend in each class to collect assignments and worksheets. Moscow School District Attendance Policy (5000.01) Truancy. Mrs. VanArsdel's English Class Welcome to Moscow Middle School! I love teaching at this school and working with this amazing group of learners. I am excited to get to know you, both parents and students, as we embark on this year of learning and growing together! ... Respect your classmates, your teacher and our learning environment. 5. Give your best effort to all we do! Threat from student puts 3 Skiatook schools on alert Sept. 6 In a letter to parents, Superintendent Rick Loggins said police advised the district to initiate safety protocols effective 7:05 a.m. at Newman Middle School, Skiatook Intermediate Elementary and ... Moscow Middle School Physical Education The goal of Physical Education at Moscow Middle School is to develop physically literate students who have the knowledge, skills, ... Students complete 30 minutes of physical activity outside of P.E. OR complete the HEALTH assignments if it was a health lesson missed. Students can check PowerSchool and with their teacher. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech