| Positive character and good citizenship values in | | | | Which would they prefer to be known as, someone |
| elementary school students are important for positive | | | | who is honest or someone who is not? |
| social growth, and an important building block in helping | | | | Dependability |
| to keep schools a safe and bully-free environment for | | | | Dependability is a trait that many students may not |
| learning. | | | | think about, but it is an important character trait to |
| It is important that positive citizenship traits are not only | | | | teach at a young age. |
| encouraged in the classroom, but also at home. Some | | | | Ask the students if they are dependable? Have them |
| of the traits below are part of the Pillars of Character | | | | share an incident with their classmates of a time they |
| that make up positive citizenship traits and are among | | | | were being dependable. Ask them to give an example |
| the citizenship values taught in public and private | | | | of a time when they were not dependable. |
| schools across Michigan, Ohio and the United States. | | | | Discussion |
| There are ideas for teachers and parents to help | | | | Ask the students this question. If you were an |
| encourage students to actively think about their | | | | employer and had to interview two people for a job at |
| character. | | | | your store, one of them has a reference to the fact of |
| Trustworthiness | | | | them being dependable, the other does not. If this is the |
| If you are trustworthy, you are someone who | | | | only thing you have to go on, regarding the two |
| deserves to be trusted. Trustworthiness is a character | | | | prospective employees, which would you hire? Why |
| trait that is earned. | | | | would it be desirable to hire someone who is |
| Ask the students for examples of words or phrases | | | | dependable? |
| that come to mind, in regards to being trustworthy. | | | | Other Traits of People With Positive Character |
| Post the list of words for all to see. Try to get a good | | | | There are a lot of views as to what constitutes good |
| number of answers. The responses you hear may | | | | citizenship and positive character. Here are some traits |
| include, faithful, honourable, reliable, dependable and | | | | that can be used to spark discussions in the classroom |
| upright. | | | | and at home: |
| Which of the following statements speak more to | | | | - Someone who loves their country |
| being trustworthy? | | | | - Somebody that respects all nationalities |
| 1. She told him she would play with him, but then left to | | | | - A person who believes in doing what is right |
| go play with another friend. | | | | - One who tries to serve others before himself |
| 2. When he said he would talk to the teacher about it, I | | | | - A person that obeys the law |
| knew he would because he was a man of his word. | | | | - Someone who respects authority |
| 3. When he was not looking, she took his candy. | | | | - One who makes a contribution to society and |
| Discussion | | | | community |
| Ask your students if they can think of someone who | | | | - Someone who stands up for the rights of others |
| is trustworthy? Do they know someone that they think | | | | - Someone that believes in fair play |
| is not trustworthy? Which kind of friend would you | | | | - One that is charitable. He performs good acts and |
| want to have, one that is trustworthy or one that is | | | | does not seek to make a profit from them |
| not? | | | | - Someone who is compassionate |
| Honesty | | | | Discussion |
| Honesty and trustworthiness go hand in hand. By being | | | | Ask the students which four things on the list of traits |
| honest, you earn trustworthiness. Many elementary | | | | are the most important to them. Ask them to write the |
| age students define honesty as simply "telling the truth" | | | | top four in the order of importance. Different people |
| and consider only verbal "lies" and being dishonest. | | | | will have different opinions. Share thoughts. |
| Discussions about honest with students should be help | | | | Set goals. Ask the students to set one specific area |
| them understand that many other actions such as | | | | on which to work. What could they do differently to |
| cheating or stealing are also dishonest. | | | | add to their personality, giving them that trait? |
| Discussion | | | | Good citizenship traits apply to every area of your life. |
| Ask the students to give an example of a time | | | | Try to impact this to your students. They can begin or |
| someone was honest with them. Ask them to do the | | | | continue on the path to being a good student and a |
| same for a time someone was not honest with them. | | | | good citizen. |