Character Education at FES 1

Running head: CHARACTER EDUCATION AT FES

A Character Education-Curriculum Paper

Kristin Spears and Samantha Pippin
Liberty University
 Character Education at FES 2

ABSTRACT

The intent of this paper is to familiarize, stress the importance of and educate ourselves as
well as others on character education incorporated into the curriculum for any given
class. Our hypothetical school has chosen eight character principles in which we have
given examples for fourth grade curriculum incorporation. The above mentioned eight
characteristics include: responsibility, diligence, integrity, courtesy, creativity, courage,
loyalty and humility; and the subjects these traits will be incorporated in are: math,
science, language arts and Virginia studies.
 Character Education at FES 3

At Falwell Elementary, the educators by implementing a character education program

into our curriculum. The goal of Character education can best be defined by Martin

Luther King Jr. having said, “ The Function of education is to teach one to think

intensively and to think critically…Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of the true

education” Falwell Elementary defines character education as teaching students certain

morals and values to develop their personal identity. Falwell Elementary has specifically

set aside eight characteristics: Responsibility, Diligence, Integrity, Courtesy, Creativity,

Courage, Loyalty, and Humility. The Fourth Grade classes are no exception, and plan to

incorporate all eight-character qualities into the studies of math, science, language arts,

and Virginia Studies.

Diligence

Diligence defined by WordRefence.com is “persevering determination to perform

a task.” Students will learn that they can overcome the obstacles that get in their way by

being diligent and never giving up. The book chosen to represent diligence is The

Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. The story deals with a swan that makes a horrible

squawking sound. The other swans are put off by this noise and the swan must go and

find a new home. In the city, he overcomes adversary by learning that he can do

something and that is play the trumpet.

In math, the teacher will address the math Standard of Learning(SOL) 4.5. “The

student will estimate whole-number sums and differences and describe the method of

estimation. Students will refine estimates, using terms such as closer to, between, and a

little more than.”

 Character Education at FES 4

The teacher will use the examples of swans on a lake and teach the students to use

various terms such as “closer to, between and a little more than” as stated in the SOL.

The students will then be broken into groups and given a scenic lake picture with

various swans placed about on it will take turns asking each other where certain objects

are in relation to other objects and the students will reply given the terms of “closer to,

between and a little more than.”

In science, the teacher will provide a unit about the lives of swans and their affects on the

ecosystem (SOL 4.5). “The student will investigate and understand how plants and animals in an

ecosystem interact with one another and the nonliving environment. Key concepts include

a) behavioral and structural adaptations;

b) organization of communities;

c) flow of energy through food webs;

d) habitats and niches;

e) life cycles; and influence of human activity on ecosystems.”

The unit will include flow charts of the life cycles of swans and the food chain involving

swans, and how swans are willing to adapt to their communities as the swan did in the story The

Trumpet of the Swan.

The students will learn about the various life cycles of swans by being put into

groups and having been given a certain stage of the swans life will research and write a

one-page paper about that particular lifecycle and each group will present their findings

to the class. The presentation will be made in the order of the swan’s life cycles.

In Language Arts, the teacher will show the students the steps to the writing

process. The teacher will go over each step and to make sure the students understand each

step the teacher will have written a story about a fish who shares the same lake with the
 Character Education at FES 5

swans that the class has been reading about. The teacher will give each student a copy of

what writing the story looked like for each step. The students will in turn choose another

lake animal and begin their own narrative story involving the writing process. The

students will take turns reading and correcting each other’s work. The students will make

a final draft and will turn in the final draft to be counted as a test grade for their Language

Arts grade. This activity includes SOL 4.7 a, b, d, e, and 4.8. “The student will write

effective narratives, poems, and explanations.

a) Focus on one aspect of a topic.

b) Develop a plan for writing.

d) Write several related paragraphs on the same topic.

e) Utilize elements of style, including word choice and sentence variation.

4.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, punctuation,

and sentence structure.

a) Use subject-verb agreement.

b) Include prepositional phrases.

c) Eliminate double negatives.

d) Use noun-pronoun agreement.

e) Use commas in series, dates, and addresses.

f) Incorporate adjectives and adverbs.

g) Use the articles a, an, and the correctly.

h) Use correct spelling for frequently used words, including common

homophones.”
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In Virginia Studies, the teacher will show the students the various geographic land

features of the states as given in VS.2.a.b.c. “The student will demonstrate knowledge of

the geography and early inhabitants of Virginia by

a) locating Virginia and its bordering states on maps of the United States;

b) locating and describing Virginia’s Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue

Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau;

c) locating and identifying water features important to the early history of

Virginia (Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, James River, York River,

Potomac River, and Rappahannock River);”

The areas will be labeled on a class map that will be available to the students to use

through out the year. The teacher will provide good descriptions of life forms and various

circumstance that are in those areas that could help sustain swan life.

The students will then label individual maps. Using their maps, the students will

select a region and tell why they believe a swan could survive there. The students will

give good concrete facts about what they believe to be true. The students who selected

the same regions will be broken into groups and will share ideas and present their ideas to

the class.

Responsibility

Responsibility is something that everyone must learn. The students must learn to

take responsibility for their actions. As students, they will need to learn that being

responsible mean completing one’s homework on time, taking care of the environment

around them and being responsible in how they treat each other, so that to treat each other

with the respect that each students deserves. The book chosen to represent responsibility
 Character Education at FES 7

is Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Young Opal finds a dog and decides to

keep him. She learns that since he is her pet that she must take responsibility for him.

This is a big task for her but she will learn many lessons along the way. In math the

teacher will show the students how to divide a two-digit quotient by a one-digit divisor.

SOL 4.8 will be addressed. The student will estimate and find the quotient of two whole

numbers, given a one-digit divisor. Many examples will be given for this lesson.

The students will be given a work sheet pretending that they are Opal and they are

planning a party for some friends in the neighborhood. The students will be given

problems such as; Opal has to prepare 21 sandwiches. Each person will eat 3 sandwiches

apiece. How many people will Opal feed? The teacher will have candy such as M&M’s

for the students to use also fro them to help grasp division. The students will be divided

into groups and will be given a bag of M&M’s and will be asked to separate each color.

The students will have to decide how many red M&M’s each student in their group will

get, and so forth.

In science, the teacher will explain motion and force to the students using the dog Winn-

Dixie as the main example. Simulation problems will be given relating to the dog’s movement

and speed. There are forces that contribute to Winn-Dixie’s speed such as him hearing his name

called from an opposition direction. The teacher will also explain kinetic energy to the students

by showing them by way of video clip that a moving dog creates kinetic energy. The SOL

addressed will be 4.2. “The student will investigate and understand characteristics and interaction

of moving objects. Key concepts include

a) motion is described by an object’s direction and speed;

b) forces cause changes in motion;

c) friction is a force that opposes motion; and

 Character Education at FES 8

d) moving objects have kinetic energy.”

The students will create their own kinetic energy by using a ball and themselves.

They will demonstrate forces that can get in each objects way.

In Language Arts, the teacher will dress up as Opal and give a presentation to the

class on why Winn-Dixie would make anyone a great dog including 10 reasons for why

this dog is so special.

The students will observe the presentation. They will choose a character from the book

and create their own 10 reasons list about a certain person, place or object in the book and give a

presentation to the class including their 10 reasons list. SOL 4.2 tells that “The student will make

and listen to oral presentations and reports.

a) Use subject-related information and vocabulary.

b) Listen to and record information.

c) Organize information for clarity.”

In Virginia Studies, the teacher will provide the students information on Virginia’s

role in the Civil War. The information will be provided through the use of a PowerPoint

presentation. The teacher will share with the students the various battles that took place in

Virginia.

The students will read various Civil war stories that have been selected by the

teacher. The students will read these stories and will test them for their accuracy. The

facts that the students have been given about the war will be the accurate facts that the

students will test the tales against. The class will also reread chapter 16 in Because of

Winn-Dixie, and test Miss Franny’s Civil War story for accuracy. The SOL will be used;

VS.7.b. “The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues that divided our nation

and led to the Civil War by

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b)describing Virginia’s role in the war, including identifying major battles that

took place in Virginia.”

Courtesy

Courtesy is an attribute that every member of Falwell Elementary should show

each other. Courtesy can be defined by BrainyMedia.com as “An act of civility or

respect; and act of kindness or favor performed with politeness.” In Don’t Laugh at Me,

the section “The Caring Being,” this an activity that could help make a teacher’s

classroom more capable of being courteous by accepting each other’s behaviors. The

students learn to be courteous by “sharing, listening, waiting my turn,” (31). Another

good activity for courtesy would be the “Walk in Another’s Shoes” activity (45). Instead

of putting down a person because a student has a conflict with them, the student could

learn to see the other person’s point of view. This is showing courtesy because the

students are taking the time to see the conflict from both sides of the argument and not

just demanding their own way be heard.

The book chosen to represent courtesy is You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,

by Judge Judy Sheindlin. This book takes children through circumstances and let’s them

decide the consequences. The children in some situation have to chose between being

courteous to adults and to their peers.

In math, the teacher will show students how to find equivalent fractions. 4.2 “The

student will b) represent equivalent fractions;” This will by done by taking two objects

that look alike and separating one object twice as many times as the one before. The

teacher will make the fractions easy for the students to understand at first so they will

grasp the concepts quickly.

 Character Education at FES 10

The students will be broken up into pairs and given a bag of Reese’s Pieces will

separate the candies by color. The students will then create equivalent fractions, letting

the other student check to make sure that the problem is correct.

In science, the teacher will take the students on a field trip to a near by wooded

area, along with parents and let the students look at the various plants, rocks, and see if

they see any animal life. While in the woods, the teacher will enforce that the students

will need to be courteous to their surroundings, because many living things make their

home in the woods.

The students will come back to the classroom and write a one-page report on one object

that they have seen in the woods. SOL 4.8 will be used in the activity; “The student will

investigate and understand important Virginia natural resources. Key concepts include

a) watershed and water resources;

b) animals and plants;

c) minerals, rocks, ores, and energy sources; and

d) forests, soil, and land.”

In Language Arts, the teacher will read the book, You Can’t Judge a Book by Its

Cover to the class. The teacher will pause at some of the scenario’s in the book and let the

students discuss what should be done in the cases. The students will learn courtesy by

respecting each other’s thoughts, and not talking when another students is sharing their

opinions.

The students will come up with their own scenarios. A few of their scenario’s will be read

to the class and the class will decide what the correct outcomes or outcomes should be. SOL 4.1

will be attained by “The student will use effective oral communication skills in a variety of

settings:
 Character Education at FES 11

a) Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.

b) Contribute to group discussions.

c) Seek ideas and opinions of others.

d) Use evidence to support opinions.

e) Use grammatically correct language and specific vocabulary to communicate

ideas.”

In Virginia studies, the teacher will explain what relationships the settlers had

with the American Indians. The class will discuss the interactions between these two

groups of people and how these two groups made contributions to each other. SOL VS.3

will be taught the student and “The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first

permanent English settlement in America by g.) describing the interactions between the

English settlers and the Powhatan people, including the contributions of the Powhatans to

the survival of the settlers.”

The students will find one resource of Indians helping settlers or settlers helping

Indians and write whether the group showed courtesy to the other group in dealing with

them. Showing courtesy or not will come from the resource that the student used.

Creativity

Creativity will be encouraged in all aspects of the student’s lives. The students

will express creativity in arts and other academic studies, but also in handling different

situations.

The book that will be used to demonstrate creativity is The Lion, The Witch and

The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. In this book, four young children are taken to a new world

through a secret passageway. This world is full of people that are different from them.
 Character Education at FES 12

The world itself is a very different place to the children. By reading this book hopefully

the fourth grade students will express creativity through their imagination and allow what

they imagine to be written down and released through drawing.

In math, the teacher will show the students how to create lines that are

perpendicular to each other, lines that are parallel to each other and lines that intersect.

The student will learn how to create these types of lines. The students will draw a

character from the story by using the given lines to create the character. Special emphasis

will be given on creating lines in the character’s that intersect, are parallel, and are

perpendicular to each other. The SOL addressed is Math 4.16 “The student will identify

and draw representations of lines that illustrate intersection, parallelism, and

perpendicularity.”

In science, the teacher will show the students the plant life process. This life process will

be compared to that of Narnia and how the plants there haven’t seen the sun and the other various

conditions that he plants have been under. The class will discuss how certain conditions are not

good for plant growth and how other conditions are better for plant growth. In SOL 4.4 “The

student will investigate and understand basic plant anatomy and life processes. Key concepts

include

a) the structures of typical plants (leaves, stems, roots, and flowers);

b) photosynthesis (sunlight, chlorophyll, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and sugar); and

c) dormancy.”

The student will draw the plant life cycle and label each cycle, highlighting key

terms in certain cycles.

 Character Education at FES 13

In Language Arts, the teacher will create a character identification rhyme of one

character in the book. The rhyme will include basic facts about the character and also

some facts that the students may not have picked up on while reading the book.

The students will break up into groups and will write their own character analysis

to be presented to the class. The students will have to make their analysis rhyme. SOL 4.7

tells that “The student will write effective narratives, poems, and explanations.

a) Focus on one aspect of a topic.

b) Develop a plan for writing.

c) Organize writing to convey a central idea.

d) Write several related paragraphs on the same topic.

e) Utilize elements of style, including word choice and sentence variation.

f) Write rhymed, unrhymed, and patterned poetry.

g) Use available technology.”

In Virginia Studies, the teacher will inform the students of how the Indians of

Virginia learn to deal with their land, just as the people in the forest of Narnia learned to

deal with their land after the witch had put a curse on the land.

The students will write a essay on how the Indians interacted with the land by

way of either cultivation, housing, hunting, make goods for themselves, and what other

topics that the students can come up with. The SOL that the students will understand is

VS 2.e. “The student will demonstrate knowledge of the geography and early inhabitants

of Virginia by- e) describing how American Indians (First Americans) adapted to the

climate and their environment to secure food, clothing, and shelter.” Creativity will be a

major role in this exercise.

 Character Education at FES 14

Courage is “the ability to confront pain, fear, danger, uncertainty or intimidation”

(Wikipedia). Better put by Harriet Beecher Stowe, “All serious daring starts from
within,” referencing the necessity of courage within us all. Verna Aardena utilizes
courage a bit in her African myth, Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People’s Ears (1975). This
story portrays a mosquito’s foolish speech to an iguana. The iguana inadvertently put
sticks in his ears so as to not be succumbed to such foolishness like that from the
mosquito. The various animals which came across the sight of the iguana with sticks in
his ears became very fearful and this fright-domino effect led to the death of an owlet,
further causing the sun not to rise because the ‘waker of the sun’-the owlet’s mother-was
too busy mourning. In searching for someone to blame, the mosquito stood at the end of
the beautifully illustrated line and all eyes were on him. Therefore, mosquitoes buzz in
people’s ears because they are courageously still asking if the world is angry with them.
Math
The teacher will geographically identify where in the world the metric system of
measurement is used and where the U.S. customary system of measurement is
used- (SOL m 4.11 …estimate the conversion of inches and centimeters, yards
and meters, and miles and kilometers, using approximate comparisons…) leading
into a lesson on systems of measurement comparison using a simple worksheet.
The class will complete the in-class worksheet together-noting that here in the U.S.,
we use a different unit of measurement than in Africa where the feature story
of the week took place.
Science
The math lesson will roll over into the science lesson in which the teacher will
demonstrate how to measure objects using appropriate instruments and then how
to record and report the collected data (SOL s 4.1 …appropriate metric measures
are used to collect, record and report data…) through an exercise taking place in
and around the classroom.
The class will actively participate in the measurement of various objects, effectively
being evaluated on which instruments they choose for assorted measurements.
Language Arts
The teacher will read Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears and allow the students to
write in their journals why it took courage for the mosquito to buzz in people’s
ears and what courage truly means to them, individually.
The students will be given the opportunity to read their journal entry aloud, (SOL e 4.7
…focus on one aspect of a topic…) sharing what courage means to them in a
personal way.
VA Studies
The teacher will walk the student through a lesson on courage-illustrating our
country’s upstanding figures such as MLK and Laura Haviland {see DLAM p.
71}
The students will be expected to complete a word find with courageous-related
vocabulary terms and figures for homework (SOL va 4.9 … identifying the
social and political events in Virginia linked to desegregation and Massive
Resistance and their relationship to national history…).
 Character Education at FES 15

Loyalty is “faithfulness or a devotion to a person or cause” (Wikipedia). A great

example of this character principle is illustrated in the book, Zella, Zack, and Zodiac by
Bill Peet (1986), “Once upon a time I was your troublesome problem child.
I wouldn’t have lasted one day if it hadn’t been for you.
Saving little Zodiac is the least that I can do.
And I’ll keep on looking after him as long as I have a beak…” (11).
Math
The teacher will prepare a math lesson based around the use of geometric patterns
(stemming from the weekly featured book’s animals’ spots/stripes, shapes, etc.)
and then allow students to create patterns on their own for display.
The class will recognize, create, and extend numerical and geometric patterns, using
concrete materials, number lines, symbols, tables, and words… (SOL m 4.21)
through the activity-set up by the teacher-in which they are given creative license
to manufacture their own display for the classroom.
Science
The teacher will guide the students through a reading of the science chapter on how
plants and animals in an ecosystem interact with one another and the nonliving
environment… (SOL s 4.5) then relating it to the weekly featured book, asking
students for examples of each step of the food chain from the story, etc.
thus creating a food web on the smart board using the characters from story.
The class will pull from their knowledge of the science lesson as well as their reading
comprehension from the week’s story to create a food web for the classroom on
the smart board (as a collaborative effort) and then be quizzed at the end of
the week on content knowledge on the science lesson.
Language Arts
The teacher will read, Zella, Zach, and Zodiac emphasizing the rhyming lines and
then transition into a lesson on rhymed and unrhymed forms of poetry-setting
the class up for the following activity.
The students will participate in a rhyming activity-applying their knowledge of
rhymed, unrhymed, and patterned poetry (SOL e 4.7)- in which the students
create their own first person poem, putting themselves either in Zella or Zach’s
position in the weekly featured story, being sure to include three discussed poetic
features as well as a picture.
VA Studies
The teacher will have several types of maps available for the class of America, and in
using the textbook, will teach a lesson on landforms, water features, climate, etc.
and then allow for the students to compare those of the American continent to that
of Africa, as the read about that week. Then the teacher will provide paper
and art supplies for the students to break out into an activity time with a partner.
In the interpretation of maps to explain relationships among landforms, water features,
climatic characteristics, and historical events (SOL vs .1), the students will study
a map of America in order to best compare it to a map of Africa-where the weekly
featured story took place-then creating a chart with a partner with the differences
and similarities.
 Character Education at FES 16

Integrity is “the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of

principles.” (Wikipedia) Integrity is the culmination of making choices for oneself that
line up consistently with what an individual holds to as their beliefs-what’s right and
wrong; or put more cliché, “what someone’s like in the dark,” (author unknown) Lois
Lowry portrayed Jonas struggling with his personal development of integrity in his book,
The Giver, "If he had stayed in the community, he would not be. It was as simple as that.
Once he had yearned for choice. Then, when he has had a choice, he had made the wrong
one: the choice to leave. And now he was starving." (Ch. 22, 1993 Newbery Medal
Winner.
Math
The teacher will hand out in-class worksheets and instruct the students on a lesson in
which they discover the differences between 2-D and 3-D geometric figures. A
discussion of Jonas’ dream visions will transition the class into a math lesson (SOL m
4.17 …analyze and compare the properties of two-dimensional geometric figures and
three-dimensional geometric figures…) in which they investigate the differences between
2-D and 3-D figures.
Science
The teacher will illustrate how motion, force, friction and kinetic energy all work
together with regards to our world with examples (balls of various sizes, heavy
versus light-weight boxes, toys with wheels).
A discussion of the throwing of the red apple in the story will transition the class into a
science lesson (SOL s 4.2 …investigate and understand characteristics and
interaction of moving objects…) in which they explore 1. direction and speed
of various objects, 2. changes in motion due to force, 3. opposition of motion
by friction and 4. kinetic energy’s presence in moving things by participating
in a hands-on activity with the teacher.
Language Arts
The teacher will read The Giver chapter aloud and open the class up for
comprehension questions after circle time.
The class will answer verbal comprehension questions, especially focusing on (SOL e 4.4
…identify sensory words) sensory words within the read passage.
VA Studies
The teacher will teach a lesson on America’s early inhabitants, the Native Americans,
and divulge into a class compare/contrast of the differences and similarities
between those discussed and Jonas’ community in the book, The Giver.
The students will learn about America’s first inhabitants (SOL vs 2.2 …describing how
American Indians adapted to the climate and their environment to secure food,
clothing, and shelter) and participate in a smart-board activity
comparing/contrasting to those of Jonas’ community’s inhabitants
Humility - Humility is the act of “not [being] proud or haughty : not arrogant or
assertive,” (Merriam-Webster). Humility is a character trait important in young, smart,
successful individuals so as to lead and grow in the best way possible. Catherine
Paterson’s 1992 Newbery Medal winning book, The King’s Equal, tells the tale of a
prince charged with the duty of finding a wife equal to himself in beauty, intelligence and
wealth. After scouring the countryside for such a woman, one was chosen: Rosamund.
This is where the story adds a great twist, however; as Rosamund confronts the prince
 Character Education at FES 17

with a proposition that in his arrogance, he cannot refuse. The story closes with the
prince learning life’s lessons on humility in his retreated state, in the woods of his
kingdom.
Math
The teacher will use a felt board to illustrate the math lesson on more than, less than, and
equal to using the characters from the weekly featured book, The King’s Equal.
The students will take a quiz applying their skills in the content-area of more than, less
than, and equal to (SOL m 4.4 …compare the value of two decimals, using
symbols (<,>, or =)…).
Science
The teacher will set up a model ‘forest’ such as the one described in the weekly
featured book-to include out-of-place items and ask the students to identify them
by participating in a game of ‘which item does not belong.’
The class will apply their scientific content-knowledge by participating in the game
(SOL s investigate and understand important Virginia natural resources…).
Language Arts
The teacher will have the students popcorn read their literature book’s excerpt of The
King’s Equal and then discuss what it means to be humble.
The class will popcorn read the weekly featured book and each circle, look up in the
glossary and define an unknown word from the text for homework (SOL e 4.3
…use word-reference materials, including the glossary, dictionary, and
thesaurus).
VA Studies
The teacher will instruct a lesson on the difference in the new world’s governmental
system of democracy in comparison to the Motherland’s system of monarchy-
relating the lesson to the featured book.
The students will construct a compare/contrast chart with a partner using democracy
versus monarchy (SOL vs .3 …identifying the importance of the Virginia
Assembly as the first representative legislative body in English America…).
 Character Education at FES 18

References

BrainyMedia.com: courtesy. (visited 9/01/07)

DiCamillo, K (2000). Because of winn dixie. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick

press.

Operation Respect, Inc. (2000). Don't laugh at me teachers guide (p 1-96). New York:

Don't laugh at me. Lewis, C.S. (1950). The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. New York,

NY: HarperTrophy.

Merriam-Webster (www.m-w.com/) Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Merriam-

Webster, Incorporated, 2005.

Paterson, Catherine (1992). The king's equal. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Peet, B (1986). Zella, zack and zodiac. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

Sheindlin, J (2001). You can't judge a book by it's cover. New York, NY: Cliff Street

Books.

Aardena, V (1975). Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears. New York, NY: Dial books.

White, E.B. (1970).The Trumpet of the Swan. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

WordReference.com: diligence. (visited 9/01/07)