Middle School (6th - 8th ) Character Education Lesson Plans 2014-2015
February: Loyalty
Lesson 1:
2/4/2015
1. Character Education is a pillar at CCA-CFA. The goal of the program is to develop civic-virtue and character for a more
compassionate, ethical, and responsible society. Character - “Doing the right thing, even when no one is looking”.
2. CharacterFirst! video on Loyalty. http://library.characterfirst.com/qualities/loyalty/
3. Definition and key concepts (if video is not an option, review the following)
 Loyalty Definition: "Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve"
 Opposite: Unfaithfulness
I WILLS
1) Serve my family & teachers 2) Encourage others in hard times 3) Not mock authorities
4) Point out the good in others 5) Honor my country
4. Consider these questions based on the concepts introduced in the video:
INVEST IN PEOPLE: Consider the people and relationships in your life. If you look closely, most of these relationships reveal
varying levels of commitment. This can be seen at school: You commit to work for your teacher, while your teacher commits to
teach you for the future job/activities you will one day pursue.
 What does commitment look like in a healthy relationship? Who has demonstrated this type of commitment or loyalty in
your life?
 What are some of the commitments you make at home & school? Why is doing what you promise important?
 What are some commitments you have made to other people? Why is it important to fulfill these commitments?
ANTICIPATE DIFFICULTIES: Challenges are a part of life. While we don’t know the future, we still may be able to prepare. We do
this by reviewing our past experiences, or even better, asking others how they handle challenges in their lives.
 What are some of the challenges you face at school? Who do you know that would be willing and able to give you good
advice if needed?
 What are some of the things that hinder or distract you from thinking ahead and preparing for the future? What is one
thing you can do to be better prepared for an unexpected challenge?
GO THE DISTANCE: Promising to do something can be a simple decision. The hard part comes in following through with the
details and completing the task - especially when deadlines shift or unexpected changes occur. Loyalty can be seen throughout
the course of a project, but is most visible after reaching the end and crossing the finish line.
 How do you feel when someone makes a commitment to you and sticks with it even though there is sacrifice involved?
 Is there a time when you had to make a sacrifice for someone else or for a project at school? How did you feel at the
time? How did you feel when you were able to finish the project?
5. Cornerstone Cares: The February recipient of the Dollar Jean Day donation is Susie’s Hope- www.susieshope.com
Discussion question: How does this activity relate to the character trait Loyalty?
* Please feel free to modify these lessons as you see fit to meet the needs of the students at your grade level. If you find any supplementary materials or
activities that you think would be beneficial (books, articles, You Tube clips, anecdotes, etc.), please use them and share ideas with other coaches on our
FaceBook site: http://www.facebook.com/CCACharacterFirstCoaches
Middle School (6th - 8th ) Character Education Lesson Plans 2014-2015
Lesson 2:
2/11/2015
Lesson 3:
2/18/2015
1. Videos for consideration:
Conner & Cayden (Time 4:42) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Lax4zFFoA
Dick & Rick Hoyt (Time 6:40) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrLv6z-mM
2. FYI: When those tough times come, a person with loyalty will be dependable because they are determined to carry on even
with adversity staring them in the face. They will finish well because they prepared themselves and chose to fulfill the
commitment they made to others.
3. "The game is my life. It demands loyalty and responsibility, and it gives me back fulfillment and peace." — Michael Jordan
How do you think this quote by Michael Jordan regarding basketball ties into Connor and/or Dick and what they did for their
family member? What do they “get back” from what they have done?
4. Discuss synonyms or close synonyms for loyalty (to stand up for, to be part of , to be true to, faithfulness, devotion,
allegiance, reliability, dependability, commitment, vow, promise) and antonyms or near antonyms (unfaithfulness,
uncommitted, traitor, spy, out for oneself, infidelity, disloyal, betrayal, deceit, untrue, untrustworthy) and how these words
connect to the individuals in the video/s.
5. Cornerstone Cares: Remind students to participate in Susie’s Hope- www.susieshope.com Jean Day February 20th. Susie
will be coming on February 13th with owner Donna to share their story!!
1. Videos for consideration:
ALS patient continues RAK (Time 3:03)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3YLlfUukeI&list=PLEb3ThbkPrFYcsA7NXKOk4DhT_MQpNAjw
A tough teacher’s alter ego (Time 3:32) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-fduifHII&app=desktop
2. FYI: Our lives are full of people. Some relationships we enjoy, while others we would rather do without. Loyalty is a
commitment to the people in our lives and is demonstrated when life doesn’t go the way we think it should.
3. “Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless selfindulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your
values.” -Ayn Rand How does this quote apply to the man/men in the videos and what they do? Are they “happy” and
why do you think so? How do you think their values influence their happiness?
4. Can the students come up with ideas about RAK (random acts of kindness) that capitalize on their “…ability to change the
world with just an act of kindness.” Chris Rosati (ALS patient video)
5. Consider a version of Pop-a-question (see bottom of lesson plan re: questions or link to further quotes to consider
discussing) as time allows.
6. Cornerstone Cares: Remind students to participate in Susie’s Hope- www.susieshope.com – Jean Day Friday!!
* Please feel free to modify these lessons as you see fit to meet the needs of the students at your grade level. If you find any supplementary materials or
activities that you think would be beneficial (books, articles, You Tube clips, anecdotes, etc.), please use them and share ideas with other coaches on our
FaceBook site: http://www.facebook.com/CCACharacterFirstCoaches
Middle School (6th - 8th ) Character Education Lesson Plans 2014-2015
Lesson 4:
2/25/2015
1. Videos for consideration:
The Longest Wait (Time 9:33)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdjZPuSJR4&list=PLEb3ThbkPrFYcsA7NXKOk4DhT_MQpNAjw&index=60
S.C. man finds life-saving kidney for his wife (Time 2:38)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD2dXhjDu5w&index=63&list=PLEb3ThbkPrFYcsA7NXKOk4DhT_MQpNAjw
2. FYI - There seems to be a deficit of loyalty in our culture today. Gone are the days when commitments were made with
handshakes. While we live in a different era where people seem to be focused more on themselves than others, this
presents an opportunity for you to live and lead with distinction.
3. "Love is absolute loyalty. People fade, looks fade, but loyalty never fades. You can depend so much on certain people, you
can set your watch by them. And that's love, even if it doesn't seem very exciting." — Sylvester Stallone What does love
have to do with loyalty? How did the love of the individual/s in the video/s get translated into loyalty?
4. Consider a SIX-WORD MEMOIR project - http://sixwordmemoirs.com/about/about-six/ Can students describe this month’s
character trait in 6 words or less? For Example, Loyalty - Lasting Commitment Despite Limitations and Difficulties .
Wouldn’t it be fun to get lots of these 6-words together in a video for future CCA-CFA viewing pleasure?
* Please feel free to modify these lessons as you see fit to meet the needs of the students at your grade level. If you find any supplementary materials or
activities that you think would be beneficial (books, articles, You Tube clips, anecdotes, etc.), please use them and share ideas with other coaches on our
FaceBook site: http://www.facebook.com/CCACharacterFirstCoaches
Middle School (6th - 8th ) Character Education Lesson Plans 2014-2015
-FYI – The FYI statements in each lesson were copied directly from different spots on the Character First website on loyalty.
-Website with lots of QUOTES:
www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/loyalty.html
-Pop-A-Question (from Elementary Character First Teacher’s Guide)
Write questions on small squares of paper and roll them up and insert them into balloons while deflated then blow up the
balloons. You can divide the class into two teams. Have a student pop a balloon and read the question inside. Let the team
answer the question. You could also fill balloons with scenes to act out, quotes about loyalty (see link above) for discussion
Question examples:
1. A close friend has just told you that he found ten dollars underneath the teacher’s desk. He is all excited at his “good luck”
What is the right thing to do?
2. You’re going to play basketball with some of your friends, and your younger brother, who isn’t very good at basketball, asks
if he can play too. What is the right thing to do?
3. Your grandmother who lives next door is sick and can’t get out of bed. She is really lonely? What is the right thing to do?
4. You’re talking to a friend and she starts to say mean thing about one of your classmates. What is the right thing to do?
5. You’re talking with a group of friends that you want to impress and one start to make fun of your sister. What is the right
thing to do?
6. While your class recites the Pledge of Allegiance, a couple of friends laugh about a joke and they heard earlier. They start to
tell the joke to you. What is the right thing to do?
7. Your teacher instructs you to get a book from the library and return to class immediately. You find the book and are ready
to take it back when the librarian asks you to help her put books on the shelf. What is the right thing to do?
8. You promised your grandfather that you would help him rake his yard right after school today but one of your friends has
just invited you to tide his new dirt bike. What is the right thing to do?
* Please feel free to modify these lessons as you see fit to meet the needs of the students at your grade level. If you find any supplementary materials or
activities that you think would be beneficial (books, articles, You Tube clips, anecdotes, etc.), please use them and share ideas with other coaches on our
FaceBook site: http://www.facebook.com/CCACharacterFirstCoaches