Novelinks
The Devil’s Arithmetic: Semantic Feature Analysis
Organize the characters in Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic according to their shared character traits. After listing character traits as a class, kids note which characters exhibit particular characteristics with a discussion and...
Curated OER
Shizuko’s Daughter: Discussion Web
Is Yuki a selfish character? Analyze her motivation and behavior during a unit on Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori. Readers fill out two sides of a graphic organizer with reasons why or why not she is selfish, and then come up with a...
Curated OER
Character Education: Integrity
Middle schoolers understand the definition of integrity and explain quotes about it. For this integrity lesson, students apply quotes about integrity to a personal experience and write about it.
Curated OER
How the Cookie Crumbles?
Students participate in a trust building activity. In this trust building lesson, students discuss the definition of the word "trust." Students understand that by sharing time, talents, and treasures we learn to trust each other....
Curated OER
Service Learning
Young scholars view video clips to define service learning. In this civics lesson, students read quotes, take a survey, and define altruism. Young scholars view video clips and evaluate the motivation and impact of those who perform...
Curated OER
My Life 24-7 Video
Students utilize the short film genre to illustrate ethical themes and identify good character. In this ethics and technology lesson, students discuss their favorite viral videos and select an ethically themed topic to create their own...
Curated OER
Lesson 8: Settings that Reinforce Characters
The best way to be a good writer is to read good writing. Learners read and discuss an excerpt from a book that will help them comprehend the relationship between setting and character. They will use what they've gleaned from discussion...
Curated OER
Humourous Head Planter Spike: Ceramics Lesson
What a great activity. Kids create humorous ceramic character (heads) spikes to enliven a planter. Modern art is full of expressive and exaggerated forms and your class gets to create them out of clay. This would be a lovely activity to...
Curated OER
The News Behind the Story
What a fun way to analyze plot, setting, and character. Learners review story elements, read a short fictional story, then turn the events of that story into a headlining news paper article. Not only does this lesson engage critical...
Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character
Charlotte's Web: A Story About Friendship
Strengthen the bonds of friendship within your class with a reading of E.B. White's award-winning novel, Charlotte's Web. Focusing on the unique characters in the story and the relationships they develop, young readers draw from their...
Curated OER
Language Practice
The simple instructional techniques described in this plan will help young readers learn and practice basic reading skills and strategies. Before reading, introduce your readers to the meaning of main character, setting, and plot. Then...
Roald Dahl
The Twits - The Furniture Goes Up
Work gets done faster when people work as a team. The ninth installment of an 11-lesson unit designed to accompany The Twits by Roald Dahl combines character education with research skills and creative writing activities. The lesson ends...
Curated OER
Back to School (Secondary)
Welcome your class back to school! They will participate in a character education lesson in order to build community at the school. First they identify needs of new learners by putting themselves in their shoes and create welcome packs...
Curated OER
Character and Citizenship Education
Students analyze the importance of being a socially healthy citizen. In this character education instructional activity, students brainstorm personal traits that they think make the world a better place. Students compile their ideas as a...
Curated OER
Character Ambassadors
Students act as ambassadors. In this character education lesson, students take on the roles of ambassadors of the character traits listed. Students write essays regarding the character traits they select.
Curated OER
Class With Character
Third graders participate in a variety of activities in order to promote the concept of being a good citizen. The foundation of this unit is found in the character trait of respect for self and others in society.
Curated OER
Filling the Holes, 20 Years Later
Students learn to analyze traits of the main character after reading Holes by Louis Sachar. In this character analysis lesson, students illustrate one of the characters at their workplace 20 years in the future.
Nemours KidsHealth
Conflict Resolution: Grades 3-5
Students analyze concepts related to health promotion and conflict resolution. In this character education lesson, students answer discussion questions about resolving conflicts. Students complete a conflict resolution activity using a...
Curated OER
Preparing the Soil
Middle schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students read Seedfolks and discuss the characters in the story and consider their actions that led to a community garden. Middle schoolers journal...
Curated OER
New Beginnings
Start the year off with a few role-play scenarios focused on positive classroom interactions, respect, and expressing feelings. These scenarios are very oddly worded but pose a good way to help learners build empathy and caring when...
Curated OER
Goodness! Gorillas in Our Community!
Students discuss the story Goodness! Gorillas in Our Community! and create character maps from it. They practice qualities of community membership and write about and illustrate these qualities.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin and the Way to A Good Life
Young scholars explore American history by reading biographical text in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, learners research the famous inventor by reading assigned text and answering reading comprehension questions afterwards....
Spreading Gratitude Rocks
Generation of Respect
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Learners find out what it means to them. Scholars write sentences, do a word sort, and list what makes them grateful. Additionally, pupils learn how to be more respectful by completing worksheets that would make Aretha...
Louisiana Department of Education
Out of the Dust
The Grapes of Wrath may be the most famous novel set during the Dust Bowl, but what other stories cover the same time? The unit focuses on the Karen Hesse novel Out of the Dust. Learners keep a timeline of the Dust Bowl, maintain a...