The Sun for a Good Deed

Building Latvia Together

  • Daugavpils (Latvia)
  • Duration:4 - 5 hours
  • Participants age: Primary school (grades 1–4, 6–10 y.)
  • Subjects: Ethics • Citizenship • Geography • Art
  • The activity contributes to:
    • Stress management
    • Mental well-being awareness
    • Putting feelings into words
    • Building positive relationships
    • Value education
    • Promoting positive interaction and collaboration between students
    • Promoting pro-social teacher–student interaction
    • Focus on inclusive education
  • Well-being area: Mental, Social
  • Student participation: High
  • Feasibility for teachers: Easy
  • Materials:
    • Yellow paper suns (pre-cut, 10 cm)
    • Large blank outline map of Latvia on wall
    • Glue dots
    • Reflection sheet for each pupil (optional)

Description

  1. Introduce the goal: every kind, helpful or responsible action earns a sun.
  2. Teacher or peers nominate; sun is signed by giver & receiver and stuck on the map.
  3. Once a week, count suns and celebrate progress: “Look how bright Latvia is shining!”
  4. Hold short circle-time: children describe the good deed they gave or received.
  5. At year-end, photograph the glowing map and send home a “Sun certificate” summarising personal contributions.

Key Points

Keep criteria transparent, avoid favouritism, emphasise intrinsic value of kindness.

Experience from the testing

Children quickly started looking for ways to help—tying a friend’s shoelaces, sharing pencils, calming conflicts. The visual map became a source of pride: “Our class made Latvia shine!” Behaviour incidents dropped and pupils began using “I want to give you a sun” as spontaneous praise. Parents reported similar helpful acts at home.

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