Sept. 6, 2006: Good Character Training

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of yourself doing something in school that would make your family and friends proud of you. (For example, you might be helping someone in the hallway or playing on a team with other students.) Write a story about your picture.

2. Write sentences about yourself telling about a time (a) when you helped someone else, (b) when you obeyed a rule or law, and (c) when you stopped yourself from being mean to someone else or from breaking a rule.

3. Find examples in the newspaper of three different people who are demonstrating respect and responsibility. Paste each newspaper story on a piece of paper. Write a paragraph telling why you selected the story.

4. Find examples in the newspaper of three different people who have broken a law or rule or who have shown disrespect to another person. Paste each newspaper story on a piece of paper. Write a paragraph explaining what you think will happen to each person as a result of their behavior.

5. Do a survey to see how respectful people are. Make a list of behaviors people use to show respect and responsibility, like saying "Please," asking permission to borrow something, being kind to someone, or allowing someone else to play with you. You can make your own list or use the "I do" list from today¹s Mini Page. Put a check mark by each behavior on your list every time you see someone showing that behavior. At the end of the day, look at your checks. Which behavior did you see most often? Which behaviors surprised you? Which behaviors would you like to see people show more often?

This week's standards:

• Students demonstrate respectful and caring relationships in the family, workplace and community. (Family and Consumer Science: Interpersonal Relationships)
• Students demonstrate appreciation for diverse perspectives, needs and characteristics of individuals and families. (Family and Consumer Science: Family)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)