Character Education lesson plan on Moral Character for grades 1st to 3rd

Introduction/Warm-Up (approximately 10-15 minutes):

Ask students what it means to be responsible. Have them give you a couple of definitions of what the word responsible or responsibility means to them. Compare definitions and begin a conversation to stimulate thinking on what responsible or responsibility means.

Explain to the students what responsibility means in connection with tough dilemmas. Let them know that sometimes being responsible sometimes means doing the harder thing that is not the most popular decision.

Lesson Explanation (20-30 minutes):

Step 1: Write the word moral on the board. If you do not have access to a board then instruct students to write the word on a sheet of paper.

• Explain to students what it means to be moral. Younger students may not fully grasp what it means to be moral. Use either of the two definitions below to help illustrate this concept.

  • Definition #1: Moral – Doing the right thing or doing what seems right.

  • Definition #2: Moral – Demonstrating good behavior.

• Then ask them how being responsible is similar to being moral.

• Talk about how being a responsible person demonstrates good morals.

• Ask students to share a time when they were responsible and a time when they were irresponsible.

  • Illustrate through these examples that sometimes being responsible means doing the right thing even if it is the more difficult option.

• Explain to the students that doing the right thing in a hard situation is responsible and demonstrates a good moral character.

• Give the students an example of this:

  • Johnny’s mother always makes great dinners and they eat promptly at 5pm every day. His mother tries her best to make sure that Johnny eats right so he is not allowed to have any snacks one hour before dinner. Johnny really wants to eat his favorite cookies, even though he is going to eat dinner in 45 minutes. Johnny’s mother is on the phone. He knows that she won’t notice if he eats a cookie. What should Johnny do? What is the most responsible action Johnny can perform?

• Have the student’s complete worksheet 1 & 2 with a partner.

• Once worksheet 1 & 2 is complete have the groups share their answers with the class and facilitate a discussion about this.

Step 2: Responsibility Art Project

• Break the students into groups of 3-4 students.

• Once the students are in groups explain to them the following:

  • Each group will have a large sheet of paper (poster board size, if possible, if not give each student in the group their own sheet of paper).

  • In their groups they must draw and create a poster that demonstrates responsible behavior.

  • Remind them to think about the worksheets they just completed (if applicable).

  • You can have students draw the image or let them look for images in old magazines.

  • They must create a poster and have a title for it.

  • Then let them share the posters with the class.

• Examples of Responsible Behaviors:

• • # 1 Helping a parent with something without being asked.

  • # 2 Standing up for a classmate or friend when they have been bullied.

  • # 3 Helping someone in need.

  • # 4 Listening to others when they have a problem.

  • # 5 Doing what is right and not what is necessarily cool.

Step 3: Character Reflection

• Have your students reflect about their learning in a Moral Character Journal.

  • Your students’ journal can be a notebook they have or you can create one as a class. Another option is to have them reflect on a single sheet of paper and turn it in confidentially to you.
    • To create one as a class, have students take 5-10 pieces of notebook paper, fold it the sheets of paper in half and then staple it in the middle so it looks like a book.
  • If students are still learning to write, let them express themselves in this assignment by drawing their thoughts to reflect their learning.
  • The purpose of this activity is to have students reflect about their learning. You can provide students with writing prompts or have them write about anything that comes to mind that is related to the lesson topic. The idea is to have them think about how the lesson relates to their life and how they can build their character from their learning.
  • Sample Prompts:
    • How does being responsible effect your life and why?
    • Talk about 5 things you learned today?
    • Can you recall a time when you were irresponsible? Why did you do it?
    • What are 2 other things you can do to build your moral character?