This Cultivating Character resource page is intended to assist State Operated Programs’ teachers and education staff find quality resources and lesson ideas on the web. The following links and documents have been provided to meet the needs of the specific population and classroom environments found within Virginia’s State Operated Programs’ education centers.
NEWSLETTERS
May 2016 June and July 2016 August and September 2016 October 2016
February 2017 March 2017 May 2017
Websites:
Printables:
- Character-Themed Coloring Pages:
- Free Classroom posters:
Video/Movie resources:
- Teach with Movies – http://www.teachwithmovies.org/ethical-emphasis-index.htm
- Lists of popular movies, analyzed for specific character themes/content
- Features discussion questions and background information
- MTV’s Rebel Music Project: http://www.rebelmusic.com/#!music/rebel-music/season/season-2
- Series focused on how music is being used to promote social justice and rebel against unjust systems across the world (each episode focuses on 1 country) – some episodes available on this site, through Youtube or on Netflix, episode guides for educational use in development
- TED-Ed Videos:
- Historical Role Models- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/historical-role-models-amy-bissetta
- Leadership and Social Action- http://ed.ted.com/featured/TLg3vHGd
- Trust- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-you-know-whom-to-trust-ram-neta
- Leading and Following (using tango)- http://ed.ted.com/featured/ypFEhSjj
- Heroism- http://ed.ted.com/featured/KHIzatLv
- Courage in Afghanistan- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/dare-to-educate-afghan-girls-shabana-basij-rasikh
- Bullying- http://ed.ted.com/featured/p04GkF0j
- 8 Traits of Success- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/richard-st-john-8-traits-of-successful-people
- Perseverance- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-two-decisions-led-me-to-olympic-glory
- Boldness, Creativity and Optimism- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-adults-can-learn-from-kids-adora-svitak
- Goal-setting, Self-discipline and Humility- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/write-your-story-change-history-brad-meltzer
- Heroism- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-a-hero-matthew-winkler
- Anti-heroes and Heroism- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/an-anti-hero-of-one-s-own-tim-adams
- Overcoming Obstacles- http://ed.ted.com/lessons/there-s-no-dishonor-in-having-a-disability-steven-claunch
- Motivation- http://ed.ted.com/featured/LT8oQQTo
- Anti-bullying/Bystanders video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY7Gvq0P4hc
Book Lists:
- Children’s’ books
- Books for Educators
- Young Person’s Character Education Handbook by The Editors at Jist
- Daily Warm-Ups for Character Education by Walch Publishing
Curriculum Resources and Lesson Plans:
- http://showcase.schooldatebooks.com/character-education/
- http://wordgen.serpmedia.org/student/ – Series 1,2, and 3, as well as 4th grade and 5th grade tabs have excellent resources for entire units centered around fundamental questions, many focused on values and character (ex. “What is fair?”, “When is it acceptable to break the rules?”). Units include writing, vocabulary, and usually a math connection as well. Content for Science and Social Studies is also available. Resources are appropriate through high school level.
- http://www.goodcharacter.com/ – includes “Daily Dilemmas,” teaching guides and also addresses Character in Sports
- http://character.org/ – Lesson plans, assessments for individuals, teachers & schools
- http://huddleup.characterplus.org/ – Linking character ed with sports, sponsored by St. Louis Rams, includes lesson plans, videos of players speaking about character traits and includes a teacher activity guide
- http://www.values.com/
- https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ – Kindness
- https://www.dosomething.org/ – Service learning
- http://www.casel.org – Research based activities and lessons
- www.tolerance.org – Professional development ideas and lessons for students