First grade students at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano recently learned an important lesson about the power of their words through a hands-on activity called Toothpaste Words.
The students squeezed toothpaste onto plates and then attempted to put it back into the tube. As they quickly discovered, once the toothpaste is out, it is nearly impossible to put it all back in.
This simple activity helped students understand a powerful truth — hurtful words are a lot like toothpaste. Once mean or unkind words leave mouths, people cannot take them back. Even when they apologize, the words can still leave a mark on someone’s heart.
Together, the class talked about how God calls everyone to treat others with kindness, respect and love. They discussed the importance of thinking before they speak, choosing encouraging words and remembering that every person is a child of God deserving of kindness.
