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The CPCE Approach
Curriculum and Instruction
Free to Learn helps teachers see that character education is not
an additional subject, for the tools needed to teach character can
be found in the existing curriculum. Character education can be
taught using the district-adopted curriculum, adding depth and meaning
to the subjects taught. While character education can be successfully
integrated into any curriculum area, Free to Learn concentrates
on showing teachers how to work with their existing reading program
as a way to teach character education.
Free
to Learn Lesson Planning Ideas
Sample
School Wide Writing Prompt
Reading Takes Character ~ Connections for
Open Court
(Character connections aligned with
Open Court Reading 2002)
Purchase
Reading Takes Character ~ Connections for Open Court
About
the OC Character Connections
All
Grade Levels
Kindergarten
1st
Grade
2nd
Grade
3rd
Grade
4th
Grade
5th
Grade
6th
Grade
Reading Takes Character ~ Connections
for Houghton Mifflin
(Character connections
aligned with Houghton Mifflin Reading)
Purchase
Reading Takes Character ~ Connections for Houghton Mifflin
About
the HM Character Connections
All
Grade Levels
Kindergarten
1st
Grade
2nd
Grade
3rd
Grade
4th
Grade
5th
Grade
6th
Grade
Character Awards
Kinder - 3rd Grade
4th - 6th Grade
Kids Law Lessons
Lessons for Kids and the Classroom
C.Y.C. has developed units which support the goals and curriculum
strands of the History-Social Science Framework, including such
ideas as providing students with ethical literacy, civic values,
and rights and responsibilities. The product is comprised of nine
units, one each for grades K-8. Each unit includes a focus lesson,
and is often centered around literature that demonstrates character.
The literature selection typically embodies a specific culture or
cultural tradition expressed through folklore or myth. This helps
teachers present character traits such as empathy and tolerance,
as well as history, through reading, discussion and related activities.
Each unit also includes extension lessons, additional lessons, a
reading list of similar stories and teacher resources.
Kindergarten – Learning and
Working, Now and Long Ago
Grade 1 – A Child’s Place
in Time and Space
Grade 2 – People Who Make a Difference
Grade 3 – Continuity and Change
Grade 4 – California: A Changing
State
Grade 5 – United States History:
Making a New Nation
Grade 6 – World History and Geography:
Ancient Civilizations
Grade 7 – World History and Geography:
Medieval and Early Modern Times
Grade 8 – United States History
and Geography: Growth and Conflict
Tips from the Pilot Phase (1995-2000)
Developing character is not a separate unit in the curriculum;
it is integrated throughout from math to language arts to physical
education. This way students understand that character is not a
separate aspect of their lives. No new curriculum needs to be created
because the existing curriculum is an excellent resource for character
education. Furthermore, the California Subject Matter Frameworks
have areas where character education helps advance curricular goals.
"It's not really even a program -- it's more of an awareness.
At the end we won't really have a product to show, just a path we
traveled," says Principal Jim Watson of Al Tahoe Elementary
School.
Character education can be integrated into math lessons on addition
and subtraction. For example, students can use real cookies or other
high interest objects to demonstrate fairness and sharing. In Physical
Education classes, character education can be integrated by rewarding
fairness and respect. One Jr. High School recognized students who
practiced good sportsmanship throughout the season. In history and
social science character education is integrated by discussing ethical
behavior. Choosing books for shared reading and individual student
reading that reflect traditions and values of a variety of cultures
and reflect good character traits, including positive resolution
of conflicts, offers an opportunity to integrate character education
into the curriculum.
Some examples of ideas for integrating Character Education into
existing curriculum are:
Social Science
• While studying Colonial America, students participate in
a simulation of a colonial classroom, where they learn about respect
and responsibility as well as history. (Al Tahoe Elementary)
• In studying Africa, students used African masks to demonstrate
elements of character. (Rio Linda Junior High)
English/Language Arts
• Students create vocabulary books in which each trait is
defined, drawn in a picture, and written about in a sentence. (Arbuckle
Elementary)
• Students think about what they want to be when they grow
up and write a paper discussing the character elements that would
be most important to them in their job. (Skycrest Elementary)
Other
• Students studying plants keep up a garden and learn about
caring and responsibility. (Dry Creek Elementary)
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