Committee for Children
Create a Positive Classroom Climate and Help Stop Bullying
Encourage kindness and respect with an activity that challenges scholars to create a poster that details three ways to exhibit the desired character traits.
Curated OER
Developing Kids with Character Through Service Learning
Students discover service learning and how it can help them build character. In this community lesson, students brainstorm ways they can assist their classmates with problems, and write about it in their journal. Students decide on a...
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
PSE Character Education: Respect
Every healthy classroom community is built on a foundation of respect. Through whole group discussions, shared readings, and collaborative activities this activity teaches children how to be respectful of one another, making for a much...
Curriculum Corner
Fairy Tale Unit of Study
What makes a fairy tale a fairy tale? Use a 27-page packet to supplement your next fairy tale unit. With sequencing activities, story map worksheets, character analyses and story elements graphic organizers, and fairy tale highlight...
Curated OER
Character Ambassadors
Students act as ambassadors. In this character education instructional activity, students take on the roles of ambassadors of the character traits listed. Students write essays regarding the character traits they select.
Curated OER
Character Building - Brick Wall
Students build a wall of kindness. In this character education lesson, students design a character trait bulletin board that features noteworthy student acts of kindness.
Curated OER
Math with Character
Students write math sentences to fit a given story. They recognize number families and discuss the character traits of a sharing and relate their feeelings and experience with sharing. The Doorbell Rang story is read and the students...
Curated OER
How I Act Is Who I Am
Students discuss the roles people have and how the people they know act after watching a puppet show. Puppets and teacher lead discussion with class and ask them to provide examples of being responsible , cooperative, respectful, and...
Josephson Institute
Trustworthiness
Build trust—literally—with a lesson that sparks reflection, grand conversation, and creativity. Scholars construct a trust tower out of blocks showcasing a picture that represents a good deed they have done to gain trust from their...
Curated OER
Seedfolks Character Chart
There are quite a few characters in Paul Fleischman's Seedfolks, so why not help your class keep track of them? Learners can mark up this chart to show the traits that apply to each character. Along the left, each character is listed,...
Curated OER
Same Setting, Different Moods: Voice and Word Choice Using Lord of the Flies
Whether it's dark, delightful, or somber, set the mood with William Golding's Lord of the Flies. High-schoolers practice descriptive writing by creating the appropriate mood for an original scene, starring one of the book's main characters.
Curated OER
What Makes a Hero?
Students identify the characteristics of a hero. For this character development and writing lesson, students listen to music with a hero theme and discuss the common traits of heroes. Students explore individuals and charitable...
Overcoming Obstacles
Cooperation and Teamwork
One of Aesop's fables begins with a lesson about cooperation and teamwork. Scholars listen carefully, taking note of the moral of the story. The class discusses their findings and why working with others makes work easier. Learners share...
Curated OER
Compliments can Change the World
Students explore the definition of philanthropy as it relates to bullying. In this moral values activity, students listen to the book Thank you, Mr. Falker and identify how the main character was bullied. Students define philanthropy,...
Curated OER
Trustworthiness
Students practice becoming aware of the behavior that leads to trusting someone else. They answer simple questions that are directed toward being trustworthy. Each student participates in creating a mural of illustrations of examples of...
Stephen F. Austin State University, College of Fine Arts
The Ugly Duckling
It's not about what you look like on the outside! A study guide for the stage adaptation of The Ugly Duckling reminds learners that being cruel to those in need is not helpful—and that we all belong somewhere.
Missouri Department of Elementary
Are You Balanced?
Balance scales create a strong visual of how an individual prioritizes one's self alongside their commitments to the community, school, and home. Scholars complete a graphic organizer then discuss their findings with their peers. A...
Curated OER
Handling the Earth with Care
Eighth graders examine the characteristics of caring people. For this behavioral studies lesson, 8th graders differentiate between caring and uncaring personality traits. Students view a video about personality traits, and work in...
Curated OER
Character Building-Brick Wall
Pupils develop and recognize positive traits and random acts of kindness through modeling, positive reinforcement, class discussions and activities and charting the traits. This continues throughout an entire year.
Curated OER
Circle of Caring
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning instructional activity, students study the works of well-known philanthropists and write an acrostic poem using the word CARING.
Curated OER
One Small Act
Young scholars explore the trait of caring. For this character education lesson, students discuss acts of kindness and collaborate to promote a kindness campaign.
Curated OER
Cancer Banner Art Installation
Students complete a service learning project to raise money for Relay for Life. In this service learning lesson, students discuss installation art and watch a video about Pepon Osorio. Students review articles about service projects and...
Curated OER
Owen and Mzee
Middle schoolers examine the trait of compassion. In this character education lesson, students read Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff. Middle schoolers discuss the theme of the story as well as...
Curated OER
Peace Education | Wreath or Tree Craft
What is peace and what does it mean to our society? To understand why peace is celebrated and what character traits or concepts relate to the action of peace, learners engage in a discussion, story time, and a craft project. The lesson...