Character Education Lesson Plans

Students study character traits. In this character education instructional activity, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.

Sixth graders identify American heroes. In this historical perspectives lesson, 6th graders examine photographs and documents from the Library of Congress. Students categorize the sources as particular pillars of character education.

Students learn the concept of respect to themselves and to others. In this character education lesson, students watch a 30 minute video about respect and identify television, newspaper, and magazine examples of both respect and disrespect. Students write an essay about a time they were disrespectful.

Students create a bookmark with reminders of simple acts of kindness. In this character education lesson, students participate in a mini-lesson that serves as a great introduction to a service project. Students first brainstorm ways to show caring in small acts of kindness. Then students decorate a bookmark with examples to remind them of ways they can show kindness to others.

Learners explore the trait of responsibility. In this character education lesson, students read Benny the Lazy Beaver and play the Slap Tail Game in order to examine why responsibility is a desired trait.

Learners explore the concept of courage, both in themselves and in others. In this history and character education instructional activity, students discuss the characteristics of courage and what it means and how one can show it. Learners listen to testimonials of people who survived the Holocaust and discuss how the survivors showed courage.

Students investigate the life of Lou Gehrig. They read a book about Lou Gehrig, conduct Internet research, research a character trait, and plan and create a one-page flyer about the life and characteristics of Lou Gehrig.

Students explore traits of honest communication. In this character development and communication lesson, students are given 6 simple statements and work as a group to alter the meaning of each statement through body language, facial expression, and word emphasis. Final group discussion confirms what students can do to improve communication skills.

Students read about character education in stories online. In this character education lesson plan, students complete activities about making good choices and sign a pledge to be a good person.

Students participate in a class discussion about what makes a poster promote a message. They explore topics from character education and make a poster to define and promote a desirable character trait.