How To Implement a CHARACTER EDUCATION Initiative
A recipe for success!
A complete guide on how to implement a character education initiative within your school. Helpful links on “What is Character Education?” and “Why should you use it?”. Lesson plans, video’s, suggested books, quotes, games and activities, and helpful parent guides will help you every step of the way. Contact Sioux Empire CHARACTER ON TRACK if you need assistance in getting started! info@characterontrack.org or 605-376-4707
Check here for new classroom character education projects & activities.
Click on Image to view various Printable Classroom Posters
On-line lessons ideas:
Online Object Lessons and Projects
Partnership in Character Ed Activities
Speakers and Assemblies:
Character on Track assemblies enforcing the Five Marks of Character; Trustworthiness, Respect, Accountability, Citizenship and Kindness. Utilizing a new topic each year! Give us a call at 605-376-4707
Resources:
Video Links:
We invite you to review these video clips for use in your classroom to engage your students in discussion about good character. If you would like to schedule a couple of the” Athletes of Character” to show a clip and have discussion with the class, please contact Sioux Empire Character Counts at secc@charactercountsse.org.
| Trustworthiness | Respect |
| The Character Chronicles: Trust (Grades 4-9) The new kid at school lies to fit in, but faces unexpected consequences. |
Respect Rap (All ages) Students from N.C. Graham Elementary use dance and rap to expain why respecting others is important. |
| Trustworthy Temptation (Grades 4-9) An adolescent aged student suddenly comes upon some money that does not belong to him. |
Harassment Hurts: Gossiping, Taunting and Bulling (Grades 4-8) Demonstrates how to respect yourself when others try to bring you down by taunting you |
| The Puzzle Place (Grades K-3) Learning trust the hard way. When a puppet finds an unattended neatlooking purse, her first reaction is to keep it for herself. |
I’m Telling! A Tattler’s Tale (Grades 2-4) A whimsical creature named Tad helps youngsters figure out the difference between “telling” and “tattling”. |
| Trustworthiness (Grades 6-9) A student is offered the answers to a school test and must make a decision |
The Character Chronicles: Respect (Grades K-6) Mother Earth protests the disrespectful way in which people treat her |
| Trustworthiness (Grades 6-9) Each of us has our secrets. We must be careful who we trust them with |
For the Birds (All Ages) Great Animated video for discussion on respect |
| Responsibility | Fairness |
| Don’t Laugh at Me -Bullying (Grades 4-8) Slideshow demonstrates why bulling is a problem in all schools and promotes understanding of pain endured by those who are bullied. |
The Character Chronicles: Fairness (All ages) An 11 year old makes the world a better place for those less fortunate using his talent for sports |
| The Character Chronicles: Highlights (All ages) Video shows several youth who are showing responsibility to their communities. |
I Love Life-I am Happy (Grades 4-12) Nick Vujicic and his attitude serve as a great example of the celebration of life over limitations. |
| GO Pay It Forward (Grades 5-9) First assignment for the GO effect. It is the opening clip from the movie “Pay it Forward.” |
Look At Yourself (Grades 4-12) Nick Vujicic and his attitude serve as great examples of celebration of life over limitations |
| Perfect Business Model Explained by a Child (Grades 5-9) Short clips from the move “Pay It Forward” with Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. |
For The Birds! (All ages) |
| Be a Buddy Not a Bully! (Grades 3-6) Elementary school students discuss why bullying is bad |
Caring |
| Step Up! Bully Prevention (Grades 3-6) |
Sara Tucholsky Home Run/ESPY Sprtsmanship Moment (All ages)Caring for an unlikely person, two openents carried their rival
softball player all the way to home plate.Cyberbullying
Once Posted You Lose It
Character on Track is based on the establishment of a community-based coalition involving schools and other youth/family organizations committed to a long term character education program using the established curriculum and resources with a foundation in the Five Marks of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Accountability, Citizenship and Kindness.
Character Education is a movement to create schools and communities that foster ethical, responsible and caring young people by modeling and teaching good character through an emphasis on some universal values. It is not a quick fix. It must provide long-term solutions that address moral, ethical and academic issues key to the success of our society and key to the quality and safety of our communities and schools.
It is our goal to extend more extensive character education within our schools to increase the exposure to students to Character on Track assemblies, classroom visits, role models, activities and values. To reinforce the teaching of the Five Marks of Character, we have developed and made available several resources including school assemblies, team building activities, coloring books, posters, book marks, recognition awards, and a website/recourse library. We offer all of this at no cost, to them.