Character Education Classroom Activities

Character Education Classroom Activities

Modest Proms are Popular
By Greg Hill and Julie Dockstader Heaps, Church News

As high school prom season wraps up for another year, LDS youth have sought ways to enjoy this tradition without compromising standards of dress, music and morals, as well as without spending excessive amounts of money.

These events, mainly sponsored by stakes and wards, have been largely organized by the youth themselves.

In St. Louis, Missouri, Keri Hemming organized an event in which everyone 16 or over felt welcome; no one felt excluded.

People of other faiths were welcome who were willing to abide by the standards, which included modest clothing, and no smoking, drinking, swearing, etc.

The music was screened for inappropriate lyrics. The whole time everyone was dancing. There were no wallflowers.
WAY TO GO, KERI!

How to Make a Conversation Wheel
Riddles

Send a Care Package to our Servicemen
A Short List of Items Needed by our Servicemen: A great and charitable church service project for parents and youth

Toothbrushes
Toilet Paper
Black Pens
Gum
Hard Candy
Lotion
Lip Balm
Reading Material (crosswords, "seek and find" books, scriptures, uplifting books)
non-aeresol insect repellent

Teaching Work Ethics and Morals
For ages 3-8

1. PICK UP TEN. For toddlers, make picking up part of their play by counting or sorting. Give them toy brooms and mops to play with when you clean.

2. ALLOWANCE. Reward your young child a set amount of money each week for completing simple household chores. Avoid paying per chore, so the child won't expect to be paid for every single thing he does. Let him make checks or put stars on a job chart.

3. EARN YOUR GOAL. Let your child choose something he really wants, then earn the money to pay for it.

ALL AGES:

DEVELOPING TALENTS

Encourage your child to develop a talent, or in some way do something with his or her hands. This could be art or craft, musical instrument, science project or invention. Then give a recital/exhibit in the spring and invite friends and family to celebrate your children’s achievements.

Children get excited about their work and it gives them something to look forward to. This builds character and self worth through discipline of practice and creativity, appreciation of good music, fine art, and excellence.

Character Building for Young Adults

1. Give equal time to Television Viewing vs. Reading and Thinking. See which enriches you more.

2. Start a journal. Don’t feel compelled to write each day, trivial things like what time you ate breakfast. But try to write something at least once a week. Write down your thoughts, things that you have learned from experiences, or insights you gain from reading scriptures or good books. Take time to ponder. Write down feelings you have at such times.

Try these character education activities to make Thanksgiving more meaningful.

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation
The Real Story of Thanksgiving

1. G is for gratitude. You go around the dinner table, taking turns. The first person thinks of something he is grateful for that starts with “A”, the next person, with “B”, and so on, until you go through the alphabet.

2. Name the historical figure. This may require a little research about the first Thanksgiving. Each person has a sign placed on his back of a famous person from history. Each wearer must guess what name is on his back by asking others to give him clues. Names might include John Smith, the real Pocohontas, Walter Raleigh, Squanto, etc.

3. What if I were there? Have a discussion comparing the conditions then and now, by asking questions. For example, “What if you had to grow enough food to survive the winter?” “Why were the Pilgrims thankful?” “What if you were in a strange land with people of a different culture and language than you?” “What might it have been like that first Thanksgiving for the Indians and the Pilgrims to make friends?” “What kind of games did children of those days play?” “Did they have any toys?” “What kind of chores and responsibilities did children of those days have?”

4. Service Project. If you want something more in-depth, you can help the oldest child plan and lead a community service project, such as a food pantry drive or helping at a soup kitchen for the homeless. A child who teaches and leads others will long remember the experience.

FEED THE HUNGRY:
Go without two meals a month and give the equivalent cost, and even more, to your [church leader] for the care of the needy.

Activities for a meaningful Christmas

1. GIFTS FOR HIM. As a family, plan a service project for the less fortunate. Make it personal. Examples: read to children in a children’s hospital; select a needy family and secretly provide Christmas dinner and gifts for each member of that family. Some children have been known to give their favorite toy to another child.

2. REASON FOR THE SEASON. Together as a family, read the Biblical account of the first Christmas. Start a tradition of your children acting out the Nativity— the most unselfish gift ever given.

3. PIXIE WEEK. Draw names among family members. For one week, before Christmas, secretly do something kind for the person whose name you drew. (No pranks.) At the end of the week, give a small gift to that person, and everyone finds out who their pixie was.

Here are three traditions for New Year's Eve that kids look back on with happy memories.

1. FUN GIFT. Each year for Christmas the kids get at least one fun game.

2. DINNER PARTY. Mom gets snacks and pizza, makes a cheese ball. Each kid invites one special friend.

3. GAME NIGHT. Kids play games, do puzzles, watch videos, and socialize for as late as they want.

MAKE GOOD NEIGHBOR COOKIES. This Valentine’s Day, ( or any occasion will do), get with the kids and all have fun making cookies together, then take them to a friend or neighbor to cheer them up. (Or make soup and write letters for someone who is bed-ridden.)
How to Make a Conversation Wheel

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