Curated OER
Lyddie
Learners investigate the character trait of perseverance and how it is used to help a girl gain independence in a fictional story. The story also has them think about the value of relationships and then write reflectively about...
Curated OER
Greek Mythology: All in the Family
Twelfth graders compare/contrast the Greek myth to explain an aspect of nature. They create an explanatory myth about some aspect of nature and design a mythological business card using Microsoft Word.
Peace Corps
Features of Culture
Explore the melting pot in your own classroom with a lesson that focuses on cultural beliefs, traditions, and traits. Middle and high schoolers examine the details of their own identified cultures before sharing them with peers, and...
Curated OER
What Will I Be When I Get Big
Learners research a famous person, consider what character values make this person a good role model and write a personal vision statement that maps out how to build similar character traits in their own lives.
Curated OER
Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members explore...
Curated OER
A Straightforward Approach
Middle schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. For this character education lesson, students discuss the value of honesty and consider honesty towards self, family, friends, and the community as they write a reflection.
Curated OER
Endeavor: Preparing Ourselves for Future Destinations
Students define the word endeavor and then practice the art of self-discipline. They create character trait charts and discuss how strong character traits help students meet their future destinations.
Bright Hub Education
Teaching "Gone with the Wind" in High School: Ideas & Activities
Plan on using Gone with the Wind as a reading selection? Here's a packet of prompts for activities and assessments.
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....
Curated OER
A Sense of Place
High schoolers evaluate stories, customs, and pieces of literature and draw conclusions about people who have lived in New Mexico. They analyze how water helps define the character of an area.
Curated OER
Chana's Anguish and Triumph -1
Students study the family history of Elkana. They describe story elements and character feelings based on their understanding of the story.
Curated OER
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
Students examine the early years of Harry Truman to determine how his upbringing influenced his character. His political career from county judge to president is explored and some of the decisions made as a politician, evaluated.
Curated OER
Everyday Heroes
Learners research how Ernie Pyle's descriptive narratives and "every man's" perspective of the war allow them to examine personal traits such as courage and heroism. The activity can be extended to include more examples to teach...
Curated OER
Self-Management Unit
Students explain how self-concept is built and preserved and how it relates to the perception of individual strengths and weaknesses. They explore self-concept, character & integrity, labeling, values, goals and decision making.
Teaching Tolerance
Identity Self-Portraits
What symbols represent you best? Individuals consider how they would draw peers using symbols about their identities with an interview and art activity. After conducting interviews and portraits, the art makes a great centerpiece for...
Prestwick House
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Challenge readers of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to test their knowledge of the tale by providing them with a crossword puzzle that asks them to recall characters and events.
College Board
Choices and Consequences
Paul Fisher, the main character in Tangerine, comes to see that it's the choices in life that lead to the consequences that make all the difference. A unit study of Bloor's young adult novel leads readers down this same path.
Incredible Art Department
Story Tellers - "Passing on the Traditions"
It's important for young people to learn about their ancestry and the role of storytelling as a means of passing along traditions, information, and lessons. Based on what they already learned about Native American oral tradition,...
Curated OER
Homeschooling Chronicles - Classroom Discipline When the Class is the Home
It can be difficult to find the classroom discipline technique, but it is important to teach children respect.
Curated OER
The Making of the Mahatma: Gandhi's Childhood
Students investigate the childhood of one of the greatest philosophers of our time, Gandhi. In this biography lesson, students analyze the upbringing and events that finally shaped Mahatma Gandhi's life. Students locate famous quotes...
Curated OER
What's In A Name?
Young scholars analyze themselves as members of the community. They choose a name to describe themselves and explain why they choose the name they did. They identify activities they perform in and out of school to help the community.
Curated OER
The Cultural Geography of East Asia
Students use information from the Asia Society's AskAsia Web site to explore the cultures of China, Japan, and Korea. They answer four questions and then use what they have learned to write a letter of introduction to a Japanese exchange...
Curated OER
Black and White = Polka Dots
Students read about other cultures. In this cultural diversity instructional activity, students read a story about a culture that is different than theirs. Students discuss the ways the characters in the story are like them and the ways...
Curated OER
History's Heroes
Students compare two people who are considered to be heroes. In this heroes lesson, students read books or selections about two people who accomplished something special. They make a compare and contrast chart that includes nine...