Recently some third grade students helped make a “Friendship Salad” made with all kinds of fruits, but it also included one very special ingredient… a rotten banana to help the students understand the importance of being kind in the classroom of Jess Schwarz at Hawthorne Elementary!
“Friendship Salad” includes:
1. The Bowl 
: represents the classroom
: represents the classroom2. Cans of Fruit 
: Each can represents something we want to add to our classroom throughout the year, such as kindness, hard work, trustworthiness, sharing, helping others, respect, patience, friendship and encouragement.
: Each can represents something we want to add to our classroom throughout the year, such as kindness, hard work, trustworthiness, sharing, helping others, respect, patience, friendship and encouragement.3. Rotten Banana 
: Represent things that can “spoil” the classroom community—bad attitudes, bullying, unkind words, excluding others, being disrespectful, or making choices that hurt someone else.
: Represent things that can “spoil” the classroom community—bad attitudes, bullying, unkind words, excluding others, being disrespectful, or making choices that hurt someone else.The class talked about how, when everyone contributes these positive things, we create a classroom where everyone feels safe, happy, included and ready to learn. Then the class talked about how even though it might be just one person making an unkind choice (rotten banana), that those words or actions can affect everyone around them. Just like one rotten banana can affect the whole bowl, one negative attitude or unkind action can change the way our classroom feels. The reactions to having to add a rotten banana were priceless!  The students were immediately grossed out and wanted absolutely nothing to do with that banana. Most importantly, the class talked about how EVERYONE has a role in making our classroom a positive place. Words matter and actions matter and the way they treat each other matters.
 The students were immediately grossed out and wanted absolutely nothing to do with that banana. Most importantly, the class talked about how EVERYONE has a role in making our classroom a positive place. Words matter and actions matter and the way they treat each other matters.“This is one of my favorite beginning of the year activities because it’s such a simple, hands-on way to help kids understand the impact that their words, choices and actions can have on our classroom community,” Jess Schwarz explained. “It really puts things into perspective for them and I love that this activity gives the kids something they can actually see and remember throughout the year.”
And of course, the class ended the lesson by enjoying the “Friendship Salad” together—rotten banana NOT included! And don’t forget, even the smallest act of kindness can make someone else’s day a little better!! 
