After the class engages with the picture book Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer, students are introduced to the work of Jeff Hanson, who created striking, vibrant garden paintings and was known for his generosity and kindness. Students then paint miniature gardens on small canvases. Their gardens are their own interpretations of kindness, informed by the book and the artist.
This lesson teaches students all about kindness. As Jeff Hanson put it, “Every act of kindness helps create kinder communities, more compassionate nations, and a better world for all … even one painting at a time.”
Overview
After the class engages with the picture book Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer, students are introduced to the work of Jeff Hanson, who created striking, vibrant garden paintings and was known for his generosity and kindness. Students then paint miniature gardens on small canvases. Their gardens are their own interpretations of kindness, informed by the book and the artist.
The lesson ends with students combining their gardens to create a class kindness garden. While adding their gardens, students will share how they plan to show kindness.
Students discover that by being kind themselves, they can inspire kindness in others. They also realize that kindness makes them stronger. These are key concepts for Pre-K and Kindergarten learners as acts of kindness activate joyful feelings, lessen stress, and improve overall health and well-being.
Starting with Questions
Start by asking students what they know about kindness. Ask questions like, How can you be kind to others? Has anyone ever been kind to you? What did they do? Did you know that kindness can make you strong? Then tell students that today, they will read a book and learn about a very kind, generous, and talented artist. After that, weʼll paint small gardens and join them together to create a class kindness garden.
Kindness Makes Us Strong
Before reading Kindness Makes Us Strong, invite students to focus on all the ways kindness is shown throughout the book. Read the book aloud and guide students in a discussion. Ask: What did you discover about kindness? How was kindness shown?
Then introduce students to the work of Jeff Hanson. Talk about the ways that he showed kindness. Share a few of his flower paintings and ask students what they see. Ask: How do you think Jeff Hanson put his paint on the canvas? What do you like best about this artist?
Painting Kindness Gardens
Give each student a small canvas with their name printed on the back, paintbrushes, a small paper plate with drops of acrylic paint in various colors, and paper towels. Demonstrate painting techniques including dabbing, layering, stippling, and making thick and quick brushstrokes. After the demonstration, invite students to use what they learned to create their own kindness gardens.
Encourage students to think about kindness in general while they are painting their garden and what they learned from the book and the artist. Assist students individually as needed.
When their paintings are complete, have students carefully add their work to the class kindness garden. Ask students to share something they plan to do to show kindness today. Afterwards, have students assist with cleanup as directed.
Julia L. Hovanec is an associate professor of art education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Hovanec@Kutztown.edu
National Standard:
Creating: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.
Resource:
Kindness Makes Us Strong YouTube video
Art teachers encourage students to explore and express empathy. High-school students construct narrative photographs that express an emotional mood, middle-school students design personal map compositions inspired by a meaningful place, elementary students share an important message about human rights through collage, young students create vibrant canvas paintings inspired by artist Jeff Hanson, and more.
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