Lesson 1
The Body's Helping Heroes
This lesson connects students' existing ideas of community heroes (like firefighters and doctors) to the concept of altruism in action. Through storytelling, brainstorming, and creative activities, students explore why our bodies sometimes need help, using the simple metaphor of a machine needing a "spare part."
This lesson gently introduces organ and tissue donation as a profound, life-saving act performed by "Helping Heroes." The focus is NOT on the medical process, but on the kindness, courage, and generosity of the donor and their family. Teachers should maintain a positive, empowering tone, reinforcing the "hero" narrative.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 2
The Community Message Mission
This lesson transforms the concept of "understanding your audience" into a fun "Communication Detective" mission. Students explore how different groups in their community—like friends, teachers, or family—all have different values and ways of seeing the world. Through interactive group activities, students will learn to "decode" their audience and design the best way to share an important message, building skills in empathy and perspective-taking.
The focus is NOT on the medical facts of donation but on the communication skills needed to share big ideas. This lesson gently connects to donation by framing the "family chat" as the most important mission of all, one that is built on love, respect, and understanding what your family cares about. Teachers should guide discussions with a focus on problem-solving and respectful communication, empowering students to be thoughtful and effective communicators.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 3
The Helping Hero Team
This lesson explores the amazing teamwork that makes the "spare part" gift possible, framing it as an exciting "Helping Hero Relay." Through a fun and collaborative "relay chain" activity, students will discover the different heroes on the team, from the "First Heroes" (the donor family) to the "Team Managers" and "Super-Mechanics" (doctors). The focus is on demystifying the process of donation in a positive, non-medical way, celebrating it as a story of collaboration. This lesson reinforces that the gift of donation is a real-life miracle of teamwork, showing how science and kindness work together to pass on the gift of life.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 4
The Treasure of More Time
This lesson helps Year 4 students understand the precious value of time by reframing their life as a "Treasure Map." Through storytelling and a reflective "Treasure Map" activity, students explore their own "Golden Memories" from the past and their "Dream Adventures" for the future. The lesson gently introduces the concept of organ and tissue donation as the ultimate act of kindness—giving someone the "Treasure of More Time" to add new adventures to their own map. The focus is on appreciating the joy of past memories and future dreams, and understanding donation as a way to give someone the gift of a future.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 5
The Hero's Echo
This lesson transforms the sensitive topic of "having the conversation" into a magical and empowering concept: the "Hero's Echo." Through storytelling about real-life heroes and a reflective "Kindness Echo" activity, students explore how their own values and kind wishes can live on and inspire others. The lesson gently frames sharing these wishes with family as a brave and positive act of "starting your echo," which ensures a hero's wish for kindness can be heard. The focus is on legacy, inspiration, and trust, transforming a potentially difficult topic into a profound and loving story about how kindness can last forever.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 6
The Hero's Pledge
This lesson adapts the complex theme of "consent systems" into a fun, hands-on civics activity called "The Classroom Choice." By exploring how to form a new "Kindness Club," students interact with two different, fair systems for making a group decision: "opt-in" (you must choose to join) and "opt-out" (you must choose to leave). The focus is on critical thinking and empowerment, providing a simple metaphor to understand that the "Hero's Pledge" (the choice to donate) is a personal, active decision. This lesson provides a clear, non-threatening way to understand that the Australian system is "opt-in," powerfully reinforcing that because it is a personal choice, sharing that wish with family is the most important step of all.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 7
The Hero's Story
This lesson brings all the unit's metaphors to life by focusing on a single, real, and uplifting story of donation. Students act as "Story Keepers," listening with empathy to understand how a "Hero's Pledge" gave a real person the "Treasure of More Time." Through a creative "Story Snapshot" activity, students become "Kindness Reporters," summarising the joyful outcome and expressing gratitude. The focus is on consolidating all the themes (heroes, time, echoes) into one powerful, real-life example of kindness. This lesson allows students to process what they've learned in a heartfelt and positive way, celebrating the real, happy ending that a hero's kindness can create.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 8
Kindness Ambassadors
In this lesson, students discover the power of sharing kind, positive messages. After learning the true, hopeful story of donation, students are promoted to Kindness Ambassadors — trusted heroes who help others understand the “Treasure of More Time.”
Working in small “Campaign Teams,” students use their creativity to design a bright, positive Good News Poster for their school. Their posters include joyful pictures, true “Kind Facts,” and the most important message of all:
“Share your kind wishes with your family!”
This lesson makes advocacy fun, gentle, and magical — showing children that even their words can spread kindness, hope, and understanding. By sharing the good news, they help make the world a kinder place for everyone.
“If you don’t have access to any of the books mentioned, you can substitute any picture book about kindness or sharing.”
Lesson 9
The Hero's Anthem
This final lesson turns everything students have learned into something magical — a class song. By becoming “Songwriters for Kindness,” students work together to write their very own Hero’s Anthem, filled with words like hope, treasure, time, and kindness. Using a familiar tune, they help transform the “Good News” of donation into music that can be shared, sung, and celebrated.
The focus is on joy, teamwork, and pride. Students finish the lesson by performing their anthem as a class, celebrating the heroes in the donation story and the kindness they have explored throughout the unit. This lesson sends students off with confidence, gratitude, and the knowledge that even a song can help kindness grow.