Read: There are more than 200 million children in the world working at jobs that are harmful to their health. These jobs may keep them from going to school or playing. These children don’t have a choice. Their families need the money to survive. These children may work on farms or in factories. They may be cleaning houses or serving wealthy people. They may be working underground in dangerous mines. Or maybe they are selling things in a market or on the streets. Many people don’t know about these children. One-third of these children are under the age of ten.
Discuss: Why do you think it’s worse for children than adults to work in jobs that are dangerous? What are children missing out on when they have to work to help their families survive? What rights do you think every child in the world should have? Who can speak for these children?
(Facts from teachUNICEF.org.)

1.  Read: Jamal’s dad took him to the bike store on his birthday to buy him a new bicycle helmet. Jamal spotted the one he liked right away. It was pink and purple and had butterflies on it. His dad said, “Wouldn’t you like this blue one?” The clerk at the store didn’t want to sell it to him. “No, that’s a girl’s helmet. These are the boy’s helmets,” he said as he pointed to a different section. Jamal insisted on the helmet in his favorite colors and took it home. Later, his best friend laughed at his choice. “Why did you pick that one?” he asked. Jamal didn’t let it bother him. “These are my favorite colors. Why can’t boys like pink and purple?” His friend shrugged his shoulders, and they rode their bikes around the block.
   Discuss: Why do boys have to like boy colors and girls like girl colors? Where do those ideas come from? Are there other things that are boy things and girl things? Are some rights for girls only? Are some rights for boys only? When is it a problem to say, “That’s for girls only” or “That’s for boys only”? What can you say to someone who says that?
2. Read: What does the word tribe mean to you? When you hear it, do you think of wild people living together in huts and wearing animal skins? That is exactly why the word tribe is not the best word to use today. It is an old word used by people who thought Native Americans or Africans were wild and not smart. Today the word shows a lack of respect for others. Native American nations and African groups have long histories of traditions and culture that form who they are. They are not less smart. Even though we do not mean any harm when we use the word tribe, it is important to be thoughtful so we choose words that show respect for all people.
   Discuss: How does learning about a different people change your opinion about them? How can you show respect for someone who dresses or acts differently than you or celebrates different holidays than you do? What do you think are good words to use when you are meeting someone new?
3. Read: Carlos has to ride his bike to school on most days. If there is snow, he walks, and if it rains he brings an umbrella. Sometimes he asks his mom for a ride in the car. She usually says no. But sometimes she rides alongside him or walks with him on rainy days. She says it is all about pollution. “If we can avoid driving we will,” she says. “What difference does one car driving one mile make to the environment?” he asks.
   Discuss: What difference could one car make? There is such a big problem in the world; does Carlos’ ride make any difference? What difference do you think one act of kindness or respect makes? What difference do you think acts of kindness for King Day make for the rest of the year?
4. Read: Tanya is a gymnast who is planning to go the Olympics when she is sixteen. She has been climbing and swinging and training for this since she was four years old. Tanya has been blind since she was born, but this does not slow her down one bit. Tanya does not want to be thought of as a blind girl. She wants people to think of her as a gymnast, a friend, a funny person, and smart. Some people want to protect her. They think she might not be able to get around or go to school. But Tanya doesn’t want people to feel sorry for her. “What for?” she asks. “I can do everything any other nine-year-old can do, except see.”
   Discuss: Does Tanya’s blindness keep her from doing what she is good at? A person with special needs is also a person with special talents, just like everyone else. Why do people feel uncomfortable around people with special needs? What could you say or do that shows respect and kindness?
5.  Read: Traffic Signs are important. They tell drivers how to drive safely down streets and highways. Traffic signs can also be good reminders to us even though we aren’t drivers yet. A STOP sign or a RED traffic light can remind us that we need to stop doing things that are unkind. A YIELD sign can remind us to take turns in our play. A MERGE sign can remind us to join in with others and to let others join in with us. A CAUTION sign or flashing YELLOW light can remind us to be careful and think before we act or speak. A ONE WAY sign can remind us that teamwork is important. A GREEN light can remind us that we need to get moving; to get involved.
   Discuss: Our King Day project is a way to show kindness and friendship. Signs we see along the highway can be good reminders about kindness and friendship. What might the sign KEEP RIGHT remind us to do? Can you think of any other signs you see along the streets and highways that could be reminders for us as well? Why is it important to be reminded?
6. Read: Ernie, the eagle lived high atop the trees. He could look out over everything in the Wakefield Forest. He was big and strong. He could soar miles in the air. He knew everybody in the forest and where they lived. If they got lost he would help them find their way home. He knew all about the trees. He would show his forest friends where to pick the best fruit. He knew all about forest fires. When they started he would quickly tell the forest ranger. He knew where the best fishing was. He would show the bears and fishermen where to go so they could catch many fish. He knew all about the weather and how it affected the forest. Everyone considered him the smartest living creature in the forest. One day he was approached by young eagle just learning to be an eagle. He came to Ernie to ask him a question. “What’s the greatest thing in the world?” he asked. Ernie looked out over the forest and said to the young eagle, “Do you really want to know?”
   “Yes! Yes!” came the eager reply.
   “OK, the greatest thing in the world is to do somebody else a favor,” Ernie said.
   Discuss: Do you think the young eagle expected this answer from Ernie? Why or why not? Why do you think Ernie would say that the greatest thing in the world is to do somebody else a favor? Has anyone ever done a favor for you? In what ways will we be doing great things during our King Day project ? How do you think that will make us feel?
7. Read: A little boy wanted to run away from home. He was not happy with the way things were going. As he took a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer he informed his mother that he was leaving and started on his journey. He hadn’t gone far when he sat down to rest on a park bench. An old man was sitting there looking very sad. He had recently lost his son in a war far away. Now he just stared at the pigeons. The little boy was hungry so he opened up his suitcase and took out the potato chips and a can root beer. He noticed that the man beside him looked hungry, too. He motioned for the man to help himself to the potato chips. He also handed him a can of root beer. The old man nodded his acceptance and smiled at the boy. They sat there for a long time. They did not speak to each other. They just smiled at each other and munched on potato chips and sipped their drinks. As it started to grow dark, the old man got up to leave. The little boy reached out to him and gave him a hug. It was then the little boy remembered how nice a hug was .He decided to go back home. When he opened the front door to his home his mother immediately saw happiness written all over his face. She hugged him. She told him that she loved him and was so glad that he was back home. She then told him to go wash up for dinner. Meanwhile, the old man returned to his home. Immediately his wife noticed his cheery smile. “It looks like you had a good day.” she remarked.
   “I did!" he said. “I found a new friend.”
   Discuss: Sometimes we forget how important our smiles and hugs are. Sometimes we miss the smiles and hugs of others. How is our King Day project  hoping to bring a cheery smile and a good day to people? Why is having and being a friend so important?
8. Read: Each day the students in Mr. Blake’s third grade class had special assignments. Today it was Angela’s turn to take the ball out at recess time. It was also her turn to organize the game. Lupita and Jerrod were worried. Yesterday they did not let Angela play in their game. They wondered if they would be allowed to play today. When the recess bell rang everybody ran to the playground. But not Lupita and Jerrod. They stayed back. As Angela passed them carrying the ball, she said, “Hey come on you slow pokes, I’ll race you to the playground.”
   Discuss: How do you think Lupita and Jerrod felt when Angela invited them to play four-square? Why do you think Angela would choose to include Lupita and Jerrod in the game? How might our King Day project  show kindness and fairness? Why might it be important to show kindness and fairness to people even if they are not always kind and fair to us?
9. Read: One day Jamie’s teacher gave her third grade class a homework assignment. The assignment was to interview an adult family member. The question they were to ask in the interview was, “What is one of the things that makes you feel happy?” Jamie decided he would ask his grandmother the question. He expected his grandmother to say something like driving her new car or getting a new dress; winning the Bridge game or getting a hug from her grandchildren.  Something like that, but instead grandmother said, “One of the things that makes me most happy is helping  make other people feel happy.”
   Discuss: How do think most kids our age would answer the question, “What is one of the things that make you most happy?” Why do you think grandma felt so happy helping to make others feel happy? In what ways might we our King Day project  help others feel happy? In what ways might our King Day project  help us to feel happy?