Character Education Teacher Resources

As a teacher, you are responsible for not only shaping your students’ academic abilities, but their character as well. They should leave your classroom kinder than when they entered, with more empathy, higher self-esteem, and strong leadership skills that allow them to thrive in the 21st century.

That’s why Lesson Planet’s educational resource team has gathered a selection of character education resources for any grade level. Start with a resource book on the Habits of Mind that integrates persistence, positive self-talk, striving for accuracy, and flexible thinking into any subject’s curriculum. Reinforce kindness in the classroom with a series of lessons that focus on R.J. Palacio’s Wonder.

Recognizing and reflecting on one’s mistakes is an important aspect of character education. Help young writers strengthen their integrity with a writing prompt about when to tell the truth about a past mistake.

For older students, a series of group projects and activities strengthen youth leadership skills and decision making. You can extend these themes with a lesson on peacebuilders and what it means to choose peace over conflict in their everyday lives.

Your students are capable of so much in this new world, and we want to supplement your instruction as you help them realize their true potential. You’re there for them—and we’re here for you!

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Lesson Planet Curated

Characterization

For Teachers 5th
In this collection, students learn about direct and indirect characterization through a series of lessons, worksheets, and graphic organizers.Students will also use Waggle Learning Goals' adaptive practice to work at their own pace....
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Lesson Plan
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More of, Less of

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Have your class discuss behaviors they like from other people. They will then get into groups and list behaviors they want to see more of from people in their community, classroom, or school. This is a great Character Counts lesson plan!
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education: Honesty

For Teachers 8th
Middle schoolers define what honesty means. They will discuss omission as a form of telling lies. Furthermore, they will compare and contrast to other forms of lying. In the end, they give examples of different types of lies and evaluate...
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

What Ben Read

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Just what did Ben Franklin read? By juxtaposing Ben Franklin’s reading material as a young man with an analysis of his developed ideas, learners gain the opportunity to see how the influences of his youthful reading played out. Roman,...
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Worksheet
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Word Search: Character Counts

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this character education word search worksheet, students identify words pertaining to positive character attributes such as respect, truthfulness, and fairness. Students locate 19 character traits on the puzzle.
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education Podcasts

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
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Writing
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Character Education: Confessing Mistakes

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this character education worksheet, students are asked to read a short passage and share their opinion. Students will need to decide what the character in the story should do in the given situation.
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Lesson Plan
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Picture (More) Perfect

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students help their community. In this character counts lesson, students discuss problems facing the world and their community. They come up with solutions to some of these problems. 
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Lesson Plan
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Respectful Interview

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Pupils interview elderly people in a senior citizen community center. In this character counts lesson plan, students interview the elderly about how society can be more respectful.  They videotape and watch the interviews together. 
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education - Self Respect, Respect for Others

For Teachers K
Students respond the story of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and discuss the ways in which she showed respect for herself and for others.
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Lesson Plan
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Integrating Character Education into Lesson Plans

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students select a favorite lesson and list character traits from that lesson to serve as indicators on various questions under review. Character traits included are honesty, compassion, strong work ethnic and respect for the environment.
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education: Caring

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students create a bookmark with reminders of simple acts of kindness. In this character education instructional activity, students participate in a mini-instructional activity that serves as a great introduction to a service project....
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education: Fairness

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss issues related to fairness and the music industry with a variety of partners. In this character education lesson plan, students sit in a round formation and discuss five topics for one minute at a time before changing...
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education- Respect

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students discuss what respect means. For this character education lesson, students read the book Cynthia Ann Parker and discuss the philanthropic acts in the book. Students answer questions about the text on the provided worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education: Perseverance

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders develop long term finance goals and understand why they are important. For this character education lesson, 6th graders compare the benefits of perseverance versus impulse spending. Students set five personal goals.
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Lesson Plan
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K-5 Integrating Character Education/A Lesson on Responsibility

For Teachers K - 5th
Students demonstrate traits of responsibility. They explain that accepting responsibility is more rewarding than avoiding responsibility. Students bring pictures of responsible and irresponsible situations or behaviors. They explore the...
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Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

PSE Character Education: Respect

For Teachers K - 5th Standards
Every healthy classroom community is built on a foundation of respect. Through whole group discussions, shared readings, and collaborative activities this instructional activity teaches children how to be respectful of one another,...
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Lesson Plan
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Dilworth Elementary Character Education Respect (September)

For Students K - 5th Standards
R-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to your class! After a grand conversation about what is, and how one can show respect, scholars take part in a plethora of activity choices such as role playing, a game of Simon Says, wood working,...
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PPT
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Happy Game: Citizenship

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Play a game to quiz your kids on what they know about citizenship. There are 10 questions that cover topics ranging from responsibility to volunteerism. The game is cute, interactive, and perfect for second through fourth graders.
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Lesson Plan
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Character in a Bag

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Develop a mystery character using clues from a bag. This engaging activity will help learners understand character traits. They develop a list of the items from the bag, discuss and develop the character with a partner, and create a...
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Worksheet
La Jolla High School

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Sketching a Portrait--Character Traits

For Students 6th - 9th
Use this handout to focus on the character traits of George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Readers are given a set of specific traits to search for in the first chapter. They are required to list two textual examples of...
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Lesson Plan
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Spookley the Square Pumpkin

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students complete activities with the story Spookley the Square Pumpkin. In this holiday lesson, students listen to the story and create their own Spookley pumpkin with Popsicle sticks and paints. They use their character counts traits...
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Lesson Plan
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Celebrate Character Counts Week

For Teachers K - 12th
Pupils participate in activities to celebrate character counts week. They identify the six pillars of character. They display good character when it comes to everyday tasks.
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Lesson Plan
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Character Education

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students read about character education in stories online. In this character education lesson, students complete activities about making good choices and sign a pledge to be a good person.