Curated OER
Defining Trustworthiness
Students explore the trait of trustworthiness. In this character education lesson, students discuss the attributes of people they trust. Students create a group definition of trustworthiness.
Curated OER
When People Steal From Me
Students identify the effects of theft to learn that stealing is wrong. In this stealing lesson, students discuss what it feels like to have something stolen. Students make a list of their six favorite things and list why they are...
Curated OER
Everyday Courage
Sixth graders compare scenarios about courage. In this character education lesson, 6th graders discover what it means to be brave. Students analyze scenarios and determine if courage was necessary.
Orange County Department of Education
The Hero: Writing and Responding
Pupils identify heroic character traits that they admire and that inspire trust and result in service to others. They identify the heroic traits of a character of their choosing and defend their reasoning using evidence from the text and...
Orange County Department of Education
Trapped by the Ice
Third graders read the story "Trapped by the Ice" which is about the Antarctic adventures of Sir Ernest Shackleton. They identify, write and share examples of respect and responsibility demonstrated by the stories' characters. Students...
Orange County Department of Education
Pepita Talks Twice
Third graders read Pepita Talks Twice and define the character traits of respect and responsibility. They write their examples of the characters traits on a character trait doll. Students recognize the character traits of respect and...
Orange County Department of Education
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Fifth graders read Dear Mr. Henshaw and identify the character trait of self-respect as exhibited by Leigh throughout the story. They evaluate the author's use of letters to tell the story and discuss how the story would be different if...
Orange County Department of Education
Katie's Trunk
Fifth graders read the story of "Katie's Trunk". They identify the traits of integrity and fairness in the characters John Warren and Katie. Students explore how people can experience the same event but interpret it differently. They...
Orange County Department of Education
Nights of the Pufflings
Third graders read the story to identify the problem and solution that occurs in Night of the Pufflings. They identify problems within the story that are solved through the characters' responsible actions. Students describe in their...
Orange County Department of Education
Integrity and a Boy Called Slow
Fifth graders identify the character trait of integrity in the main character, Slow, in "A Boy Called Slow." They participate in a discussion to determine what steps the main character took to earn his new name. Students write an essay...
Orange County Department of Education
The True Story of Abbie Burgess
First graders read a story about Abbie Burgess. They identify at least three specific actions exhibiting traits of courage and responsibility. Students explore ways children and adults become heroes by helping others out in a time of...
Orange County Department of Education
Integrity and "Thank You, M'am"
Ninth graders explore the definition of integrity through a class discussion. They provide positive/negative examples from the story and their own experiences. Students determine character traits by analyzing the dialogue in a short...
Curated OER
Catching the Beat: Exploring the Function of Verse in Othello
Students examine meter and how Shakespeare uses it in dialogue to show character emotion.
Curated OER
Oliver Twist Goes to Hollywood
How does Oliver Twist, the novel written by Charles Dickens, compare with its screenplay adaptation? Although the activity doesn't require learners to have read the novel, the similarities and differences of the highlighted passages...
EngageNY
Close Reading of Nasreen's Secret School: How Do People Access Books in Afghanistan?
Third graders continue to practice the close reading skills of capturing the gist and reading again for important details in the sixth instructional activity in a larger unit. This is a great beginning-of-the-year unit for establishing...
Curated OER
Living Integrity
Middle schoolers analyze scenarios regarding integrity. For this character education lesson, students participate in group discussions. Middle schoolers analyze various scenarios regarding integrity and construct a written response in...
Curated OER
Defining Caring
Students define the word care and discover the importance of caring for others. In this character education lesson, students work as a class to brainstorm synonyms for care. Learners write a list of 5 things or people that they care about.
Curated OER
Leader for Life
Students develop their leadership skills. In this character education lesson, students discuss the characteristics of leaders and create leadership books that feature leadership pointers.
Curated OER
In-Group Favoritism
Learners discover how to cross social boundaries. In this character education lesson, students discuss the positive and negative impacts of favortism they witness in their local community as well as the international community. Learners...
Curated OER
What Can I Do?
Students identify feelings and learn how to handle conflict. In this character education lesson, discuss what to do when a friend is feeling sad and develop positive ways to handle negative feelings.
Curated OER
Sexism: From Identification to Activism
Students explore sexism. In this character education lesson plan, students define sexism and discuss individual behaviors and institutional policies that promote sexism. Students determine how they can be advocates to end sexism.
Curated OER
The Value of Respect
Students participate in discussions and listen to audio programs about giving and receiving respect. They identify disrespectful behavior and role play ways to promote respect in their own lives. They also examine the relationship...
Curated OER
I Am a Star
Students explore the unique qualities of themselves and others. In this character education lesson, students read the book A Unicorn Named Beulah Mae and create a paper star displaying their unique personality traits.
Curated OER
Identifying Types of Native American Stories
Young scholars read Native American stories and record information on forms about them. They identify the type of story, its significance, and purpose. Students determine what the readers/listeners should learn from the stories.