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MindOH! Character Education Lesson Plans
The MindOH! Discipline and Life Skills Series includes
access to approximately 100 character education lesson plans. All of the lesson
plans are organized by character trait. Some plans have multiple parts that can
be used over a number of class periods or over a few days.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the lesson plans. If
you do not have it installed, you can
download the free version of the Adobe software.
Caring
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Why
Should I Care?: When students support one another in being their
personal best, everyone wins. With this classroom experience, students examine
their personal strengths and weaknesses and then gain a better understanding
that showing appreciation brings out the best in people.
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You
Rule!: Rules of courtesy are meant to avoid hurt feelings and
misunderstandings. Using a worksheet as a springboard, students have an
opportunity to discuss specific courteous behaviors and how those behaviors not
only are caring and respectful, but can help them succeed.
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Cheap
Laughs: Bullying and teasing frequently involve getting a laugh at the
expense of someone’s feelings. Help students understand the difference between
laughing at someone and laughing with someone. This lesson plan includes an
activity sheet that provides students with an opportunity to compare and
contrast "laughing at" and "laughing with."
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Let
It Rip! (2 parts): Bullying and teasing negatively impact your entire
school climate. Conversely, caring behaviors foster a more caring environment.
With this lesson plan, small groups of students discuss the ripple effect of
their actions and then create a skit demonstrating how unkind acts, as well as
random acts of kindness, ripple out into the world.
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Love
And Hate: This lesson plan guides students through an exploration of
two very powerful emotions: love and hate. They are asked to record examples of
love and hate based on either historical or current events and then contrast
the effect of these two emotions in our homes, schools, communities, and
nations.
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I
Hate You: Most of us, in a moment of anger, have said these ugly words:
“I hate you!” This classroom experience allows students to understand that
people usually dislike the actions of others, not the people themselves. Small
groups discuss what hatred is, where it comes from, and how to understand this
powerful emotion so they can avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Citizenship
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Helping
Hands: This lesson plan helps students understand that being a truly
successful person isn’t about who has the most money or the coolest shoes or
the most friends. Part of being a successful person is learning to move beyond
a self-centered lifestyle and identifying ways of making a difference in the
lives of others. Students explore the concept of meaningful success and how it
applies to good citizenship.
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Help
Anyone?: John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for
you, ask what you can do for your country." Too often we’re concerned with what
we can get and not what we can give. With this lesson plan, students explore
the idea that volunteerism (at home, at school or in the community) plays a
vital role in keeping our nation safe, free, and prosperous.
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Gratitude
Attitude: For our democratic system of government to thrive, we need an
educated citizenry. With this lesson plan, students explore the benefits of
living in a democratic society where public education is the right and
privilege of all. Students are reminded that people risk their lives every day
trying to come to America so their children can receive the same education they
are receiving.
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Coming
To America: Every year hundreds of thousands of people leave their
native homes, their extended families, and their native lands to come to
America. With this lesson plan, students gain a better appreciation of the role
that immigrants play in our country.
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Check
Out The View: Our nation was built on the optimism of our founding
fathers. Students explore the benefits and challenges of being optimistic and
pessimistic while gaining a new perspective on current events as they compare
them to historical events.
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Citizenship:
Mind Mapping: Many consider citizenship in our country a privilege.
Many have died for that privilege. Through this mind-mapping exercise, students
gain a better understanding of the meaning of citizenship and their role in
helping to protect our democratic freedoms.
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We've
Got the Power (3 Parts): Young people can feel powerless in the face of
terrorist attacks, gang violence, and school shootings. With this three-part
series, students create a small-group project that addresses the issue of
random acts of violence. They are reminded that there are far more good and
caring people in the world than those who wish to do harm to others, and that
it takes only one person with one idea to spark a positive force for change.
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What
Will I Do This Summer? (2 Parts): Volunteerism plays an essential role
in our democracy. As summer vacation approaches, it's important to remind
students of the value of serving others as a constructive use of their extra
time over the summer months.
Commitment
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Winners
Never Quit: All of us at some point in our lives have felt like giving
up or quitting. This classroom activity helps students understand the
importance of not giving up when presented with challenging situations or
events.
Confidence
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Tests
Are A Bummer!: Being tested is part of life. With today's high-stakes
testing, many students are feeling stressed and anxious about their
performance. This lesson plan provides them with the opportunity to identify
feelings associated with taking tests, and they learn methods for counteracting
negative feelings.
Courage
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Courage:
Mind-Mapping: It takes courage to face our fears. Students explore the
meaning of courage and consider situations in which they might benefit by
acting with courage. They decide upon one thing they can do to break through
any fear that keeps them from being courageous.
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Life
Preservers: Not only can the values and principles we choose to live by
help us make smarter choices, but they can also act as life preservers when we
find ourselves in potentially dangerous waters. Students explore the notion
that making the right choice is easier when they discipline themselves.
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Facing
The Truth: When we are faced with the temptation to lie, we are faced
with a choice. Students explore the fears connected with telling the truth and
the connection this has with self-confidence and courage.
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The
Error of our Ways (3 parts): We all make mistakes. Students explore the
emotion of guilt and how it can work either for or against us in dealing with
those mistakes. They discover that it takes courage to admit when they have
made a poor choice and to take responsibility for the consequences.
Fairness
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It's
Not Fair!: Sometimes things happen that we do not like, but that
doesn't mean that it was unfair. Using a coin toss as a springboard, students
examine random events in their lives and recognize that some things are out of
our control and may seem unfair.
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Good
Luck/Bad Luck?: Life isn't always fair. Some things are completely out
of our control. This classroom experience allows students to explore four
specific scenarios and discuss the unfairness of some uncontrollable
occurrences.
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Don't
Look At Me!: Young people frequently want to assign blame to others.
This classroom activity allows them to recognize that it is unfair to expect
others to take responsibility for our own mistakes. Students gain a better
understanding of the respect they earn when treating others with fairness.
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Fairness:
Mind Mapping: Being fair-minded is important quality to possess. With
this mind-mapping exercise, students gain a better understanding of what it
means to be fair, just, and balanced.
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Why
Me?: Treating others fairly is a good first step to getting treated
fairly. Students experience how it feels to be treated unfairly, discuss why it
is important to treat other students fairly, and make a list of how to respond
when they see someone else being treated unfairly.
Honesty
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Honesty:
Mind-Mapping: Being honest has everything to do with being honorable.
Students explore the meaning of the word "honesty" and gain a better
understanding of why being honest is an important expression of respect for
others and for oneself.
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Honesty:
Blocks, Barriers and Benefits: Honest behavior is not always easy.
Students explore the blocks, barriers, and difficulties of being honest. They
also discuss the benefits available to a person who overcomes the challenges
and chooses honest behavior.
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Don't
Cry Wolf: Trust is the foundation of all healthy relationships.
Students explore the classic children's story about the little boy who cried
wolf, and make very real connections to challenges they may be facing in
relationships.
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Have
I Got a Deal for You!: Imagine for a moment that everyone stopped
stealing. How would that impact prices, insurance costs, family finances, and
business opportunities? Students explore the ripple effects of stealing and of
buying stolen merchandise.
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Get
Real!: Most of us at some time in our lives have made an excuse for
dishonest behavior. To become truly honest people, we have to begin by being
honest with ourselves. Students explore how dishonest behavior impacts their
self-concept, and look at ways to hold themselves accountable.
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Is
it Really a Lie?: Being dishonest can mean telling a lie, or it can
mean not telling the whole truth. Students define what it is to lie, examine
scenarios in which there are varying degrees of lying, and consider that even a
small lie is a lie.
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Should
I Say It?: It's not always easy to know how to be honest and open.
Students discuss a variety of situations in which saying what they think could
be harmful to someone. They explore whether it is always appropriate to be
completely forward with our thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
Integrity
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Integrity:
Who Wants To Be Rich?: Living a rich life doesn't necessarily mean
having a lot of money. You can have a lot of money and have no self-respect and
no real happiness. With this lesson plan, students explore the value of living
a life of integrity.
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Integrity
Counts (3 parts): Current events testify to the fact that careers can
be ruined by a lack of integrity. With this lesson plan students explore the
consequences of being dishonest, especially when one is in a leadership role.
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Integrity:
Mind Mapping: The actions of people with integrity are always in
harmony with the words they speak. Their actions and words are integrated. With
this mind-mapping exercise, students explore the meaning of integrity and how
acting with integrity earns respect.
Loyalty
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Loyalty
Has Boundaries (3 parts): A loyal friend is one who wants us to make
wise choices, even when those choices are difficult to make. In this three-part
series, students experience peer pressure in a controlled environment in order
to better understand how their thinking affects what they feel and how their
feelings affect what they do.
Respect
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Respect:
Blocks, Barriers and Benefits: It's not always easy to act
respectfully. With this lesson plan, students explore the blocks, barriers, and
difficulties to being a respectful human being. They also discuss the benefits
one receives from overcoming those challenges.
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Don't
Pressure Me! (3 parts): It's good to be pressured to be our best. With
this classroom experience, students explore both negative and positive peer
pressure. Students create skits demonstrating how to turn a negative situation
into a positive one by applying positive peer pressure.
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What
A Drag!: Anger is a natural emotion. What's important is deciding how
you handle your anger. With this lesson plan, students explore the idea that
repressing anger and carrying it around is self-defeating. They discuss healthy
ways to control anger.
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Walking
The Talk (3 parts): It's predictable that as long as individuals treat
each other disrespectfully, there will be incidents of violence in our homes,
schools, and communities. Students explore the connection between respectful
behavior and reduced violence, as well as the economic ramifications.
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Me
Too!: Most teenagers feel judged by the way they look. Using poll
results taken from Teen magazine, students gain more empathy for one another as
they come to realize that this is a common feeling.
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Rules,
Rules, Rules! (2 parts): Students frequently think that rules are
unfair. They seldom stop to consider the reasons behind the rules. With this
lesson plan, students identify rules with which they do not agree, and defend
the reasons for those rules.
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But
They Don't Understand (2 parts): Sometimes we need to consider things
from the perspective of others in order to understand. Students consider a
topic, issue, or event with which they think differently from someone in the
public eye. The student writes from both his or her perspective and from the
perspective of the person on the opposite side of the issue.
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Getting
To Know You: The more we learn about others, the more we learn about
ourselves. This lesson plan builds an understanding that open communication
facilitates a better understanding of others as well as of ourselves.
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I
Am Who I Am: Disrespectful behavior in any relationship is not
acceptable. With this lesson plan, students identify specific characteristics
of disrespectful behavior and consider appropriate actions when they are in a
relationship with someone who is treating them disrespectfully.
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Listen
Up!: Listening skills can lead to better relationships, grades, and job
opportunities. With this lesson plan, students compare and contrast good
listening skills and poor listening skills.
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Respect:
Mind Mapping: When you give respect to others, you are willing at least
to consider their perspectives. Through a mind-mapping exercise students
explore the meaning of the word "respect" and consider the value of seeing
things from another's point of view.
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Respect:
Playing Percentages: It's been said that 90% of all conflicts and
disagreements are caused by misunderstandings. This classroom experience allows
students to explore this idea and consider a simple way to avoid disagreements
and create more understanding.
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I
Understand, But Disagree (2 parts): Have you ever had a disagreement
with someone and later discovered that it was all a misunderstanding? In this
two-part series, students explore the difference between understanding
someone's point of view and agreeing with his or her point of view.
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You
Belong to Me (4 parts): Young people don't always understand the
difference between positive influence and negative manipulation. This four-part
series provides an in-depth exploration of this difference, and how it applies
to their peer relationships, and then demonstrates their understanding by
creating and performing skits.
Responsibility
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Who's
To Blame?: What's the difference between blame and responsibility? This
classroom experience helps students understand their emotions and reactions to
being blamed for something versus being asked to take responsibility.
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Life
As A Sponge: It's important to make the choice to surround ourselves
with people who want us to do our best. With this lesson plan, students
consider the influence of those people with whom they choose to associate.
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Are
You Bad News?: Is media news a reflection of our society? This
classroom experience encourages students to reflect upon media news and to
discuss questions such as: should there be more coverage of positive news
events and do we have any personal responsibility for what's in the news?
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Plan
For Success: If you want to succeed, it's important to have a plan.
This lesson plan helps students create an action plan for success in each of
their classes as well as in conduct.
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Responsibility:
School Graffiti: What is graffiti? Students define and discuss graffiti
and then experience a positive way to use graffiti to express their opinions
about the school climate, their teaches, their peers, and changes they would
make at school if they could.
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My
Day In A Nutshell: Balancing our lives is an important part of being
successful. Using a worksheet, students examine their personal use of time
during a twenty-four hour period in order to determine where they are
channeling their energy, and ways to create more balance.
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Responsibility:
Mind Mapping: Many young people think that responsibility is a burden
and serves only to restrict their freedom. With this mind-mapping activity,
students explore how making responsible choices can lead to more freedom and
better outcomes.
Self-Discipline
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Self-Discipline:
Mind-Mapping: Most students associate the word "discipline" with
punishment, yet at its roots, the word "discipline" means "to learn." This
mind-mapping experience helps students gain a better understanding of the
benefits of being self-disciplined.
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Half
Full or Half Empty?: Taking a pessimistic attitude can be an easy way
out for some students. With this classroom activity, students explore the
challenges and the benefits of being pessimistic or optimistic.
Self
Esteem
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I
Can't Believe This is Happening To Me! (2 parts): We will all
experience rejection many times in life, and each time we do it's an
opportunity to grow. This two-part series helps students understand that
although they cannot control how others feel, they can learn coping skills that
will help them deal with being rejected.
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Self-Esteem:
Did You Know?: This is a great activity for the first week or two of
school that helps students get to know one another. By using a fun worksheet,
they acknowledge each other's talents, interests, and hobbies while discovering
commonalities.
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Self-Esteem:
What I Know: This is a fun way for students to assess their knowledge
of a particular subject or unit.
Tolerance
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Together
Everyone Achieves More (2 parts): When everyone cooperates, together we
achieve more. By working through a playful activity with imposed restrictions,
students will discover the value of cooperating with people who are different,
in order to reach a common goal.
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What's
the Difference?: Some students feel uncomfortable being with others who
are different from themselves. This classroom experience helps students
discover that opening their minds to new experiences and ideas will facilitate
understanding and respect of others.
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Sounds
Good to Me (2 parts): This is a perfect activity for a music, band,
choir, or chorale class. Students will experience harmony and disharmony in
sound, and then expand that experience to discuss the results of harmony and
disharmony in relationships.
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Defining
Others: Stereotyping allows for no individuality or critical judgment.
This classroom activity helps students understand that stereotyping is a sign
of disrespect for the uniqueness and diversity of individuals.
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Hot
Under the Collar: We all get angry at different things. Not everyone
may feel as strongly about something as we do. This activity helps students
understand that anger is a natural emotion and that each of us sees things
differently.
Trustworthiness
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What's
Yours is Mine, Right? (3 parts): Shoplifting and stealing are serious
problems with our nation's youth. In this three-part activity, students create
skits that demonstrate the ripple effect of stealing other people's property.
They gain a better understanding of the value of being trustworthy.
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Ups
and Downs (2 parts): Trust in relationships can take time to build.
This two-part series helps students understand how breaking the rules can cause
distrust in relationships, and that trust is built on honesty and integrity.
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What
Did You Say? (3 parts): Remember the Telephone Game? Some called it the
Gossip Game. Using this childhood game as a springboard, this activity helps
students learn that active listening skills can help build trust in any
relationship.
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Trustworthiness:
Mind Mapping: To be worthy of something means you earned it. This
mind-mapping activity will give students a better understanding of the meaning
of the word "trustworthy" and the concept that one has to earn the trust of
others.
Please note: Sharing this link with anyone outside of your
school is a violation of your MindOH! licensing agreement. For questions about
MindOH! character education lesson plans, or to submit a suggestion for a
future lesson plan, email us at customersupport@mindoh.com.
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