Curated OER
Reality Ethics
Learners suggest ethical decisions to problems and determine the basis and authority for them as ethical decisions.
Curated OER
Tell Me a Whopper!
Sixth graders investigate tall tales as a literary genre. They listen to a number of tall tales to discover how exaggeration is used as a story element. They write and publish a tall tale using word processing software. They illustrate...
Curated OER
Looking Through Lenses
Learners explore the various societal and cultural "lenses" which color their perspectives and life experiences by reading the short story "What Means Switch" by Gish Jen. They discuss how the cultural ideas and beliefs affect the...
Other
Foundation for a Better Life: Values: Personal and Family Values
A range of media and resources--billboards, televised public service announcements, first-person accounts, quotations--that communicate ideas about the meanings of a wide range of essential values, such as ambition, gratitude, respect,...
Live Wire Media
Good Character: Ethical Dilemmas for Classroom Discussion Archive
An archive of challenging ethical dilemmas relevant to the experiences of high-school students. Use this solid set of resources as the foundation for lessons that teach about ethical choices and values based on real-life contexts and...
Live Wire Media
Good Character: The Socratic Approach to Character Education
A how-to article that illustrates how teachers can educate students about making choices that are consistent with their ethical values. A comprehensive plan for using the venerable Socratic method to reinforce critical-thinking skills by...
Other
In Character: A Journal of Everyday Virtues
In Character is an online journal that examines a single virtue--compassion, creativity, purpose, modesty, loyalty, or thrift, for example--from different perspectives. Articles are written by noted scholars, journalists, and critics,...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Character Education "What's in a Name"
Excellent resource for empowering students to become better learners. This lesson includes helping students reflect on their value and self-worth, promoting appreciation of their individuality, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, and...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Character Education "Feelings"
Excellent classroom activities for building students' character. This activity focuses on a student's feelings in providing them with a sense of self-discovery and understanding of their value. Good resource.
Other
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Can the world become a kinder place? The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has a multitude of ideas for changing the world one step at a time. Authors list 100 "Ideas for Kindness" that range from "Give the Gift of your Smile" to "Host...
PBS
Pbs: Endgame: Ethics and Values in America
At this interactive site from PBS, viewers enter the lives of fictional characters who are forced to make critical decisions about their roles in a fatal car crash. A variety of media--video, polling, and audio interviews with an expert...
Other
Wardrobe: Educator's Guide: Values Based Activities
Character education is the focus of this collection of instructional activity ideas in a Word document.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: The Right Job for the Tortoise and the Hare
This entertaining lesson teaches your primary learners about the value of specialized labor within a community, via The Tortoise and The Hare. This classic story also reinforces character education values of respect and friendship....