Curriculum Guide

Character Education Through Literature

by

LaTarsha R. Green

July 19, 1999

Aim

The CARE Academy web site seeks to utilize technological resources and literature as a means of exploring character education.
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Rationale

Because students are faced with many challenging situations in their world and are often lacking an understanding of character traits as a resource for making positive decisions, this module seeks to support the goals of our small school: helping students become productive and responsible citizens of society. Character education through literature experiences provides students with the opportunity to develop their reading skills. At the same time, students will identify, think, and apply what they learn to authentic situations. In addition, the Internet provides a valuable technological resource in locating literature and information that reinforces students' basic computer skills while providing them with meaningful activities.
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Goals and Objectives

Students will:

learn and apply character education traits to enhance classroom climate.
read materials and identify various character traits.
search the web site successfully through the use of links.
evaluate their reading of a story and develop their comprehension skills.
locate activities within the site to individualize their learning.

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

practice basic computer skills and Internet searching skills.
identify various traits within story characters.
create a writing project that profiles the traits of a character.
identify and discuss examples of character in their own lives.

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Audience

This web module is designed to support the staff, teachers, parents and students of the CARE Academy serving grades 3-5.
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Pre-requisites

In order for the successful implementation of this module, students should have prior classroom discussions about Character Education, possess basic computer skills (keyboarding and controlling the mouse), and have general knowledge about the Internet and/or the World Wide Web.
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Subject-Matter

Character Education Traits, including but not limited to:

Respect Honesty Kindness Work Ethic Responsibility Courage Caring Family Pride Courtesy and Fairness

Children's Literature and Story Elements (plot, character, theme, setting, problem, resolution, etc.)
The Internet as a source of information

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Instructional Plan

Write various character education traits on the classroom chalkboard. Extract students' prior information about character education. Ask students to define and if possible give examples of the character traits. Discuss with students how these traits are not only apart of our lives but can be found in stories we read.
Review with students how to move around on the Internet. Use terms: scroll, click, double-click, cursor.
Provide students during lab time to move within the web site. Guide students into activity exhibiting character traits. Allow them time to read the brief fables at their own pace. Upon completion of the story, have students complete activities. Students will need assistance in printing out their work.
Collect and discuss activities. Have students create an altered ending for their story. Encourage students to use the writing process, their creativity and imagination to illustrate their version of the story.

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Materials

Computers with Internet Access, Overhead Projector, story map and handouts.
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Assessment and Evaluation

Students wil be encouraged to create and maintain character education logs that will contain their responses to literature read, their story ideas and their feelings and opinions about their own character development. These will be responded to informally by the classroom teacher. Upon completing this unit, students, working individually or in groups, will have created a classroom book about character education.
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Appendices

The following list of resources is for educators. Enclosed are lesson plan ideas, research, organizations and much, much,more!

Resources
Character Education Resources& Links:

http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/mirada/RLST23.HTM

http://scnc.britton.k12.mi.us/School/Counseling/Counseling/Charactereducation.htm

http://netra.anderson1234.k12.sc.us/d3/StarrElem/phillips/characterlinks.htm

Literature Activity Links:

http://members.aol.com/MGoudie/ChildrensLit.html
http://www.eclectics.com/articles/character.html

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