Curated OER
Character Education: Honesty
Students explore the character trait of honesty. They listen to the book, Jamaica's Find, identify the examples of honesty and dishonesty, role-play scenarios from the story, and draw a picture about a time they were honest.
Curated OER
Music and Fairness in a Round
Eighth graders discuss fairness. In this fairness lesson, 8th graders meet together to talk about how downloading free music affects the common good. They talk about their own feelings of whether it is fair or not.
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Ants Have Feelings, Too!
Students consider how they show respect for others. In this service learning lesson, students listen and respond to literature from different perspectives.
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In Search of Self: Adolescent Themes in the Twentieth Century Short Story
Students read short stories that are related to adolescent issues and behaviors. In groups, they review the elements of a short story and vocabulary they might need while reading. To end the lesson, they read "Sir Tatton Sykes"...
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New Shoes for Sylvia
First graders explore reading comprehension by analyzing a story in class. In this story structure lesson, 1st graders read the book New Shoes for Sylvia and discuss the character and her dilemma in the story. Students answer study...
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Dr. King's Leadership and Character
Focusing on Martin Luther King Jr, this lesson explores the qualities of a leader. First, learners listen to a story about Ruby Bridges. Then, they discuss the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Finally, they discuss the characteristics of...
NPR
Chinese American Women Lesson Plan
The National Women's History Museum provides a plan designed to accompany their online CyberExhibit, Chinese American Women; a History of Resilience and Resistance. After examining a series of primary and secondary source documents,...
Peace Corps
Brief Encounters
How are Pandyas different than Chispas? Explore cultural norms and societal behaviors with an engaging role-play activity. Split into groups of two hypothetical cultural groups, the formal Pandyas and the sociable Chispas, and another...
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Owen and Mzee
Middle schoolers examine the trait of compassion. In this character education lesson, students read Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff. Middle schoolers discuss the theme of the story as well as...
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Noncombatancy and the Seventh day Adventist Church
Upper graders investigate how the Seventh Day Adventists are objectors to the practice of war. The lesson plan covers the Civil War and examines the church's position about the practice of war. The research extends to modern wars and...
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Oklahoma! The Cultural Myth of America
Learners explore cultural myths in America by collecting images and characteristics of stereotypical Americans. They read a primary source document, discussing the views of the author in class. Next, they compare the terms used to...
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Shakespeare Was A Black Woman
"I all alone beweep my outcast state." After a discussion of the "Shakespeare in American Life" segment in which Maya Angelou's relates her reaction to Sonnet 29, class groups create and perform a scene about an outcast that includes the...
Curated OER
When Randolph Turned Rotten
Students explore friendship by reading a book with their classmates. In this human relationship lesson plan, students read the story When Randolph Turned Rotten, and discuss the main character's relationships as well as the overall arc...
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Who am I?
Students practice their writing skills by creating a character sketch of themselves. After viewing portraits, they select one personality trait and put their own picture into the painting of their choice. They include a conversation with...
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What Can I Do?
Young scholars identify feelings and learn how to handle conflict. In this character education instructional activity, discuss what to do when a friend is feeling sad and develop positive ways to handle negative feelings.
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Forgiveness and Gratitude
Students are introduced to the concepts of forgiveness and gratitude. As a class, they listen as they are read a story and note acts of forgiveness and gratitude. They answer comprehension questions and brainstorm definitions of peace...
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Caring
Pupils discuss the importance of caring about themselves and for others. As a class, they listen as they are read a story and answer questions using examples from the story. They brainstorm definitions of love and role play another...
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Child Labour in developing countries
Students explore the idea of global citizenship. Students examine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child worldwide. Students analyze facts about UNICEF's National Non-Uniform Day.
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Characteristics of Anne Frank
Eighth graders read selected passages from The Diary of Anne Frank. Working in pairs, 8th graders determine what qualities and characteristics they would assign to her from their selected diary entry.
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Earthquake! The Human Impact
Students explore the impact of natural disasters on communities. In this character education lesson, students examine poetry regarding an earthquake. Students discuss how to rebuild communities in the wake of natural disasters.
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Lily's Crossing
Middle schoolers listen to a story, "Lily's Crossing," about life during a World War. After completing worksheets, they compare and contrast characters in the story. Using math skills, students develop a time line of the war, calculate...
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Small Actions with Big Purpose
Seventh graders examine the trait of perseverance. In this character education lesson, 7th graders discuss community causes they care about and make plans to contribute their time and energy to overcome their personally-selected issues.
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Avoiding Reality
Eighth graders examine the trait of perseverance. In this character education lesson, 8th graders discuss how to deal with reality. Students consider how to help others facing difficult situations.
Curated OER
Biopoem
Reinforce the actions, emotions, and characteristics that determine what a character is like by having your middle schoolers create a biopoem using the model presented here. You could engage them first by having them write a poem about...