Being Responsible Pays Off!
(Responsibility Lesson)
Grade 1

Leader Hints: Think of how being responsible has helped you in your career and your life. Were there times you were irresponsible that hurt you? Think of how others' responsibility/irresponsibility helped/hurt you. Your students need to know that responsibility is important to you. By jotting down these formative life experiences before the lesson, you'll have them to share during the discussion time.

During character time we want to discuss responsibility. What is responsibility? (After getting some input, come up with a simple, working definition like "doing what you're supposed to.")

Understanding Responsibility: Story Time!

Timmy and his two friends lived for baseball. Of course they played on their school's team. But they also practiced throwing and catching during recess, played in a neighborhood vacant lot after school, and followed their favorite teams on TV.  Once, they even tried to wear their baseball gloves in class, but their teachers wouldn't let them, saying that life's more than baseball. And besides, it's hard to take tests and write with a baseball glove on your hand. 

It was their first year in middle school and they were all excited about who would be chosen as team captain. The team captain had cool responsibilities like talking to players who needed encouragement and making sure all team members showed up to practice on time. Everybody looked up to the team captain. Plus, the captain gets a special picture in the yearbook. 

So it was one of those special Fall days where the sun's shining and a pleasant, fresh breeze is blowing. Not hot. Not cold. Just right for baseball. At school, Timmy and his friends had been glancing outside every chance they got. They couldn't wait to get home to play ball in the neighborhood. 

But after getting home, Timmy didn't show up at the lot. His friends threw for a few minutes and then went to his house to find out what was wrong. They knocked at his door. 

"Hey Timmy," they called. "What's holdin' you up?" 

"You'll have to wait for an hour," Timmy replied. "Mom left me a note to stay inside till she got home."

"Stay inside?" they complained. "You're in middle school now. Nothing could possibly happen. If you get hurt, my mom's home and could take you to the doctor. Besides, how will you have a chance at captain if you don't get enough practice?"

What they said made sense, and Timmy did wonder why he had to stay inside. So he got his glove from his room. But when he got to the door, he hesitated. 

"You know, I think I'd better stay put. Mom probably had some reason for me to stay in."

"Awww...come on!!" His friends pleaded. "It's no fun with just two."

But Timmy wouldn't budge, so they went on their way with their heads down.

It wasn't two minutes after the door closed that his mom called. 

"Timmy, I'm so glad you're there!" she said. "I was afraid I might be late and I left some vegetables boiling on the stove. If you don't turn it off quick, the water will all boil out and it could catch on fire."

"No problem, mom."

"Thanks Timmy!" said his mom. "You're so responsible - a lifesaver! After you turn it off, you can go out with your friends."

Being responsible didn't take that long, but he was sure glad he obeyed his mom. After that, he began to see how being responsible paid off. His mom gave him more freedom because she could trust him. His friends got grounded more often because they kept disobeying their parents and teachers. 

But the biggest reward for his responsibility came the next week at their team meeting. Their coach announced with his booming voice in front of the team, "Our team captain this year is....Timmy Brogdon! And I want to tell you why I chose him. Timmy is a dedicated baseball player. He's responsible to show up for practices on time and follows his coaches' instructions. But I have several players on the team of equal dedication to baseball. I called all their teachers and their parents to ask about how responsible they were at home and at school. You see, as captain, you represent the team wherever you are. All who know Timmy know that they can depend on him to do what he's supposed to do. Let's all clap for Timmy, your new captain."

Discuss the Story

1. What did Timmy and his friends enjoy more than anything?
2. Why did they want to be team captain?
3. Why did the coach make Timmy captain?

Discuss real life (This point hopes to move us from understanding responsibility to desiring responsibility.) 

Brain Storm (This helps us to move from desiring responsibility to doing responsible things.)

Tell me some ways we can be responsible at home. At school. At play. (Write them on the board.)

Conclusion