This year our fourth and fifth grade class at Love Elementary started something new, called “The Happiness Project.” Each month we get to focus on one topic that scientists say makes people happier. We learn all about it in class by watching videos, reading books and having discussions. We even talk to guests from our community on our class podcast.
For September, our focus was kindness. Scientists say that when you do something kind, your brain actually changes. We learned about chemicals your brain releases, like dopamine and oxytocin, that make you feel happy and more connected to other people. Kindness doesn’t just help the person who is getting the kindness, it also helps the person giving it.
Our first guest on our Season 3 podcast, “Little Minds Big Talks,” was Deirdre Freeman, who started the Kindness Coalition right here in Alameda. She told us why kindness matters so much in schools and neighborhoods. One thing she shared is that kindness doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference. Even small acts like saying “Hi,” giving a compliment, or helping someone in their garden can ripple out and change someone’s day or even their life!
Our second guest was Camden Riley, a professional soccer player for the Oakland Roots. He explained how kindness and respect are important in sports, even when you’re competing. He said that good teammates support each other, cheer each other on, and show respect to opponents. Camden also told us that kindness can start anywhere, and together, we can create something beautiful. He also played soccer outside with us, which was so kind, because we knew he had a game the next day.
We also make sure to reflect on what we learn. We try to spread kindness every day, and we have to practice it. Our teacher says, “Kindness is a skill, and we can learn how to do it just like we learn math or writing.” We make sure to practice it so it becomes natural to us.
Before we close, we want to give our community a challenge: Try to add one extra act of kindness to your day. It could be holding a door, thanking a bus driver, or helping a neighbor with their bags. If all of us in Alameda did this every day, imagine how much happier and more connected our community would be. Just imagine!
Kindness was just our first stop on our Happiness Project journey. Next month, we’ll be exploring mindfulness. We’ll keep recording podcast episodes and talking with guests who help us see these ideas in action.
Our class has even been invited to share what we’re learning on a BBC podcast, which shows that kids’ voices can reach far beyond our classroom. But for us, it starts here in Alameda, with small acts of kindness that grow into something big.
We hope you’ll join us on this journey. In our class, we believe little hearts can make a big difference. And together, we can make our city a kinder, happier place.
Listen to “Little Minds, Big Talks” Episode 1: Spreading Kindness: A Conversation with the Kindness Coalition and Episode 2: Kindness on and off the Field with Camden Riley.
