Lesson 1: Why Do You Act That Way?

• Examine the internal and external factors that help to determine how a person acts and the choices he or she makes.

• Define the terms “value” and “character trait.”

• Describe how character traits impact behavior.
• Identify six essential character traits needed for personal success and well being.
• Compare the six essential character traits to the core democratic values.

Lesson 2: Character Traits in Action – Part 1

• Compose behavioral examples of the essential character traits.

• Analyze short stories to identify the character traits that are demonstrated by the character in the story.
• Examine the difference in the impact on others when the character traits are demonstrated and when they are not.
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Lesson 3: Character Traits in Action – Part 2

• Advocate for behaviors that demonstrate the essential character traits.

• Demonstrate the character traits when responding to hypothetical situations.
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Lesson 4: Standing Up for Yourself – Part 1

• Communicate the character traits they demonstrate frequently.

• Report ways they demonstrate the character traits.
• Describe ways to communicate the character traits without offending others.
• Distinguish between passive, aggressive, and assertive communication.
• Practice writing assertive statements using assertive communication skills.
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Lesson 5: Standing Up for Yourself – Part 2

• Recognize that it often takes courage to demonstrate the six character traits.

• Evaluate behaviors to determine if they are examples of the six character traits.
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Lesson 6: Reaching Out to Others – Part 1

• Summarize ways to demonstrate the six essential character traits by helping others.

• Identify criteria to determine when to tell an adult about situations.
• Analyze situations that call for simple acts of caring and those that require getting the help of caring adults.

• Recognize the signs of danger that indicate adult help is needed

• Discuss asking for help as a sign of strength.
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Lesson 7: Reaching Out to Others – Part 2

• Define the term “stress.”

• Identify sources of stress for middle school youth.
• Examine signs and symptoms that indicate a person is under stress.
• Create a menu of stress management techniques.
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Lesson 8: Reaching Out to Others – Part 3

• Identify signs and symptoms that indicate a high level of stress and the type of help needed.

• Analyze situations to determine the level of stress and type of help needed.
• Evaluate when helping others demonstrates the essential character traits.
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Lesson 9: Reaching Out to Others – Part 4

• Review the elements of empathic listening.

• Practice empathic responses.
• Summarize the benefits of showing empathy for others and the relationship to the six essential character traits.
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Lesson 10: For the Common Good

• Develop a variety of ways to show empathy for others.

• Investigate the meaning of fairness.
• Create a written or visual product that communicates their interpretation of fairness.
• Formulate an expanded meaning of fairness within the context of the common good.
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Lesson 11: Becoming the Person You Want to Be

• Investigate the meaning of citizenship within the context of the common good.

• Recognize their contributions to the groups of which they are members and propose new ways to practice good citizenship.
• Review a decision-making model highlighting the role character traits play in the decision-making process.
• Practice using the decision making model with a hypothetical situation highlighting the character traits that impact the decision.
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Lesson 12: The Courage to Act

• Assess how well they think they demonstrate the essential character traits and illustrate their self-assessment in a graph.
• Formulate goals to maintain and/or improve their behavior based on the essential character traits.
• Create an action plan for achieving their goals.
• Evaluate behaviors to determine if they are acts of courage.
• Analyze what it takes to be courageous.

• Formulate recommendations for acting courageously in ways that demonstrate the essential character traits.
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