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Special Sunflowers
Centennial Arts Academy
Principle 4
Grade Level: K – 2
Laurence Anholt’s Camille and the Sunflowers provides an excellent way to introduce a discussion about feelings and ways to care about others. Camille and his family warmly welcomed Vincent Van Gogh to their town. Camille’s friends and the rest of the townspeople made fun of Van Gogh and he eventually moved away. This story offers a way to discuss with students the importance of treating others kindly because every person is special.
Lesson Plan
Creating a Caring Culture: Appreciating the Diversity of Your School
Cross Bayou Elementary
Principle 4, Principle 6
Grade Level: 2 – 4
This lesson is particularly effective in the beginning of the year as it allows students to begin to know each other. The book Is There Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell raises the importance of appreciating our differences, learning from our mistakes, and working together to be successful. The detailed illustrations provide an opportunity to notice subtleties, thus allowing children the experience of taking their time to enjoy a book. This can be compared to life’s journey.
Lesson Plan
Ornaments for Nursing Home Tree
Fairbrook Elementary School
Principle 5
Grade Level: 1 - 5
At Fairbrook, this lesson is one of our DEN meeting activities. DENS (developing, educating and nurturing students) are our cross-grade-level community meetings held twice a month and led by our fifth graders. The last den each November is dedicated to helping our business partner, Trinity Nursing Home, by creating ornaments for their tree. This den, advisory, or classroom activity becomes a service project.
Lesson Plan
Character in Action
Herrington Elementary School
Principles 1, Principle 2, Principle 3, Principle 9
Grade Level: K – 5
This activity involves all students and staff members. Each month, the entire school will focus on one specific character trait. In addition, each month, approximately two classes will demonstrate their understanding of the specific character traits.
Lesson Plan
Understanding Core Values Using the Frayer Model
McKee Road Elementary School
Principles 1, Principle 2, Principle 3
Grade Level: 4 – 5
However, this model of concept development is appropriate for any grade level above grade three through high school and college. By examining themes in literature as well as the actions of characters in fiction and persons in non-fiction, students can observe character in action. In order to understand character traits and themes, they must have a clear understanding of character traits. The more students analyze the traits in written text, the deeper their understanding of the traits will be. Using literature to examine character traits promotes engaging discussions and making connections to one’s own life.
Lesson Plan
Celebrating Caring & Kindness
Millard Hawk Primary School
Principles 1, Principle 2, Principle 3, Principle 4, Principle 7, Principle 9, Principle 11
Grade Level: 2 - 3
This is a three-part lesson that helps students become aware of being caring and kind citizens in their school, home, and community. The first part of the lesson introduces the meaning of caring and kindness to the students, in terms of recognizable behaviors. Students realize how they are already caring, kind citizens. The second part of the lesson focuses on their community outside of school and how it is a caring or kind community. The last part of the lesson gives the students an opportunity to demonstrate thoughtfulness in school and at home.
Lesson Plan
Developing Enrichment Toys for the Roger Williams Zoo
Pine Point School
Principle 7
Grade Level: 3
Students construct a large animal toy [rabbits, birds, small deer, etc.] out of edible materials to be placed in the habitats of carnivorous animal at the zoo. These toys are filled with meats and nutritious supplements and then placed in open spaces for animals to stalk. Students and zoo keepers observe the animals’ behaviors as they stalk these toys.
Lesson Plan
Bully Prevention
Radix Elementary School
Principle 4, Principle 5
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Before beginning, students should be aware of the term, “bully,” and the expression “fooling around.”
Lesson Plan
Holiday Cookie Exchange
Radix Elementary School
Principle 4
Grade Level: 3 - 5 (Can be adapted for students in any grade).
In this lesson, students will discuss jobs adults do at their school and why it is important to show respect to all workers. The class will then make holiday cookie trays for the custodial maintenance staff and cafeteria staff.
Lesson Plan
Whoever You Are
Radix Elementary School
Principle 6
Grade Level: 1 - 3
This series of activities will help children to become familiar with other cultures and learn that people all over the world have things in common.
Lesson Plan
Sharing in the Classroom
Radix Elementary School
Principle 4, Principle 5
Grade Level: 2 - 3
Students should be aware of what the value of sharing means in the classroom. They should understand that there are friendly ways of asking others to share, and that when you share, you are asking to be trusted with the belongings of others.
Lesson Plan
The Crayon Box that Talked
Radix Elementary School
Principle 1, Principle 2, Principle 3, Principle 4
Grade Level: PreK - K
“The Crayon Box that Talked” is a profound poem by Shane DeRolf that conveys the simple message that differences should not only be tolerated and accepted but embraced. The crayons soon learn that when we work together the outcome is much more beautiful, colorful and interesting.
Lesson Plan
Adding “Homeside” to “Schoolside” Learning
Rockwood School District
Principle 1, Principle 2, Principle 3, Principle 4, Principle 5, Principle 6, Principle 7, Principle 10
Grade Level: K – 5
Time requirements vary depending on the number of Homeside activities completed and the number of class meetings and related activities conducted. If Homeside activities are used to highlight monthly character traits, one Homeside activity may be presented at the beginning of the month and completed by the end of the month.
Lesson Plan
Introducing Recycling
Shades Cahaba Elementary School
Principle 5
Grade Level: 2 – 5
In this lesson, students explore the environmental issue of excess garbage and how recycling can help reduce the amounts of garbage in landfills.
Lesson Plan
A Fine Feathered Flock
Skyview Elementary School
Principle 1, Principle 4
Grade Level: 2 - 4
Patricia Polacco’s Mr. Lincoln’s Way provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to introduce the topic of respect. Mr. Lincoln, an African American principal, tries to help Eugene, a school bully, overcome his attitude towards people of another race. He helps Eugene realize that even though people are different (race, gender, etc.), everyone should be treated with respect. Mr. Lincoln uses the school’s atrium to help him accomplish his task.
Lesson Plan
Singing for the Animals
St. Stephens Elementary School
Principle 5
Grade Level: K – 6
At St. Stephens, the “Singing for the Animals” service project provided an opportunity for students to make a difference in their community by raising money to help the county’s homeless animals. They gave the “gift of themselves” as they raised the money by singing for donations.
Lesson Plan
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