Three Values Lessons
Daniel Simmons
Winter Quarter
29 Jan. 2002
ED 448
Helms
Values: Respect
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Respect, defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is an act of giving
particular attention; high or special regard; the quality or
state of being esteemed.
What does this mean to you? How does respect apply to Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.?
I. Answer the following questions with TRUE or FALSE.
1. I treat other people the way I want to be treated.
2. I am considerate of other people (and their feelings).
3. I treat people with civility, courtesy, and dignity.
4. I can accept that people are different from me.
5. I solve problems without attacking others, be it emotionally, physically,
verbally, or mentally.
6. I try not to embarrass or hurt others.
7. I think I am/am not a respectful person because:
II. Class Discussion Questions
1. How do you feel when someone judges you without knowing you or giving you a
chance? How do you feel when someone you disagree with calls you a name?
How do you feel when someone bumps into you in the hall and doesn't apologize?
2. The Golden Rule says that we should treat others the same way we would want to
be treated. Do you agree? How do you feel if you treat someone with respect and
that person responds with rudeness? If someone insults you, should you insult that
person in return?
3. Do you agree that you don't have to respect everyone; you simply have to treat
people with respect. Is there a difference? Explain.
4. What can you do to make this a more respectful world?
5. Does respect play a role in harmonious race relations? Explain.
6. Do you think that people in our society are respectful enough of each other?
Why?
7. What are the benefits of people treating each other with respect?
Activities:
1. Watch Pay It Forward, with Haley Joel Osmont, Kevin Spacey, and Helen Hunt.
In a short – one (1) to three (3) pages – paper, explain how respect is portrayed in
the movie. Think about this: if one person treats another with respect, the respect
begins to spread out from there.
2. Conduct a survey in your school or community, asking questions like these: Do
you think people are respectful enough? What are some disrespectful acts that
really annoy you? What are some respectful acts that you especially appreciate?
Compile the results into a report.
3. Brainstorm ways that you can make your school environment more respectful.
Then post your ideas in the school newspaper or on posters that can be placed in
the hallways.
Values: Fairness
Fairness, defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is marked by
impartiality and honesty, freedom from self-interest,
prejudice, or favoritism.
What does this mean to you? How does fairness apply to our
court system?
The Supreme Court of the United States of America
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
I.
Answer the following questions with TRUE or FALSE.
1. I treat others without showing favoritism.
2. I am open-minded.
3. I play by the rules.
4. I consider the way I treat people and their feelings, which may be affected by my
actions and decisions.
5. I treat other people the way I would like to be treated.
6. I am/am not a fair person because:
II. Class Discussion Questions
1.
What does treating people fairly mean? Does fairness mean everyone gets the same amount, like an
equal piece of a chocolate bar? Does fairness mean enforcing the rules for everyone, even if it
means losing a game? Is it possible to treat everyone fairly?
2. What does it mean to be open-minded? What does it mean to be impartial? What do these things have
to do with fairness?
3. Is it possible to be fair without considering everyone who will be affected by your decision? Give an
example.
4. Most people think fairness requires us to treat people equally. What does it mean to treat people
equally? Give examples of equal and unequal treatment.
5. Can you think of a situation in which it might be right to give someone a special advantage? Are there
good reasons to give unequal consequences for the same offense?
6. What if being fair to others means sacrificing something important of your own, like time, money, or
even your job? How can you determine what's fair when you have to choose between yourself and
others?
7. How should you treat people who are not fair with you?
Activities:
1.
Invite a judge to come and talk to your class about how he/she makes a fair decision in the courtroom.
2. Have the students bring in newspaper/magazine articles that describe situations in which fairness and
justice is an issue. Decide who is acting fairly, and who is acting unfairly in these situations.
3. Do a research study in your school to see if students feel that they have equal opportunities. Are there
groups of students who don't think they do? Consider race, class, and sex in your study. Is there a group
of "outcasts" in your school who feel that they're being treated unfairly? What could be done to address
these complaints? Share the results of the study with the staff and other students.
Values: Integrity
Integrity, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the
firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic
values.
What does this mean to you? How does integrity apply to Rosa
Parks?
Rosa Parks
I. Answer the following questions with TRUE or FALSE.
1. I always try to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
2. I remain true to my self.
3. I live up to the highest ethical standards.
4. I don’t compromise my values.
5. I think I am/am not a person of integrity because:
II. Class Discussion Questions
1.
How do you want to be remembered after you die?
2. Are you that kind of person?
3. Does thinking about how you want to be remembered tell you anything about how you should live your
life?
4. Is being thought of as someone with integrity important to you? Why or why not? How would you feel if
someone accused you of not having integrity?
5. What do the expressions "walk your talk" or “let your life speak” mean? Do you know people who walk
their talk? What do you think of them? Do you know people who don’t walk their talk? What do you
think of them? How do you feel when you hear people say one thing and do another?
7. Have you ever taken a stand that was unpopular and had to pay the price for that? What did you do? What
was the outcome? How did you feel afterwards? What did you learn from the experience?
8. What does "compromising your principles" mean? Give an example. How far would you compromise
your principles in order to get ahead?
9.
What do you think Gandhi meant when he said, "We must be the change we want to see?"
III. Activities
1.
2.
3.
Identify someone in public life who you think has demonstrated integrity or a lack of integrity. Write a letter
to this person saying what you think of their behavior, and how they have impressed you or disappointed you.
Bring in some newspaper articles about people who you think have integrity and people who you think who
do not. What distinguishes one from the other? Who gets more play in the media?
Many people complain that political leaders lack integrity. Develop a checklist for evaluating the integrity of
political leaders, including student body officers. Using this checklist, rank political leaders you are familiar
with. Does a high ranking affect how you feel about these leaders? Would it influence the way you would
vote?
These lessons were created with the help of Elkind+Sweet
Communications / Live Wire Media.
www.GoodCharacter.com.