Margret Stöckler
"Teacher, we want it to be as beautiful in our classroom as it is on Oups' Heart Planet!"
This wish from the children gave me an idea... I asked the children what would need to happen for it to be as beautiful and peaceful in our classroom. The children participated lively and realized that it's actually quite simple - if everyone makes an effort together to be nice to each other and help each other instead of arguing.
And so we decided to turn our classroom into a Heart Planet. I painted a poster showing our planet Earth, and we started transforming Earth into a Heart Planet on a Friday.
This is how a new closing ritual with Oups came about as part of our class council: the Thank You ritual
At the end of the week, as is customary in many classes, we hold a class council. Over time, this has come to be known as the "Oups Circle" in our class. In this closing circle, we take time to reflect on the school week together. Before we say goodbye, we conclude the week with our heartwarming Thank You ritual.
“Would you like to thank someone? Maybe a child shared their snack with you? Did someone help you with your learning? Was a child particularly nice to you during playtime?” Oups then moves from child to child in our circle. Each child can stick a heart sticker on our Heart Planet for their thank you. This makes small or large "niceties and kindnesses" visible and reinforces us on our path to peace.
Especially in groups where "tattling," blaming, and insulting other children overshadow the harmonious school day, this ritual can wonderfully redirect children's focus to the positive. In short, every child in the group quickly realizes: I gain nothing by scolding or tattling, because that doesn't get us anywhere. Here, good things are encouraged, and everyone is happy when I help, because our planet keeps getting more beautiful!
My favorite thank you from last week: “I want to thank the whole class. Thank you for always being so nice to me, and thank you, teacher, for teaching us so much!” <3
Here's a short video clip from the Thank You ritual:
And just as proud as the children in my last class were of their Heart Planet, my first graders are equally proud this time. 
In the "Heart Education with Oups" workbook, children can create their own page. How do we make our classroom a Heart Planet? They can draw or write about it.
You'll also find a lesson plan on "Saying Thank You" at home and at school.
On the "Today I was able to help" page, they receive a heart sticker or stamp from Oups and the teacher if they have done something good for someone. However, they can also reward themselves for every good deed, and that's what makes this page so particularly valuable. Perhaps that's why children particularly love this page in the workbook....
In our music download "Heart Songs with Oups" you will find the song (with lyrics and sheet music) "Just like Oups on his Star". The lyrics are by Oups author Kurt Hörtenhuber and you can find the poem in the book "Oups, who are you". This short, touching story is also wonderful as an introduction to heart education with Oups, as it tells how Oups decides to travel to Earth to get to know people better. 
I hope you have fun transforming your classroom into a Heart Planet and singing and dancing to the heart songs!
I would love to receive your comments and feedback, descriptions of your experiences, photos, emails, etc.!
This project has evolved and a download has been created from it:
Here is more information about it: The Oups Heart Planet Poster
