CHARACTER LESSONS
All the character lessons in this webguide are written by Dr. Ed DeRoche__Director of
the University of San Diego’s Character Development Center.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LESSON 1: RV the Racer Aardvark_Kindness and Respect………………..Page 1
LESSON2: Smokescreen_Perseverance……………………………………….Page 4
LESSON 3: Proton_Integrity/Truthfulness……………………………………Page 8
LESSON 4: Fast Earnie_Teamwork……………………………………………Page 11
FUEL FOR THOUGHT: Many of the Lessons in this Webguide incorporate quotes
from famous people on Character. Play the Fuel for Thought Game and Discover
many more famous quotes on character and win prizes!
Page 1
CHARACTER LESSON 1: RV the Racer Aardvark__ART
Respect and Kindness
Character Standard: A person of good character is kind, respectful, empathetic, and
follows the Golden Rule.
Activity 1:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
CA-Visual Arts Standards
1.0 Artistic Expression
2.0 Creative Expression
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
On poster paper, draw an outline of your right hand and then your left hand. On each
finger of your right hand, list words that tell about the character trait of respect. On the
palm of your right hand outline describe an example of respect in action.
Now do the same with the outline of your left hand, but this time focus on the character
trait of kindness.
Activity 2:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
CA-Visual Arts Standards
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
In the video, who are the three main characters?
_________________________
_________________________
Where did the scene take place?
Why did the security guard stop the boy?
How did the boy show “respect?”
Page 2
How did the security guard show “kindness?”
What surprised the boy in the video?
If you were to change the last scene of the video, how would you write it?
Activity 3:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 6: Application
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
CA-Visual Arts Standards
3.0 Artistic Expression
4.0 Creative Expression
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
As you know, the main purpose of advertisements is to persuade people to buy a product
or service. Using “RV-The Racer Aardvark” for your main character, write a 30-second
radio commercial (script) or create a 30-second video “selling” the character trait of
“kindness” to an audience of teen-aged listeners. Try it out at home or in your class.
Activity 4:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 6: Application
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
CA-Visual Arts Standards
5.0 Artistic Expression
6.0 Creative Expression
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
Find the comic pages in your local newspaper. With a red marker, mark the comics you
found in which the character(s) showed ”disrespect.” Mark these strips with a DR. Do
the same for characters that are being “unkind.” Mark these comics with a UK.
Next, take a blue marker and find comic strips that tell the story or have characters are
showing “kindness“ and mark with a K; “respect” with an R.
Finally, carefully study the comics in your newspaper. Notice that comic strip writers
usually use three or four panels to tell the story with one or two main characters. A one-
Page 3
panel comic is called a cartoon that you will find on the comics pages. Using “RV-The
Racing Aardvark” draw-write a comic strip about the character trait of “kindness” and
then do one for “respect.” If you like doing this activity, also try your skills at drawing a
cartoon (one-panel) that tells about “kindness” and/or “respect.”
Activity 5: NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 6: Application
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
In your own words write what each of these quotes have to do with the character traits of
“respect” and “kindness.”
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be
kind. The third is to be kind.” Henry James
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
“You don’t have to blow out the other fellow’s light to let your own shine.”
Bernard Baruch
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your turn: List some acts of kindness that has happened to you in the past few weeks.
How about “respect” – how did you show it?
Kindness-It happened to me!
I showed “respect”…
Page 4
CHARACTER LESSON 2: Smokescreen__Early Space & Rocketry
Perseverance
Character Standard: A person of good character is hard working, diligent, and reliable,
doesn’t fear failure, and learns from his/her mistakes.
Activity 1:
NSES Standard A: Science as Inquiry
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Quote: “The Wright brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.”
– Charles Kettering
What does this quote mean to you?
____________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Here are two other quotes to think about:
“The price of success is perseverance.” – Anonymous
“Life challenges present us with three basic choices: give in, give up, or go on.”
– Duane Hodgin
Page 5
Activity 2:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 7: Research
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
Hints for being diligent:
1. Set weekly, reasonable goals – stick to them
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
2. Organize your time – take one step at a time
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
3. Learn from your mistakes
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
4. Take responsibility for your actions
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
5. Don’t quit! Work hard! Bash barriers!
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
6. Finish what you start
 I do it
7. I always try to do my best
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
8. Enjoy what you have to do, so what you enjoy!
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
9. Surround yourself with friends who support hard work and getting things done
 I do it
 I don’t do it
 I’ll try it
Page 6
Activity 3:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 7: Research
Standard 5: Communication
Standard 2: Literature reading
NSES Standard A: Science as Inquiry
DPP: Diligent, Persevering, People
Here is a suggested list of people who were diligent, persevered, focused, hard working –
good examples for you, your classmates and friends. You can add to the list below.
Look up why these people were diligent and persevered no matter what.
Athletes
Lance Armstrong
Babe Didrikson
Wilma Randolph
Babe Ruth
Jackie Robinson
Activity 4:
Scientists
Wright Brothers
Marie Curie
Thomas Edison
Stephen Hawking
Galileo
Others
Pat Tillman
John McCain
Ulysses Grant
Martin Luther King,
Jr.
Franklin D.
Roosevelt
Benjamin Franklin
Anne Frank
People You Know
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 7: Research
Literacy Standard 5: Communication
Perseverance: Write a story about the most hard working, diligent person you know.
Page 7
Activity 5:
NSES Standard A: Science as Inquiry
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
In the video story, “Smokescreen” tries hard to build a rocket. He fails many times but
never gives up. In this rocket, write words that represent perseverance and diligence. We
will get you started with two key words. See if you can list at least 10 words on the
rocket
Commitment
Responsibility
Before “blasting off,” write how you will become more diligent, more persistent, more
focused on getting things done at home, in school, in sports, etc.
Page 8
CHARACTER LESSON 3: Proton__ Math
Integrity – Trustfulness
Character Standard: A person of good character is honest and truthful.
Activity 1:
NSES Standard A: Science as Inquiry
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Q&A: Famous skateboarder, Proton – will he show up? “Proton always keeps his
word.”
In this film, how did Proton “keep his word?”
Activity 2:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
In Your Own Words
What does “honesty” mean to you?
What does it mean to be “truthful”?
To be honest, you should
Honest people know that
,
are wrong.
___,
and
Page 9
Activity 3:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
What Do You Do?
You see one of your friends cheating on a test.
A friend tells you a rumor about one of your classmates.
A friend wants you to “cover for him” because he didn’t do his homework.
You go to a movie your parents do not want you to see.
You find someone’s wallet with $20 in it.
You promise to keep a secret but tell the secret to your close friend.
Activity 4:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3:Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Literacy Standard 11: Reflection
Truth in Advertising
Find an advertisement in a newspaper or magazine. Read it carefully. Notice the
graphics and pictures used in the ad. Think about the “truthfulness” of the ad; that is,
think critically about this and other ads.
List questions that concern you about the ad(s):
Page 10
Now, look at some commercials you see on television. Pick one or two. Think critically
about these commercials.
List questions that concern you about the commercial(s):
Activity 5:
NCTE/IRA
Literacy Standard 3: Comprehension
Literacy Standard 5: Writing
Honesty and Truthfulness – Acrostic Poems
Create an acrostic poem using the name “Proton.” Put it on a chart and post it at home or
in your classroom at school.
Here is an example to get you started:
Play fair
Right or wrong, be honest and truthful
Others trust you
Tell the truth
Others care, so should you
Never lie
Page 11
CHARACTER LESSON 4: Fast Earnie_Physical Science
Teamwork
Activity 1
Boil It Down
Here are some statements about the story. Fill in the correct answers.
The main character’s name is
He is from the planet named
He gets lost and finds himself on a strange planet called
He can do something no on else can do, which is
One scientist wants to find out how he works but he gets away by
While watching a NASCAR race, he becomes
but discovers that his team has found a way to
Activity 2
NASCAR Races
While the driver gets all the attention and recognition, every one of them will tell you that
their success is a result of great teamwork. Watch all or part of a NASCAR race.
Besides the driver, whom do you see working in the “pits” as members of the team? List
three or four.
Page 12
Activity 3
Quote Board
“You don’t win with cars. You don’t win with tricks as X’s and O’x in football. You win
with people. If you get the right people together – the guys that are willing to sacrifice
their own individual goals for the goals of the team, you’re gonna win.” – Joe Gibbs
“There is no substitute for teamwork.” – W. Edwards Deming
“Teamwork is the key to success in this country.” - Dick Lyles, author
“The most important four letter work in the English language is TEAM.” – John
Wooden, former basketball coach
“Two heads are better than one.” – Author unknown
Activity 4
Who are the team members in your life?
At home
In class
In sports
In your social life
Activity 5
What skills do you think you and others need to be a productive member of every team
you are on?
Page 13
Activity 6
What does teamwork look like? Write a slogan or saying or comment about teamwork
on the front of the T-shirt. What would you write on the back of the shirt?
Front
Back