Curated OER
Making Friends
Whether it's the first day of school, or there's a new kid in the class, it's always great to talk about ways we make new friends and be a good friend. Younger learners are presented with several scenarios to discuss and think about....
Curated OER
How the Cookie Crumbles?
Young scholars participate in a trust building activity. In this trust building lesson, students discuss the definition of the word "trust." Young scholars understand that by sharing time, talents, and treasures we learn to trust each...
Curated OER
Continuity and Change
Students identify those freedoms most important to them and identify characteristics of a "good" rule. They then develop "good" rules for the world and identify how decisions or rules made today might affect the future.
Curated OER
Character Education: Caring
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...
Curated OER
Moving West!
Young scholars explore, explain and experience the importance of good character traits in everyday life by assessing the challenging journeys traveled on the Oregon Trail. They study the daily accounts of perseverance and courage along...
Curated OER
Helping Others
Students explore community service. In this character development and community lesson, students sing a song based on the fable The Lion and the Mouse. Students participate in a discussion about kindness, and generate ideas for...
Curated OER
Character Education Read Alouds
Students listen to the story Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon and discuss the way each character interacts with the others. They role play pares of the story to practice showing compassion, and how to positively interact with their peers.
US Institute of Peace
Peacebuilders in Action
What contributions have great peacebuilders made to our society? Civic-minded scholars take an in-depth look at people who have made a difference world-wide during the 12th lesson in a 15-part series. After researching facts about their...
Curated OER
Trust Leans
Students define trust and what it means to be trustworthy. For this good character lesson, students think of a person they trust and discuss what makes them trustworthy. Students pair up and complete trust leans. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Called to be just
Young scholars write journal entries reflecting on how to impact the common good of the world. For this common good lesson plan, students learn about Mother Theresa, good character, and how to make the world better.
US Institute of Peace
The Process of Negotiation
What does it take to be a great negotiator? Learners discover the factors that affect the negotiation process through group discussion and brainstorming. An installment in a series of peacebuilding activities compares the needs and wants...
Curated OER
What Will I Be When I Get Big
Students research a famous person, consider what character values make this person a good role model and write a personal vision statement that maps out how to build similar character traits in their own lives.
Curated OER
Optimism
Students engage in a lesson to build the character trait of optimism. They use two quotations to begin the class discussion. Students brainstorm to come up with a definition of optimism. Then they read a story that is used as an...
Curated OER
Your Vote Counts!
Students build an election campaign around their favorite TV characters. They acquire knowledge about candidates, slogans, qualifications, and voting using the activities in this lesson. Thus, they simulate the election process.
Morningside Center
Challenging the Boy Scouts of America's Anti-Gay Policy
This straightforward plan invites class members to consider Boy Scouts of America's position on barring homosexual members. It includes readings outlining the position of those against such discrimination, but little from the perspective...
Curated OER
Fairness and Justice
In this fairness and justice instructional activity, students complete a true/false checklist about being fair and complete discussion questions after viewing a referenced video. Suggestions for writing and students activities are also...
Curated OER
Trustworthy Reputation
Seventh graders explore the character trait of reputation. In this character education instructional activity, 7th graders focus on their personal reputation as they discuss positive character traits and reflect on character quotations...
US Institute of Peace
Practicing Conflict Analysis
Does your conflict management style keep you cool and persuasive, even under pressure? Young behaviorists practice analyzing conflicts and using conflict management skills during lesson five in a 15-part series. The resource contains...
Curated OER
Everyday Courage
Sixth graders compare scenarios about courage. In this character education lesson plan, 6th graders discover what it means to be brave. Students analyze scenarios and determine if courage was necessary.
Curated OER
Don't Give Up
Eighth graders demonstrate perseverance. For this character education lesson, 8th graders define the word perseverance and identify difficult tasks they face regularly which require perseverance.
Curated OER
How Do Respect and Humiliation Shape Conflict?
Students explore the feelings surrounded by humiliation, resentment and retaliation in the context of school violence. For this character building lesson, students examine possible reasons for school violence and focus on possible...
Curated OER
Being Responsible
In this responsibility worksheet, students read a checklist about being responsible and complete discussion questions after viewing a referenced video. Suggestions for writing and students activities are also given.
Curated OER
Philanthropy in History Lesson 3: Self-sufficiency And the Community
Students study the characteristic of self-sufficiency in people that lived during Colonial times. They investigate the contemporary movement of Habitat for Humanity. They listen to the story of Donald Hall's, The Oxcart Man and write a...