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Personal Responsibility

Grades: 
6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Character Education: Responsibility
Common Good

Through writing, learners reflect on their own plans for taking responsibility rather than leaving things to others. 

Duration 
PrintOne 20-minute lesson
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • reflect on past, present, or future opportunities for taking responsibility.
Materials 

Display the following quote: "You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change circumstances, the seasons or the wind, but you can change yourself." - Jim Rohn

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Ask the learners to think of a time in the future when they will need to show responsibility because what they do affects others (for example: getting a driver's license and driving safely).

  2. Writing reflection prompts:

    • Write about a circumstance from your own experience where you did or didn't take responsibility and its benefits or consequences.
    • Write about a future circumstance when you'll need to be responsible and its benefits or consequences.
    • Write about what this quote means and how changing ourselves affects the common good: "You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change circumstances, the seasons or the wind, but you can change yourself."-- Jim Rohn

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.4 Give examples of how individuals have helped others.
  2. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.1 Define and give examples of the motivations for giving and serving.