CHARACTER EDUCATION
Volume 2, Issue 9
COLLIER DISTRICT SCHOOLS/MAY, JUNE, JULY 2012
Do Something
Are you looking to help out your community
this summer? Perhaps you have an idea in
mind or you are looking for one. Either way,
DoSomething.Org may be the answer for
you. This site lists many causes that you
can become involved with over the summer.
It also offers funding for projects that you
already have in mind. Check it out as it may
just be the first step you take in changing
your community! Link:
www.dosomething.org
“National Student Campaign Against Hunger
& Homelessness” - If you are looking to
stamp out hunger and homeless in our
nation, this site can help. While many of the currently participating Florida schools are colleges and
universities, this may be a campaign that your student government or other school leadership organization
may want to tackle. Go to the website to find out how you can help end hunger and homelessness. Link:
http://www.studentsagainsthunger.org/
Celebrate Individuality
This classroom activity asks each student to place his or her name at the top of a piece of paper. Then each
paper is passed to the person sitting behind (or any other direction) him or her. That person then lists one
positive character trait comment about the person’s whose name is at top of the paper. Each comment should
focus strictly on the character traits and not delve into superficial traits (“Her eyes are pretty.”). Each page
continues to be passed around the room until all students have had the opportunity to comment about each
classmate. Once the papers are returned to their original owners, watch the smiles that appear on everyone’s
faces as they read about their character!
Character Traits
INTEGRITY
CARING
COURAGE
HAVING A MORAL CHARACTER
INTEGRITY
PERSEVERANCE
CHARITY
FAIRNESS
CARING
JUSTICE
RESPECT
CITIZENSHIP
FORGIVENESS
HAVING CONCERN FOR OTHERS
KINDNESS
SELF-CONTROL
COOPERATION
HONESTY
COURAGE
PATRIOTISM
TOLERANCE
BRAVERY
Linear Arrays
•••
FOR A BETTER LIFE VIDEOS
Words are connected to one another
through the nuances of language.
Assist your students in developing a
robust understanding of the
highlighted character traits by
discussing the various shades of
meaning for each word’s synonyms
and antonyms.
For Secondary Students:
“Reach” - (0:32) – http://
www.values.com/inspirationalstories-tv-spots/78-Reach
After you have discussed the
denotations and connotations of each
word, ask your students to use the
below listed linear arrays to rank each
word on the continuum. The best part
of this activity is that there is not a
correct answer; the discussion is what
is most important as students
determine each word’s shade of
meaning.
Integrity
•
synonyms: honor, esteem,
honesty, forthrightness,
purity, virtue, candor,
sincerity
•
antonyms: corruption,
disgrace, dishonor, abuse,
affront, degradation, insult,
indignity
For Elementary Students:
“Classroom” (1:00) – http://
www.values.com/inspirationalstories-tv-spots/91-Classroom
Caring
•
Courage
synonyms: benevolent,
•
charitable, kind, altruistic,
generous, helpful, humane,
philanthropic
•
antonyms: greedy,
malevolent, mean, selfish,
spiteful, unkind, malicious,
ornery
synonyms: daring,
bravery, bravura,
fearlessness, spunk,
tenacity, fortitude, nerve
•
antonyms: cowardice,
fear, meekness, timidity,
weakness, terror,
apprehension, mousiness
LINEAR ARRAYS
Integrity
Least amount of integrity
Most amount of integrity
Words: honor, esteem, virtue, insult, corruption, affront, disgrace, purity
Caring
Least amount of caring
Most amount of caring
Words: spiteful, humane, charitable, kind, ornery, malevolent, benevolent, mean
Courage
Least amount of courage
Most amount of courage
Words: bravery, mousiness, cowardice, fearlessness, spunk, terror, apprehension, tenacity