Last week of August Be Kind to Humankind Week

Speak Kind Words Saturday falls within the Be Kind to Humankind Week, established in 1988. This annual celebration is the occasion to make your corner of the world a better place. This day, in particular, reminds us of the power of words: they can inspire and heal people, as well as hurt and break them. Think well before you speak; watch what you say. Will my words help my interlocutor?

Observed in the last week of August each year, Be Kind to Humankind Week is a way for people to celebrate kindness, generosity, service, and forgiveness to our fellow human beings. It serves as a reminder that kind words and acts should be the norm, as supporting one another is a direct way to help people thrive. 

The website suggests you do something different for each day.

This could be made simpler for children and only done on school days. eg.

Day 1: Perform a random act (or two) of kindness.

A girl in a red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class. Her kindness spreads, kind act by kind act, until her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands—and acts on—what it means to be kind.

What does it mean to be kind? When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind.

Day 2: Send a letter or card to a friend—as a surprise.

"A sweet and charming book about a little girl who writes a letter to a friend and the unexpected route (and results) that follow."

Day 3: Volunteer to help someone.

A little old lady who is nobody's granny lives in a small cottage. The children from the nearby flats like to play in the overgrown garden. When a new fence is built, they no longer come to play and the little old lady grows lonely and decides to do something about it.

Every day Amos McGee spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favour. 

Day 4: Create a list of kind things to say.

A guide to teaching young children how to negotiate new experiences and big emotions with empathy and words from the heart. Speaking up can be difficult, especially in tricky situations.

Day 5: Play a social emotional health game.

Let's make a deal: You want this. I want that. How can we both get what we want?” Brainstorm solutions and choose the best idea for right now. 

Jack likes trucks. Alex likes dolls. What will they play together? With a little bit of compromise their new favourite game, of course!

Simon and his friend Ferdinand are playing with their cars. Simon has a yellow one, a blue one, and a green one. But when he spots Ferdinands extraordinary red car, he must have it! And so begin the negotiations... Will someone end up with more than he bargained for?

We all know learning can be hard and life skills don't always come right away ... sometimes, we need to keep trying! 

And if you need to forgive a foe, read 

28th August Bow Tie Day

Bow Tie Day occurs on August 28th - a symbol of class, elegance, and social status. However, it hasn't always been like that. Its origins come from Croatian mercenaries who wore a scarf to hold their shirt together around their neck in the 17th century. Interestingly, the style was adopted by the French upper class, which they called "Cravats" - derived from the word "Croat". The fashion trend was popularised in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This is a very fitting end to Book Week for me as this is the week I wore a bow tie. In keeping with the theme Symphony of Stories  I wore a bow tie as I was dressed up as the conductor of the symphony.

My costume was also inspired by this beautiful book,  The Conductor by Laetitia Devernay. It  is a wordless picture book which tells the tale of a conductor orchestrating the leaves of the trees to come alive and leave their branches.

‘Pairing two seemingly disparate elements an orchestra conductor and a grove of trees award-winning artist Laetitia Devernay herself orchestrates a visual magnum opus. Her spare, yet intricate, illustrations truly appear to take flight before our eyes and her wordless narrative nearly roars with sound as the conductor prompts the leaves to rustle, then whirl, then swirl to unexpected life with each turn of the page.’

Quite a few 'jobs' choose to wear a bow tie so look through your book collections for conductors, magicians, grooms, ballroom dancers et al.

15th August Science Week

 

Science Week 2026

The school theme for National Science Week in 2026 is Seeds of Science: nurturing science for all.

This theme invites students across Australia to explore the power of curiosity, inquiry and shared learning in growing scientific understanding. Just as seeds need the right conditions to grow, knowledge flourishes when it is nurtured, shared and applied to real-world and authentic challenges across all the scientific disciplines.

The theme encourages schools to explore how ideas take root, develop and spread – from the first spark of a question to the sharing of discoveries that benefit the wider community. It’s a celebration of how knowledge grows when tended with care, creativity and collaboration.

The Teacher's Resource Book has lots of wonderful ideas for areas to explore.

The school library has all of these books about seeds to get you started:

August Happiness Happens Month

Happiness Happens Month is observed every August. Created in 2000 this annual observance encourages people to recognise small moments of joy, appreciate what makes them happy, and share that positive energy with others. 

It reminds us that joy comes in small, everyday moments. It shows that being happy is contagious.  It also helps build a positive and supportive community.

This August has been very happy so far. I have been travelling in Canada enjoying some of the things that I like most: trees, books and passionate people who share books with children. I went to Ottawa to attend the 40th IBBY World Congress, an event that looks at bringing children and books together. The theme was 'Listening to Each Other's Voices'. 

The congress celebrated indigenous voices, something of importance in Canada because there are so many indigenous voices, but there are many similarities for indigenous children's book creators here in Australia. In 2024 Australia's Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) received the Astrid Lindgren Award and they were represented at the congress showcasing the books they have  listed to secure access to good literature for First Nations children of Australia. 

At the congress we heard about wonderful programs that continue Jella Lepman's vision to connect children to books in times of great need. We met and listened to Canadian picture book creators such as David Robertson, Jon Klassen, Sidney Smith, Kathy Stinson, Barbara Reid and Margriet Ruurs. And an added bonus, Michael Rosen, this year's Hans Christian Anderson Medal winner for writing, Michael Rosen gave the conference dinner address.

I saw many animals that I have never seen; bald eagles, kingfishers, Canadian geese, puffins, a lynx, a pink ibis, a river otter, capybaras, caiman, groundhogs and black squirrels. Wow!

Now that I'm home I have to bottle that happiness and take it back to school with me on Monday. I have so much to tell my students. I must remember to use my moments of joy to make someone else happy.

If unlike me, you feel the need to use some good picture books as provocations for the topic of happiness, try these:

Happy All Over  by Emma Quay

An irresistible celebration of the small joys to be found in the everyday.

This is My Happy Place  by Emma Bowd

Celebrate the places, people and things that bring us joy in this uplifting and spirited book.

This is Happy! by Anna Ross & Debi Gliori

This joyful picture book is full of delight in the world, outdoors and indoors, showing how happiness can be found in the smallest things. It encourages children to slow down and use all their senses to notice and enjoy the natural world. Happiness is truly all around us.

Where Happiness Begins by Eva Eland

Are you looking for happiness? Sometimes it can feel really far away, and sometimes you might have so much you can’t help but share. You can try to chase it, control it or capture it, but even if it seems like it’s gone for a while, you’ll know it’s never far away...

Layla's Happiness  by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie 

Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her? For you?

 A Sprinkle of Happiness  by Lucy Rowland

"A sprinkle of happiness ... that's all you need!"
When a boy and his grandma find a tiny sunflower seed and plant
it together, their love and care transforms it into a towering
sunflower that spreads joy through their community.