Summer of Compassion: Kids’ Activity Calendar to Inspire Kindness to Animals
The end of the school year can be bittersweet. On one hand, a three-month break from lesson planning, grading, and more grading is in sight! But on the other, the students you met back in September are a little bigger and a lot brighter—plus more compassionate, thanks to all your hard work as a humane educator—and you’ll miss them. Just because they’re no longer on your roster, though, doesn’t mean they won’t continue to benefit from all the lessons in kindness that you provided them with. Send them off to the next grade level with three months’ worth of fun activities to remind them all summer long.
TeachKind’s Compassionate Summer Activities Calendar includes over 50 engaging activities to get students moving, thinking, and practicing the Golden Rule all summer long. Each week has a theme, such as “Make the World a Better Place” or “Hero to Animals,” and includes one “Fun Free Day,” which encourages them to get creative and think of something kind to do for an animal all on their own. At the end of each week, students can tally up their activities so that they have a rewarding visual representation of their efforts for animals.
For rainy days or for students who don’t have access to the internet, we offer informative, animal-inspired coloring sheets on the back of each calendar in addition to makeup days at the end of each month—so everyone will have plenty of opportunities to exercise their empathy this summer. The goal of this calendar isn’t necessarily to encourage students to do every single activity but rather to inspire them to be more considerate of the animals they share the world with.
At the start of the next school year, invite students to show you the calendars they worked on and tell you all about their summer of compassion. Download and print hard copies of the online materials featured in this calendar, or share the following links with students so that they can read the comics online:
- “Dolphins Belong in the Wild” coloring sheet
- A Tiger’s Life comic book
- “Orcas Belong in the Wild” coloring sheet
- A Fish’s Life comic book
Download TeachKind’s Compassionate Summer Activities Calendar!
Creating a summer reading list? Be sure to check out TeachKind’s humane book list. And don’t miss any of our teacher-friendly summer content—sign up for TeachKind News today!
By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.
Related Posts
Who owns the rights to a photograph taken by a monkey? This intriguing question was at the heart of a groundbreaking legal case involving PETA, representing Naruto, a crested macaque who snapped a series of selfies with an unattended camera, and photographer David Slater, the camera’s owner. Slater discovered Naruto’s selfies after retrieving his camera … Read more »
If you are a teacher, parent, or caregiver who keeps up with educational trends, you’re likely aware of the mental health crisis affecting many young people today. The pressures of academic performance, social dynamics, and personal challenges have led to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among K-12 students. Addressing this … Read more »
Many students face a variety of stresses from home life, school, and social pressures, and they may feel embarrassed or hesitant to ask for the things they need. A care closet can be a discreet source of comfort and privacy, providing essential personal care items that help students feel cared for and valued. By creating … Read more »
Stories of people helping animals are all over the internet, and sharing them with your students is an excellent way to encourage kindness both in and out of the classroom. Because most children naturally feel compassion for animals, sharing rescue stories is a great way to engage and motivate different types of learners and encourage … Read more »
