Educator’s Guide

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An Educator’s Guide for Teaching HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time

This Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller is filled with true stories about how one small deed can make a world of difference. Named inspirational book of the year by the Independent Book Publishers Association and chosen as an International Book Awards winner, HumanKind is a heartwarming feel-good book that will rekindle readers’ faith in humanity.

HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time is a poignant and empowering collection of stories that holds out hope at a time when negativity seems to be everywhere we look. It connects with readers on a heart level, leaving them grateful for what they have and often inspired to perform their own small acts of kindness. For readers whose sense of optimism may be fading, HumanKind provides a powerful reminder that their choices do make a difference in the world. In sharing tales of heroism on a seemingly small scale, it demonstrates that there’s really nothing small about a “small” act of kindness. And by also offering ideas for giving back and listing organizations that can facilitate the process, HumanKind makes it easy to make a difference.

About the Book

Brad Aronson’s life changed in an instant when his wife, Mia, was diagnosed with leukemia. After her diagnosis, Brad spent most of the next two and a half years either by her side as she received treatment or trying to shield their five-year-old son, Jack, from the worst of Mia’s illness. Amid the stress and despair of waiting for the treatment to work, Brad and Mia were met by an outpouring of kindness from friends, family and even complete strangers.

Inspired by these demonstrations of “humankindness” throughout Mia’s recovery, Brad began writing about the people who rescued his family from that dark time, often with the smallest of gestures. But he didn’t stop there. Knowing that simple acts of kindness transform lives across the globe every day, he sought out those inspirational stories and shares the most heartwarming ones here. In HumanKind you’ll meet a mentor who changes a child’s life with a single lesson in shoe-tying; an inspiring six-year-old who launched a global kindness movement; a band of seamstress grandmothers who descend on Philadelphia every week to patch clothes-and, in the process, mend hearts-for homeless people; and many other heroes.

Brad also provides dozens of ways to make a difference in others’ lives through the simplest words and deeds. From making a $200 donation that can cure someone’s blindness to sending letters of encouragement to nonprofits that deliver mail to hospitalized kids, lonely seniors and others in need, you’ll be amazed how far a little kindness goes.

HumanKind leaves us grateful for what we have and provides an uplifting reminder of what really matters and our own power to change the world.

Note: All royalties from HumanKind and Brad’s speaking engagements are donated to nonprofits featured in the book.

About the Author

Brad Aronson is a husband and a dad, and when he’s holding the parenting reins, he likes to go all out. For him that means leading an egg drop competition from the third-floor window of his family’s home or heading up indoor games of baseball and hockey and then having to explain why something else is now in pieces. Luckily, his wife, Mia, is understanding.

Brad loves teaching entrepreneurship to youth in Camden, NJ, and Philadelphia. He believes in hands-on learning, so everyone in his class starts their own business, which has led to many adventures in entrepreneurship.

Brad enjoys teaching, writing and volunteering with nonprofits that serve youth. He and his family live in Philadelphia.

Note to Educators

High school is a formative season in terms of students’ identities. In addition to their ongoing academic growth, students are forming values, moral frameworks and beliefs about their role in the world. HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time is a narrative nonfiction text with engaging stories that challenge students to examine the power of individual agency in shaping school and community culture. Through compelling real-world stories, students explore how small acts of kindness, courage and responsibility can create extraordinary ripple effects.

This high school educator guide includes:

• Pre-reading activities
• Discussion and essay questions related to the themes of the book
• Discussion and essay questions for each chapter
• Interactive exercises
• A student-led capstone project that transforms reflection into action

The guide is designed to help educators facilitate meaningful discussion, writing, and student-led projects that move beyond reflection into implementation.

This text supports:

• Social-emotional learning
• Civic responsibility
• Leadership development
• Service learning
• School culture initiatives

Pre-reading Activities

Survey of Students

How do you feel about the state of the world?

How do you feel about your opportunity to make a difference in the world?

What’s an act of kindness you experienced or witnessed?

How did it alter your perspective, confidence, or direction?

Survey responses can be discussed before and after reading HumanKind.

School Kindness Audit

Students reflect on their school culture. Where does kindness show up? Where does it not? This audit plants the seeds for students to think about their own community as they read HumanKind. Here is a detailed approach to conducting a kindness audit:

1. Define what kindness looks like in a school setting.

   • What actions make people feel seen, valued or included?
   • Where might kindness be most visible or needed?

   Students might identify:

   • Greeting people by name
   • Including others at lunch
   • Helping someone who’s struggling
   • Respecting teachers and staff
   • Standing up for someone
   • Encouraging others in the classroom or sports

2. Collect data via surveys or interviews. Candidates could survey/interview:

   • Students
   • Teachers
   • Cafeteria staff
   • Custodians
   • Coaches

   Potential questions:

   • Where do you see kindness most often at this school?
   • Where do you think more displays of kindness would be helpful?
   • What small actions make the biggest difference?
3. Analyze the findings.
4. Present the audit.

Ripple Mapping Exercise

Students trace how one action (positive or negative) spreads.

Questions Related to the Book’s Themes that Can Be Used for Journaling, Essays and Discussion

Can small actions truly influence large systems? Analyze how one story in the book demonstrates the ripple effect of individual action within a broader system.

When does kindness require courage?

What prevents people from acting when they see a need?

Describe a moment when inaction felt easier than action.

Is kindness a weakness or a strength? Why might kindness be seen as a weakness?

What are some lessons in making change that you took away from the stories in this book?

Do you agree or disagree that leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about action? Discuss a story in the book that demonstrates this.

Sometimes problems seem so overwhelming that we freeze and do nothing. Have you felt this way? How do you feel after reading the stories?

Throughout the book, there are many small acts of kindness. Have you experienced a meaningful small act of kindness? What did it mean to you?

What story has stuck with you the most? Why?

How could you impact your community?

Will you do anything differently after reading this book? Has your perspective shifted?

Chapter-Specific Journal, Discussion, or Essay Questions

Chapter 1

What do you think about Brad’s belief that love isn’t something you say but something you do? How can we show love through actions?

Chapter 2

In a number of these stories, a mentor changed someone’s life. Is there someone who changed your life? How?

Chapter 3

Brad talks about how our small acts of kindness generally reveal our love more than a grand gesture would. He shares that his wife’s hiding of $20 in his car (knowing Brad would inevitably forget his wallet and need the money) and similar small thoughtful gestures mean more to him than a big birthday gift or party. What do you think? What small gestures can you make to show your love for the people in your life?

Brad also shares that a small act of kindness can make as big a difference as a grand gesture or even bigger. Do you agree that small acts can have a big impact? What small gestures have you seen that have made a difference?

Chapter 4

“Friendship isn’t a big thing. It’s a million little things” is a quote from the book. What does that mean to you?

Chapter 5

In many stories, the right words, a little encouragement, or even a single conversation changed a life. How have you experienced the power of the right words making a difference or having a surprising impact in your life?

How can you use words to make a difference to someone else?

In the “You Matter Marathon” story, people were deeply moved when they were “seen.” What does it mean to be seen?

Chapter 6

In these stories, saying yes changes people’s lives. What have you said yes to that has had an impact on your life? Are there opportunities you wish you had said yes to? What could you say yes to now or in the future?

Chapter 7

This chapter isn’t about the big things. It’s about the importance of showing up, listening, being present, being enthusiastic. Do you agree? If so, how can you do this?

Chapter 8

“We can complain because rosebushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – attributed to Abraham Lincoln or Alphonse Karr

In this chapter, Pam Lawler saw wasted food as an opportunity to feed people. Six-year-old Gabriel saw a bad day as an opportunity to create a good day, and in the process, he started a global kindness movement. The medical staff at Ronald McDonald Camp saw the campers’ dislike for taking medicine as an opportunity to make it fun.

How are we influenced by our perspective? Can we change it? If so, how?

Chapter 9

“Today, while I was driving my grandfather to his doctor’s appointment, I complained about hitting 2 red lights in a row. My grandfather chuckled and said, ‘You always complain about the red lights, but you never celebrate the green ones.'” – from the Makes Me Think website

What do you think of this quote? When was the last time you celebrated? Could you celebrate more often in your life? What could you celebrate this week? What new reasons to celebrate could you create?

Chapter 10

What’s a problem you see in your school or community? What’s a small step you could take now to do something about it?

Activities

Helen Mrosla’s Activity from Chapter 5

The late Sister Helen Mrosla, who was a teacher in Minnesota, created this powerful group activity: Give everyone in your class sheets of paper or note cards with each group member’s name written on a different sheet or card. Tell each member to write what they appreciate about the others on that person’s sheet/card. The leader then collects all the sheets/cards and gives each member the comments that were made about them.

Helen said her ninth-grade students were always surprised in a positive way. She discovered just how meaningful this activity could be when she attended the funeral of a former student, a soldier killed in the line of duty. His parents shared that their son had taken his sheet of compliments with him when he was deployed, and other former students added that they too still cherish the sheets.

Author’s Note: I’ve done this with my high school students as well as my students who are in their early twenties, and they’ve all found it rewarding.

Discuss the activity afterward.

A Letter of Appreciation

Students think of someone they’re grateful to have in their life and spend a minute or two thinking about what that person has done for them. Afterward, each student writes and sends a note, text or email thanking the person and mentioning specific reasons they appreciate the person. Students could also make a collage or a video or choose some other option for expressing gratitude.

Discuss how this makes students feel and later how recipients of the letters of appreciation responded.

The HumanKind Impact Lab

This is a student-led capstone project. Students assess and reflect on their school culture and plan and implement a service project.

Phase 1: Cultural Audit

Students reflect on and assess their school culture:

• Where does kindness show up?
• Where does it not?
• Where does belonging exist in school?
• Where does isolation exist?
• Where could small changes produce ripple effects?

Deliverable: 1-page findings brief. This could be information gleaned in the pre-reading audit.

Phase 2: Design

Students design an initiative that’s:

• Low-cost
• Sustainable
• Replicable
• Measurable

Like the stories in the book, the initiative should be a small step. Small steps are do-able and lead to bigger opportunities. The goal could be creating a kindness project in which the school community can participate or addressing a specific kindness gap in the school.

Examples:

• Welcome initiative for new students
• Peer support program
• Staff appreciation notes
• Gratitude initiative or gratitude day
• Teacher appreciation system
• Inclusive lunch campaign
• Collecting food
• Writing letters to hospitalized kids
• Writing letters to lonely seniors
• Visiting a senior center
• Cleaning up a park
• Putting together care packages
• Organizing a holiday gift drive
• Community service partnership project

Examples of potential community partners:

• Cards for Hospitalized Kids
• Love for Our Elders
• Letters Against Isolation
• Toys for Tots
• Operation Gratitude

For additional service partner ideas, see the list of potential nonprofit partners.

Deliverable: project plan with predicted ripple map

Phase 3: Implementation

1. Implement for 1-4 weeks.
2. Present measurable outcomes. Students track:
   • Participation
   • Visible impact
   • Unexpected consequences
   • Resistance

Phase 4: Reflection & Presentation

Students deliver presentations about:

• What changed
• What surprised them
• What resistance they encountered
• Any ripple effects that occurred

Closing Thought for Educators

High school students aren’t just future leaders-they’re current culture-shapers. When students recognize that their smallest actions carry weight, they begin to see themselves not as passive participants in systems but as contributors to them.

HumanKind invites students to consider:

Not “Will this matter?”
But “What might happen if I act?”

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