How Do We Show Caring?

Grade Level: 7

Subject(s): English/Language Arts,  Social Studies, Technical Skills, Developmental Guidance, Health

Learner Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify, explain, and give examples of Caring.
• Students understand the importance of caring for others.
• Students will be able to present a basic power point presentation.

Materials: Paper, pencil, pens, computer, chart paper, markers, tape, copies of 'Caring Situations' handout.

Technology Tools/Courseware:Microsoft office: Power Point, Word

Teacher Notes:

• Go over group/teamwork rules before separating into groups.
• Review the basics of power point

• Day 1    Discuss the  importance about caring for others.   Explain that there are two ideas behind caring: being concerned about something and doing something about it.  Emphasize that people who help just because they want to do so because of their caring nature.  Show video about "caring" and/or use power point.   Discuss.
• Day 2    Divide into groups.  Instruct them to choose reporter and recorder.  Give out the handout on caring situations.  Instruct students to not mention "names" of people involved in situations in their own lives with similar situations.  Assign 3 - 4 situations to each group.  Give them 15 minutes to decide as a group how they should react.  Have them write responses on chart paper with markers; discuss.  Next have the students make a list of 10 caring ideas that they can do at school.
• Day 3   Put downs an put ups.  A put down hurts feelings.  A put up makes someone feel good.  Explain his concept to your students.  Let them practice giving other students "put ups" (compliments).  Tell them they are to spend the rest of the day being conscious of what they say to others and to give a "put up" to as many people as they can while at school, then write a short paragraph about their experience for the next day.
• Day 4   Review the experiences of the day before.  Students from the "caring" group will present their program.

Modifications:Students with learning needs can be paired with a 'buddy' who is more proficient in computer functions to assist in areas needed. Students with visual impairments will need alteration in computer displays( i.e.; larger fonts, etc. ).

Enrichment Activities:  Power Point including implementation of charts/graphs, additional sound waves, etc.   Throughout the unit, students will brainstorm, choose, and follow through with at least one service project to be completed at the school or in the community.

Evaluation/Assessment:Power Point Rubric completed by peers and teacher.

West Virginia Standards West Virginia State Department
Technology      7.163,  7.164,  7.165,  7.166,  7.167, 7.168, 7.169,  7.170, 7.171,  7.172 ,7.173
Language Arts    7.17, 7.65, 8.50, 9.66
Personal Growth    PW.1, PW.2, PW.5, PW.8, PW.9,  PW.11, PW.12, PW.13,  PW.15, PW.16, PW.17, PW.18, PW.19, PW.20, PW.21,PW.22, PW.24, PW.25

National Standards

• Plays a variety of roles in group discussions
• Uses new information to adjust and extend personal knowledge base
• Knows the common features and uses of desktop publishing software (e.g., documents are created, designed, and formatted for publication; data, graphics, and scanned images can be imported into a document using desktop software)
• Uses advanced features and utilities of word processors (e.g., uses clip art, a spell-checker, grammar checker, thesaurus, and outliner).

• Principle #1:  Character education promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character
• Principle #2:  Character is comprehensively defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.
• Principle #3:  Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that   promotes the core values in all phases of school life.
• Principle #4:  The school is a caring community.
• Principle #5:  To develop character, the school provides students opportunities for moral action.
• Principle #6:  Effective character education includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps them succeed.
• Principle #7:  Character Education should strive to develop students' intrinsic motivation for developing good character.
• Principle #8:  The school staff is a learning and moral community in which all share responsibility for character education and attempt to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.
• Principle #9:  Staff and students demonstrate moral leadership.
• Principle #10:  The school recruits parents and community members as full partners in the character-building effort.
• Principle #11:  Evaluation of character education assesses the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.

References:   There are additional resources to these:
Microsoft Power Point Assistance
Teamwork/Group Assistance
CHARACTER COUNTS!  Resources
Character Education Partnership
teachwithmovies
Character Education Lesson Plans
Education World
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
Free Sources for Teachers
 

Authors:
VeAnne Fuerhoff
Myla Kreinik
Alexandra Smith