Character Education: Fairness (Grade 6)
What role does fairness play in relationships and life success? How can developing fairness equip people as world citizens who contribute to the common good?
Photo credit: Teenage Youth by World Bank Photo Collection is licensed under CC by 2.0
In this unit, students construct a definition for fairness and compare and contrast definitions with others. They discuss how there are two sides to most fairness issues. Students compare and contrast both sides of two fairness issues--one global and one personal. They reflect on when fairness is a matter of perspective and when fairness is a matter to advocate for through citizen action. Students participate in a role-play of fair and unfair decision-making. They identify behaviors that promote and put up barriers to making decisions. After a read-aloud, students compare the lesson in the text to real-life situations. Students use a Frayer model graphic organizer to analyze the term impartial. In the final reflection, students identify a personal bias and make a written plan for overcoming the bias now that they are aware of it.
Students define what fairness means to them and compare and contrast definitions. They build empathy as they discuss others' experiences with fairness.
This lesson explores how there are two sides to most fairness issues. Students compare and contrast both sides of two fairness issues--one global and one personal. They reflect on when fairness is a matter of perspective and when fairness is a matter to advocate for through citizen action.
Students participate in a role-play of fair and unfair decision-making. They identify behaviors that promote and create barriers to making decisions. After a read-aloud, students compare the lesson in the text to real-life situations.
Students define the meaning of impartial and connect it to fairness through the use of a Frayer model graphic organizer.
Students discuss biases and recognize that we all have biases, but we aren't always aware of them. Since people have different experiences, we all develop different biases. Students learn that a bias can create an unfair situation.