Character Education and Life Skills Lessons
"Don't Just Teach Academics...Leave Your Legacy!" 

Introduction to Lessons (Below)
Link to Example Lesson (Leave this page.)
List of Character Traits (Below)

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."

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.

 

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/Activities Five Lessons
Cheerfulness	Good-humored, bright and pleasant. Joyfulness, Optimistic.		Intercom Insights/Quotes/Stories/Activities Two lessons
Honor	A sense of what is right, just and true		Intercom Insights/Quotes/Stories/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/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/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
Generosity/ 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/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/Activities Lesson #1 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/Activities 5 Lessons on Goal-Setting and Time Management
Resilience	The ability to bounce back from failure or discouragements.		Intercom Insights/Quotes/Stories/Activities Two 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/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/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/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/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 on Self-Respect... 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/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, and 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.	Lesson #1 of Dating Series on "Getting to Know You: Is Dating the Only Way?" Lesson #2 of Dating Series on "Enjoying Singleness" Lesson #8 of Dating Series on "In Search of the Perfect Mate." Lesson #9 of Dating Series on "In Search of the Perfect Mate."
Sex	Understanding the physical and emotional consequences of early sex and the practical implications.		Lesson #3 of Dating Series on "Sex, Lies, and the Truth" Lesson #4 of Dating Series on "Sex, Lies, and the Truth" Lesson #5 of Dating Series on "Setting (and Keeping!) Your Standards" Lesson #6 of Dating Series on "Setting (and Keeping!) Your Standards" Lesson #7 of Dating Series on "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 elementary job fair)  Finding a Vocation You Love (High School; first three lessons complete, targeting final three lessons complete by Dec. 1, 2005)