GLEN RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Curriculum Guide
Course Title: Character Education
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Department/School: Character Education/Linden & Forest Avenue Schools
Duration: N/A
Number of Credits: N/A
Prerequisite: None
Elective or Required: N/A
Author: Character Education Committee
Date Submitted: Fall 2007
Philosophy
Character education is based on a regard for humanity and self-respect which can serve as a bridge between judgment and action. Character education should encompass the cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspect of morality in order for students to learn what is morally right, to care deeply about what is morally right, and to act in a moral way.
Character education is a process of developing techniques to help the student build self-respect by identifying alternate choices, develop a sense of empathy, take risks, be aware of behavior and be able to predict consequences—positive and negative—of actions taken. Rewards should be intrinsic.
Goals
1. Students will understand and demonstrate the value of respect, responsibility, self-worth, honesty and compassion.
2. Students will be able to form judgments about correct behavior in themselves and others.
3. Students will care about what is correct and appropriate behavior.
CHARACTER EDUCATION CALENDAR
September – Respect/Responsibility
October – Respect/Responsibility
November – Compassion
December – Compassion
January – Respect, Self-Worth, Compassion
February – Honesty, Compassion
March – Respect, Responsibility, Honesty
April – Self-Worth
May – Respect
June – Self-Worth
Defining Character Education
Children are not born with a moral compass, nor do they automatically grow up to behave ethically, with the common good in mind. Strong personal character and moral behavior come about as a result of a long process of socialization and education, during which adults demonstrate the values and ideals of family, community and society. Parents and the family are the first and most influential teachers of character, and religious and educational institutions have historically had moral and character development as a core mission as well. Private schools based on religious traditions may have a basis for providing guidance to their students in this regard. There is an urgent need, however, for educators to develop and implement programs that provide specific direction and leadership that engenders personal responsibility and respect for others among their students.
Character education is a deliberate effort to develop values, attitudes, and behaviors that are essential for the individual and beneficial for society. As defined by Dr. Thomas Lickona, the 2002 recipient of the Character Education Partnership’s prestigious “Sandy” award honoring his lifetime achievement in the field, the objective goodness of values is based on the fact that they:
- Would you want to be treated this way?
- Would you want all persons to act this way in a similar situation?
While developing good character is first and foremost a parental responsibility, it is also a community responsibility that must be shared with educational institutions, youth service groups, businesses, faith-based and community organizations. The greatest hope of parents is that their children will grow up to be kind, caring, honest, and successful adults. Teachers want to educate respectful and motivated students. Employers want to hire honest and productive workers. Everyone wants to live in a society composed of people with good character, people who are trustworthy. This is what character education is all about—providing members of society with the tools they need to help them become ethical, responsible members of society.
Character education supports the belief that the social, ethical, and emotional development of young people is as important as their academic achievement. Advocates of character education believe that it is critical to create a safe, caring school environment that embraces both character development and promotes learning.
Curriculum Description
UNIT 1 –
RESPECT/RESPONSIBILITY
GOAL: Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule ~ Use good manners ~ Be considerate of the feelings of others ~ Don’t threaten to hurt anyone ~ Deal peacefully with anger.
Do what you are supposed to do ~ Always do your best ~ Use self-control ~ Think before you act – consider the consequences ~ Be accountable for your choices.
Objectives:
Each student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate respect for the rights and feelings of others/self.
2. Demonstrate respect for the learning environment.
3. Demonstrate respect for preservation of the environment.
4. Demonstrate respect for the property of others.
5. Demonstrate respect for the points of view of others.
6. Demonstrate respect for different types of families.
7. Demonstrate respect for group decisions.
8. Take responsibility for their actions.
9. Take responsibility for their own learning as well as the learning of others.
10. Share responsibility for developing and executing rules.
11. Take responsibility for being prepared for their obligations.
12. Understand safety issues.
13. Know procedures for fire drill/inside drill.
14. Understand lunch procedures and seating.
15. Practice assembly manners.
Activities/Learning Opportunities:
· First Day – opening exercises together
· School-wide assembly (“Getting to Know You”)
· Role-play or discuss such situations as when children are new to a group; when someone takes something of theirs; when someone is annoying them; and why there is the need for taking turns.
· Discuss the ways we could improve the neighborhood. Walk around school and clean up litter. Give out help awards at end of project.
· Act as teacher helper and do job assignments.
· Read books about the rain forest, endangered species, saving natural resources, etc.
· Collect scrap paper, cans and bottles from classroom to recycle.
· Hold a class election on any of these: activity to do, favorite color, favorite movie, etc.
· Make a Favorite Thing mural.
· Take home a class mascot for the weekend. Discuss and share weekend activities regarding the mascot.
· Red Ribbon Week
· Halloween Safety Assembly/Glen Ridge Police Department
· Intergenerational Day
UNIT II – COMPASSION
GOAL: Be kind ~ Express gratitude ~ Forgive others ~ Help people in need ~ Be compassionate and show it.
Objectives
Each student will be able to:
1. Appreciate and tolerate diversity.
2. Demonstrate concern for each other.
3. Demonstrate concern for individuals/groups in need.
4. Demonstrate empathy.
5. Apply principles of citizenship.
6. Be thankful.
7. Be helpful and kind.
8. Say kind words to people.
9. Help another student who is struggling.
10. Forgive someone who has hurt your feelings.
11. Comfort a friend when his/her feelings have been hurt.
12. Celebrate our cultures.
Activities/Learning Opportunities:
· Learn to say Hello in three or four languages.
· Make stick figures with faces that depict various feelings. Students may then choose to role-play with the stick figures.
· Pull names out of a hat. Students keep the name a secret. Each student then draws a picture about something they like about the person whose name they selected.
· Write and illustrate a “Get Well” note to each other when students are out sick from school.
· “Primary Pals” collect brown bags and food donations for food pantry.
·
·
· Activities celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
· Coat drive
· Toiletries drive for the homeless
·
Sneaker drive for day camps in
· Pennies for Patients
· Canned pet food collection for PAWS
·
Beanie Baby collection for troops in
UNIT III – SELF-WORTH
GOAL: Always do your best ~ Be self-disciplined ~ Use self-control ~ Cooperate.
Objectives:
Each student will be able to:
1. Experience positive reinforcement for appropriate actions.
2. Experience a supportive environment.
3. Reflect on what they like about themselves.
4. Feel a sense of belonging.
5. Experience a “safe” environment.
6. Recognize their positive contributory worth.
7. Dress neatly and work hard in class.
8. Be responsible for their own safety and well being.
9. Look for ways to play fairly.
10. Take care of the mind and body and demonstrate healthy habits.
11. Eat healthy foods, get enough rest and exercise daily.
12. Understand that caring for your body will keep you healthy, help you perform better in school and make you feel good about yourself.
Activities/Learning Opportunities:
· “I Can Do Anything Show” – Students exhibit anything they can do or they have made to the class.
· “All About Me Board” – Students reflect on what they like about themselves.
· Discuss class rules made by the students.
· Conduct compliment time.
· Youth Art Month
· Make “I Am Special Book.”
· Create VIP badges.
· Draw pictures of how you would feel about the following experiences: won a prize, dog jumps out and barks, lost favorite toy, someone colored in your book.
· Science Fair
· Jump-rope-athon
· Healthy Snack Fair
· Field Day
· Promotion ceremony
UNIT IV - HONESTY
GOAL: Don’t deceive, cheat or steal ~ Be reliable – do what you say you’ll do ~ Have the courage to do the right thing ~ Build a good reputation ~ Be loyal – stand by your family, friends and country.
Objectives:
Each student will be able to:
1. Recognize and value honesty as the acceptable moral choice.
2. Recognize the need to be honest with themselves.
3. Recognize their strengths as well as their areas which need improvement.
4. Think before speaking.
5. Keep promises to him/her self, teacher and parents.
6. Be a good friend.
7. Understand how someone builds a good reputation.
Activities/Learning Opportunities:
· Read Jamica’s Find, and then role-play the story. Change the ending to show how a person would feel if their property was not returned.
· Focus on President’s Day and the ingredients for a good leader. Read book about Abraham Lincoln. Discuss how important his honesty was to him as a great leader.
· Draw a picture of yourself doing something honest.
Lists of Texts and Resources:
Self Respect
· I’ll See You When the Moon Is Full by Susi Gregg Fowler
· The Copper Tin Cup by Carole Lexa Schaefer
· Friends by Elaine Scott
·
The Pledge
of Allegiance
Responsibility
Compassion
Self Worth
Honesty