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Playing by the Rules

Lesson 1:

From Unit Character Education: Honesty (Grade 7)

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

6th-8th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ELA:	Brainstorming; Group Discussions; Journaling; Teamwork
PHIL:	Character Education: Honesty; Common Good; Honesty; Responsibility; Values
SOC:	Common Good; Good Character; Values

Purpose:

Students explore the meaning of honesty as it relates to playing by the rules and making choices that support the common good. Students discuss and illustrate how people could respond honestly and dishonestly to the same situation. They learn vocabulary related to honesty.

Duration:

One 20-minute lesson

Objectives:

The learner will:

brainstorm school experiences where students have the choice to act with honesty and playing by the rules.
incorporate vocabulary into conversation applicable to philanthropy and the trait of honesty.
illustrate and describe in writing actions relating to honest communication about rules and personal responsibility.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to www.generationon.org.

Teacher Preparation:

Before class, enlist the help of two students to role-play with the teacher the following behaviors: not showing respect for personal property, interrupting, pushing, ignoring a request for help, and other familiar student actions.

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set

With the help of a group of students display a role-play of inappropriate classroom behaviors in front of the rest of the class. After the role-play, have class members identify the negative behaviors and possible consequences, as well as the positive alternative behaviors and their consequences. Discuss the effect of these behaviors on the common good. Develop (in writing) a definition of common good [for the benefit of all] related to school rules and classroom climate.

Students and teacher meet in a circle. Each student verbally completes in turn the following statement: “When someone breaks a rule or cheats ...” They may tell about a consequence, how they feel, how it affects the common good, or what they wish would happen.
Discuss how choosing appropriate behaviors are examples of honesty. Honesty in behavior includes playing by the rules and not cheating. Honesty also includes accepting responsibility for one's choices. Discuss ways people honestly accept responsibility for their actions (apologize, admit mistakes, fix the problem, etc.). Discuss ways people act when they don't accept responsibility for actions (blame, remain silent, get angry).
Back at their seats, the students draw a line down the middle of a paper. They each choose one of the ideas discussed in the circle. On one side of the line, they write a sentence and illustrate the behavior and its effects when practiced inappropriately. On the other half, they write and illustrate the appropriate practice of the behavior and its effects.
Display the completed papers on a bulletin board or set on table tops for students to walk by and read.

Lesson adapted from Learning to Give lesson "I Feel Angry or Sad When ...."