Monthly Activities

The Monthly Character Trait and Activities

MY CHARACTER… IS EVERYTHING I SAY AND DO THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT ME AND YOU.

We have incorporated the 8 Core Character Traits into classroom lessons to ensure every member of our learning community has a safe and nurturing environment in which to
give and to receive all the tools and information necessary to learn how to become all each is meant to be …………Academically, Intellectually, Physically, Artistically, Emotionally & Socially.

To assist in this process, we focus on a specific “trait of the month” as seen below and use corresponding classroom lesson plans to integrate the character into our students’ daily lives and bring it to life in a way that is relevant to them in their world today.

Each month our students have the opportunity to learn to incorporate the attributes that comprise each of the eight Core Traits by participating in activities that are featured in the monthly Suggested Activities booklet produced by the Office for Character Education.  We also encourage families to do the related activities at home, some of which are listed below.

An excellent more detailed Character Poster is available to you and your students as a download by CLICKING HERE.

COOPERATION – SEPTEMBER

“The firmest friendships have been formed in mutual adversity, as iron is most strongly united by the
fiercest flame.”  -Charles Caleb Colton

What is cooperation?

Cooperation is working with others to accomplish a common purpose.

How do you demonstrate your cooperation?

  1. When given the opportunity I offer to take responsibility for the portion of the project/assignment where my skills, talents and/or knowledge can be utilized.
  2. When assigned a specific role or task, I ask what is expected of me to successfully complete my part of the project.
  3. I listen to the ideas from the other members of the project to understand how my task will enhance what they are to do.
  4. I encourage my partners or team members and assist them is anyway that I can to be sure we complete the assigned task, and by the appointed time.
  5. By working cooperatively, we can often accomplish more in the same amount of time than when working alone.
  6. When working with others to complete a project from which we all benefit, I feel good about myself.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following for the Cooperation Character Newsletter 09/10

Click on the following for the Cooperation Activities with corresponding Sunshine State Standards.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. Have family members make a cooperation chart for home. Talk about what chores need to be done and who can work together to get each chore accomplished. List all the ways the family benefits from COOPERATING to complete the listed chores.
  2. Have students make a cooperation collage using magazine pictures or illustrations drawn by students. They can also cut out or write words instead of using pictures, such as “share,” “work together,” “talk it over,” “take turns, “ etc.

RESPONSIBILITY – OCTOBER

“Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.” – Booker T. Washington

What is responsibility?

Responsibility is meeting obligations by being reliable, accountable, and dependable to self and others.

How do you demonstrate your responsibility?

  1. I do what needs to be done – and make sure to fulfill my moral obligations.
  2. I persevere, even when things are tough, I keep on trying!
  3. I always try to do my best.
  4. I think before I act by thinking through the consequences of my actions.
  5. I am self-disciplined, reliable and dependable.
  6. I use self-control and good judgment.
  7. I am accountable for my choices and actions by not making excuses or blaming others.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following for the Responsibility Character Newsletter 09/10

Click on the following for the Responsibility Character Activities 09/10 with Sunshine State Standards.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. What does responsibility look like (actions and behavior)? Brainstorm ways people are responsible.
  2. Create a home responsibility chart with your family. Have each member choose three of the responsibilities they can do at home.  Then, the following week, carry out the selected responsibilities. Discuss with your family how the experience was.  Why did they each select their responsibility? How did they enjoy doing the tasks?

CITIZENSHIP – NOVEMBER

What is citizenship?

Citizenship is knowing, understanding, and displaying a high regard for rules, laws, government, heritage and for those who have served and sacrificed for community and country.

How do you demonstrate your citizenship?

  1. Being a member of a community (common unit), family, class, school, village, town, city, county,
    state, country (nation), continent, world.
  2. Knowing that with every right there is the responsibility to use that right in an appropriate and respectful manner.
  3. Choosing to be part of the solution, rather than to be part of the problem.
  4. Respecting and abiding by the rules and laws that are designed to make this a better and safer community in which to learn and to live.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following 4 links to view the Citizenship Character Newsletter for 09/10 - due to size it has been divided:

Citizenship Character Newsletter for 09/10 – Part 1

Citizenship Character Newsletter for 09/10 – Part 2

Citizenship Character Newsletter for 09/10 – Part 3

Citizenship Character Newsletter for 09/10 – Part 4

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. What are our family values as they relate to citizenship?  Patriotism?
  2. The Census is coming!  What does your family know about it?  More can be learned in the Newsletter.  It takes Ten Minutes Every Ten Years and is safe and COMPLETELY confidential for 72 years and cannot be shared with anyone, including welfare and immigration agencies.  Census forms will be mailed to every  household in March 2010 and Census Day is April 1, 2010. In Broward County, more than 800,000  housing units will receive the Census! The brief questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete, and  asks for the name, gender, age, race, ethnicity and relationship to the householder, and whether the  householder owns or rents their home. We can all demonstrate our citizenship by filling out our census form wherever we are on the day we receive it, regardless of where we live at other times of the year.

KINDNESS – DECEMBER

What is kindness?

Kindness is being helpful, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and considerate.

How do you demonstrate your kindness?

  1. Doing something for someone without being asked.
  2. Saying or do something to make someone feel part of my class or group.
  3. Helping someone to solve a problem or to complete a task.
  4. Greeting everyone with a smile and a friendly word.
  5. Thinking of someone else’s needs before my own.
  6. Letting others know I care about their feelings.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following link to view the December Kindness Character Newsletter for 09/10.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. Openly recognize the kind things that your fellow family members have done for you this week.
  2. As a family choose a kind deed to engage in together in your community.
  3. How can you as a family recognize through kindness a family member who is far away?
  4. Have each family member keep a kindness journal and every day write in it both what kindness they have done, and what has been done for them.
  5. What might your family have that can be given in kindness to those in more need?  We all have something that would be a gift to others – food, clothing, time – you can even give your Frequent Flyer Miles!

RESPECT – JANUARY

What is respect?

Respect is showing consideration, understanding, and regard for people, places, and things.

How do you demonstrate your respect?

  1. Saying and doing what makes people feel safe and protected because everyone is valuable and important.
  2. Looking at, and listening to, the person who is speaking to me.
  3. Extending a sense of belonging to others.
  4. Saying, “Please”, “Thank You”, “Please be quiet”, and when appropriate, “Excuse Me”, and “I’m Sorry”.
  5. Leaving other’s belongings and property alone or receiving permission to borrow or to use it.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following link to view the Respect January Character Newsletter for 09/10.

Suggested Home Activities:

Discuss as a family:

  • What is respect – how does it look, sound, feel?  What about disrespect?  Is one easier to recognize than another and why or why not?  How does each person feel when they believe that others are not showing them respect?
  • Do you think the expectation of being treated with and treating others with respect should have anything to do with age or position?  With parents, children, teachers, employers, grandparents, friends, etc.?
  • Should adults show respect to children? Give examples of ways that adults demonstrate respect to children and ways that children show respect to adults.  Has how we view the demonstration of respect changed?  How do our grandparents vs. parents vs. children want to be shown or define respect?  How do YOU want to be treated?
  • If you treat others with respect, how do you expect them to treat you? Why? What recent examples have been in the media about not showing respect?
  • How do they feel when they are playing a game or participating in any competitive sport and the adult spectators are not respectful of the players, the coaches, the referees and each other? What do they think should be done?
  • What do you respect?   Do you only respect people? Is respect only an individual thing? Brainstorm a list of what they respect, what they feel should be respected and why.  Can you have respect for others (people and/or things) if you don’t have respect for yourself?
  • How does your family demonstrate their: Respect for self, Respect for your body, Respect for others, Respect for life, Respect for property?

Create a RESPECT bulletin board. Each day have family members write down one thing that they did that showed respect for a person, animal, or property.

HONESTY – FEBRUARY

What is honesty?

Honesty is being truthful, trustworthy, and sincere.

How do you demonstrate your honesty?

  1. Taking responsibility for what I say and what I do, even if it means there may be a consequence.
  2. Sharing what I know about a situation that could be harmful to others or to property.
  3. Returning anything I find to the person who lost it, or turning it into the proper authorities.
  4. Remembering that it is easier to tell the truth than to remember a lie.

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following link to view the Honesty February Character Newsletter for 09/10.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. What are some things that kids your age say that are guaranteed to close down a conversation with parents? Let’s make a list.
  2. What are some things that parents say that shut things down? Let’s make a list.
  3. ROLE PLAY (For girls) You are going out with your friends to a big school dance. You’ve bought some new clothes and jewelry for the event. You spend a lot of time getting dressed and putting on your make up and you think you look great. But when you come downstairs, your folks go through the roof and say that girls your age shouldn’t dress that way – dress is too short, too much makeup, etc..
  4. ROLE PLAY (For boys) You have a friend who always gets in trouble. Your parents want you to stop hanging out with him. You still like him and don’t think your parents understand. He asks you to spend Saturday with him at the mall. Now you have to get your parents permission.
    - Follow-up questions for both role plays. Put yourself in your parents’ shoes and ask these questions:  What would be my worst fear? How could you talk to me about these fears? How could you show me that you are ready for this responsibility? What would be a fair solution to this problem?
  5. BRAINSTORM: Let’s think up 5 to 10 rules that would help make relations between parents and teens better.
  6. Have each person write down a “a little white lie” they have told and place it in a container.  Take turns drawing from the container and discuss if it were you how would you handle a situation like this in the future.

SELF-CONTROL – MARCH

What is self-control?

Self-Control is having discipline over one’s behavior and actions.

How do you demonstrate your self-control?

  1. Thinking before I speak or act, how my words and actions will have a positive effect on myself and on others.
  2. Knowing that I can learn how to turn a frustrating situation into one that is positive and productive.
  3. Understanding that rules and laws are in place so that everyone can be safe and productive.
  4. Using the power of my thoughts to control the actions of my body, to include what I say to myself and to others.
  5. Always asking myself, “How does this choice help me to fulfill my potential to be a better and healthier person?”

Suggested Classroom Activities:

Click on the following link to view the Self Control March Character Newsletter for 09/10.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. Draw or create a cartoon animation expressing how self-control is demonstrated
  2. Write a positive poem on self-control
  3. Create a song or rap on self-control
  4. Create a recipe for cooking up “self-control”
  5. Create a self-control awareness poster
  6. Create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) on the importance of self-control
  7. Have a discussion on how your family expects you to demonstrate self- control
  8. Create a chart on suggestions to building greater “self -control” and check items daily/weekly
  9. Engage in some form of exercise for 20 min. daily
  10. Practice eating healthy by eating a new fruit or vegetable daily or weekly. (Remove junk from your diet one item per week)

TOLERANCE – APRIL

What is tolerance?

Tolerance is recognizing and respecting differences, values, and beliefs of other people.

How do you demonstrate your tolerance?

  1. Knowing that each of us has the right to his/her own thoughts and beliefs.
  2. Appreciating that no two people are exactly alike, and yet we all share many of the same traits and needs.
  3. Believing that when taking the time to understand our differences, there is always something more I can learn about myself.
  4. Understanding that, “Differences can divide people while diversity can strengthen them!”
  5. Accepting others’ beliefs still allows me to have my own.

Suggested Classroom and Home Activities:

Click on the following link to view the Tolerance April Character Newsletter for 09/10.

Suggested Home Activities:

  1. Draw or create a cartoon animation expressing how tolerance is demonstrated
  2. Write a positive poem on tolerance
  3. Create a song or rap on tolerance
  4. Create a tolerance awareness poster
  5. Create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) on the importance of tolerance
  6. Have a discussion on how your family expects you to demonstrate tolerance
  7. Create a chart on suggestions to building greater “tolerance” and check items daily/weekly