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"Don't Just Teach Academics...Leave Your Legacy!"
Introduction to Lessons
In each lesson, we begin by asking the question, "What can we do during this session to take a student who lacks this quality or skill to the point of both desiring it and knowing how to acquire it?" That's a far cry from simply "doing an interesting lesson on a character quality."
(For full example lesson, click
here.)
In fact, we believe that each lesson will need to be tweaked for your unique student culture. Imagine that next week you're responsible to lead a session on "Endurance." Think of your students who most need endurance, those who seem to most easily give up when an assignment or life gets tough. Would they respond more to an illustration of a sports hero or a rock musician or a comedian or a comic book creator? Are they eager to discuss and debate, or more reserved? Do they respond well to older people leading, or would someone closer to their age be better received? When it comes to character education, one lesson doesn't generally fit all. That's why although we provide a full lesson plan, we also offer a plethora of alternative activities, discussions and illustrations to help you adapt for greatest effectiveness.
Each lesson seeks to compel students to (as character education guru Thomas Lickona puts it):
- Know the Good (understand the trait and intellectually agree that the trait is important).
- Desire the Good (emotionally desire to adopt the trait).
- Do the Good (apply the trait in daily living).
If these three outcomes comprise our object, then the best lesson for certain topics may be to forgo the printed lesson and bring in a former drug addict or convicted embezzler to help students see the end result of failure in that quality. Other times a movie clip or people story can move a student from understanding endurance to desiring it.
Link to Example Lesson
For full example lesson, click here.
List of Character Traits for which we provide resources
Remember, the abundant resources for each trait make lesson preparation easy, even if we've yet to put up a formal lesson for that trait.
RESPECT
Showing Regard for the Worth of Someone or Something |
Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Currently Provide |
| Self-respect |
Pride and belief
in one's self and in achievement of one's potential. Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence, Self-Worth, Self-Acceptance, Contentment, Pride |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
2 Lessons |
Self- control/
Virtue |
Control of your actions and emotions; the
habit of excellence of one's character that defines one's moral
personality |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
1 Lesson |
Authority |
Respect for those individuals who are in
positions of responsibility, using proper etiquette in relation to them. Manners, Politeness, Not Rude |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
3 Lessons |
Learning |
Appreciation for the importance of and
effort involved in acquiring knowledge. Wisdom-seeker. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
1 Lesson on Decision-Making
1 Lesson on Curiosity |
| Humility |
Recognizing
that any given person is one's intellectual superior in some way and can
be learned from. Recognizing the part others have played in one's
achievements. Teachable. Not Arrogant. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
|
Punctuality |
Promptness |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Time Management |
Trustworthiness |
Worthy of confidence; reliable |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Loyalty |
Respect for others |
Concern for and motivation to act for the
welfare of others |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
5 Lessons |
|
RESPONSIBILITY
Taking care of one's self and others; to carry out a duty or task carefully and thoroughly |
Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
School Pride/
Cleanliness |
Care and
satisfaction in your school's environment; achievement and success |
Two
Lessons:
Dress for Success and Orderliness |
|
Respect for
the environment |
The conservation and care of your
surroundings |
|
|
Accountability
& Responsibility |
Being responsible for your decisions
and actions |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
Five Lessons |
|
Cheerfulness |
Good-humored, bright and pleasant. Joyfulness,
Optimistic. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
Two lessons |
|
Honor |
A sense of what is right, just and true |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
|
|
CITIZENSHIP
Respectful devotion to one's country
and/or school |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Democracy |
Respect for the
rule of the majority |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
1 Lesson |
|
Sportsmanship |
The ability to take winning and losing
without gloating or complaining |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
|
|
Patriotism |
Respectful devotion to one's country |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
1 Lesson
|
|
Gratitude |
A feeling of thankful appreciation for
benefits received. Thankfulness, Appreciation. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
1 Lesson Targeting Teens
1 Lesson Targeting Elementary |
|
Courtesy /
Civility |
Polite and courteous behavior toward others
in words and action. Politeness. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
3 Lessons
|
COMPASSION
Showing concern or sympathy for others |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Service |
Unselfish willingness to give and share your time and talents in your community. Selflessness, Other-Centered, Giving, Helpfulness, Sacrificial, Encourager, Not Greedy with money, energy or time. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
4 Lessons |
Kindness |
Being gentle, willing to help, friendly and considerate |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
1 Lesson
|
Empathy |
Understanding, sensing and sharing in the feelings and emotions of others. Love, Sympathy, Compassion, Encourager. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
4 Lessons |
RESILIENCE
The capacity to successfully manage high levels of change |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Self-confidence |
Positive attitude about, and trust in one's self; sense of security and self assurance |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
1 lesson on peer pressure |
Creativity/ Flexibility |
Clever, imaginative and inventive; adaptability and versatility |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
|
Diligence |
Consistent attention to quality work; remaining focused on your goal |
Intercom Insights/Quotes/ Stories/Activities on Diligence...(See Below Under "Commitment")
(For lesson, see below under "Commitment" |
Initiative |
Proactive; thinking and taking action on your own |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
5 Lessons on Goal-Setting and Time Management |
Resilience |
The ability to bounce back from failure or discouragements. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
2 Lessons |
| Self-reliance |
Relying on one's own abilities, efforts or judgments |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Child Safety |
TOLERANCE
Respecting the individual differences, views and beliefs of other people |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Acceptance |
Recognition of the diversity of others, their opinions, practices and culture. Understanding, Open-mindedness, Tolerance |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
1 lesson |
Forgiveness |
Benefiting yourself and others by ceasing to feel resentment toward others |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Forgiving Others
Lesson on Asking Forgiveness
|
Cooperation |
Working together for a common purpose. Teamwork |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Conflict Resolution
Lesson on Cooperation |
Fairness |
Equal treatment of behavior and viewpoints of others |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
Lesson on "Listening" |
Peacemaker |
Seeks peaceful solutions to fights and quarrels. Non-violent. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
1 Lesson for older students
1 Lesson for k-2 |
COMMITMENT
The obligation or pledge to carry out some action or to support some policy or person |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Motivation |
The desire to move toward a goal |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
1 Lesson on Decision-Making
1 Lesson on Effort |
Perseverance/
Determination/
Dedication/
Diligence |
Working hard without giving up. Consistent attention to quality work; remaining focused on your goal. Sense of commitment and duty. The inner strength to pursue a goal or task. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
4 Lessons
|
INTEGRITY
Steadfast adherence to a strict code of moral, ethical or artistic values;
to consistently
be truthful and fair |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Honesty |
Truthfulness and sincerity |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
7 Lessons on Honesty |
Dependability |
The ability to be counted on and trusted |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
Lesson on Child Safety
|
Loyalty |
Faithful to a person, an organization or your country |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
3 Lessons |
Conviction-
Driven |
Daily decisions driven by thought-through convictions rather than the heat of the moment. |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities on Convictions |
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Appreciation for attaining one's goals |
| Character Trait |
Definition and Synonyms |
Resources We Presently Provide |
| Courage |
To meet a challenge without giving in to fear |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories, and Activities
3 Lessons |
Success |
Accomplishing things of importance to you |
Nine Weeks of "Keys" to Success |
Patience |
The power to wait calmly without complaining |
Intercom Insights, Quotes, Stories & Activities
4 Lessons |
HOT TOPICS
Topics That Involve Character |
Topic |
Description |
Links to Illustrations, Lessons, & Intercom Insights |
| Dating and Singleness |
Objectively evaluating our culture's dating system in order to help students feel less coercion into a sometimes hazardous preoccupation. |
Lessons of Dating Series:
#1: "Getting to Know You: Is Dating the Only Way?"
#2: "Enjoying Singleness"
#8: "In Search of the Perfect Mate."
#9: "In Search of the Perfect Mate." |
Sex |
Understanding the physical and emotional consequences of early sex and the practical implications. |
Lessons of Dating Series:
#3: "Sex, Lies, and the Truth"
#4: "Sex, Lies, and the Truth"
#5 to #7: "Setting (and Keeping!) Your Standards"
|
Money Management |
Budgeting, saving, investing, giving, keeping out of debt, setting and achieving financial goals, etc. |
(Sessions One and Two complete)
See also early chapters of text. |
Vocations |
Discovering your talents and loves; finding jobs that match; preparing for a job; the application process. |
"Finding a Fulfilling Career" (opening assembly for an elementary job fair)
"Finding a Vocation You Love"
(High School; first three lessons complete, targeting final three lessons complete by Dec. 1, 2005) |
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