EDUCATION AND TRUE VALUES FIRST OF ALL

RESPONSIBILITY; SELF-DISCIPLINE; RESPECT; SHARING AND CARING; PERSEVERANCE; HONESTY; FRIENDSHIP; COOPERATION ; COMPASSION;

RESPONSIBILITY
Meaning of responsibility Responsibility is taking care of your duties. Responsibility is answering for your actions. Responsibility is accountability. Responsibility is trustworthiness. Why is being responsible important Responsibility is a core value for living honorably. Responsibility is being accountable for your behavior. Responsibility is being dependable when yo have things to do. Examples of responsibility You complete your chores at home without being constantly reminded. You take good care of your personal possessions. You come home on time. You call your parents if you are late. You eat healthy food, get plenty of exercise, and take good care of yourself. You take care of your lunch money and don't lose it on the playground. You keep a promise. You put part of your allowance into a savings account instead of spending it all. You complete your school assignments on time and to the best of your ability. You take care of your pet. You return library books on time. Responsible children Understand and accept consequences for their actions and try to correct their mistake Complete assignments and tasks Clean up after themselves Do the "right thing" and apologize if wrong Help others in need Follow through without giving up Understand the effect they have on others Heroes and heroines Eddie Akau - was a well-known surfer with great strength of character and a willingness to sacrifice for others. As a lifeguard, he saved over a thousand people. Nellie Bly - was a newspaper reporter who advocated women's rights and exposed terrible conditions in the slums, hospitals, factories, prisons, and orphanages. Thomas Jefferson - was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. As president, he 1

tried to reorganize the courts of law, establish a system of public education, and guarantee religious freedom. Eleanor Roosevelt - modeled civic and national responsibility as a social activist. Harry S. Truman - as president, never shirked his duties and always accepted full responsibility for his decisions. Booker T. Washington - founded the Tuskegee Institute, a school for blacks, and promoted improving job skills. Proverbs and maxims Ideas don't work unless we do. He who is not ready today will be even less so tomorrow. If everyone sweeps in front of his own front door, all the world would be clean. What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular. More quotes on responsibility Responsibility educates. (Wendell Phillips) The price of greatness is responsibility. (Winston Churchill) No man was ever endowed with a right without being at the same time saddled with a responsibility. (Gerald Johnson) Man is still responsible. His success lies not with the stars but with himself. (Frank Williams) Steps to making responsible decisions Define your goal. What do you want? Explore all the choices and options. Gather information and facts. Write down arguments for and against each choice. Take time to think through the consequences of each choice. Make the decision. Put responsibility into action Clean your room without being asked. Throw away your trash and pick up some litter. Practice self-control when you feel angry. Clean up your area after lunch and encourage your friends to do the same. Follow through on all assignments at school and chores at home. Do your chores at home without being asked. Look for something extra to do at home or in your community that is helpful. Organize a park cleanup. Keep a promise even if it is hard. Express your anger with appropriate words and actions. Community service ideas Clean up your own back yard by collecting rubbish and recycling items around the school and home. Organize a graffiti cleanup party. Volunteer at a local community center helping younger students with recreation, crafts, and other activities. Sponsor a canned food drive at your school. Many types of responsibilities MORAL RESPONSIBILITY to other people, animals, and the earth. This means caring, defending, helping, building, protecting, preserving, and sustaining. You're accountable for treating other 2

people justly and fairly, for honoring other living things, and for being environmentally aware. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY to the laws and ordinances of your community, state, and country. If there's a law you believe is outdated, discriminatory, or unfair, you can work to change, improve, or eliminate it. You can't simply decide to disobey it. FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY means treating your parents, siblings, and other relatives with love and respect, following your parents' rules, and doing chores and duties at home. COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. As a part of the community, you're responsible for treating others as you want to be treated, for participating in community activities and decisions, and for being an active, contributing citizen. Pick up trash to keep the community clean. Read local and community newspapers to stay informed. Vote in elections when you're old enough. RESPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, BELIEFS, AND RULES. These might come from your family, your community, your heritage, or your faith. Learn what they are and do your best to respect and follow them. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. It's up to you to become a person of good character. Your parents, teachers, religious leaders, scout leaders, and other caring adults will guide you, but only you can determine the kind of person you are and ultimately become. So get organized, be punctual, and honor your commitments. How to plan to carry out obligations Write a list of all the things you need to do. Write down when each task or jobs needs to be done. Write down what you'll need to accomplish each task or job. Always have a backup plan - a "plan B." More activities Tell about an experience where you exhibited or did not show responsibility. Think of a new skill or talent you'd like to develop. Practice and share. Write a poem, jingle, paragraph, or saying about responsibility. Research discoveries and inventions that have had both positive and negative consequences. Consider whether math makes you more responsible. Cite examples. Research responsibility in advertising. Research responsibility toward indigenous people. Choose a country that was taken from natives by invaders, setters, or foreign governments. Survey your neighborhood to see who needs help. Write a skit that demonstrates your school's rules. Find a job or start your own business such as a yard service or babysitting. Make a family jobs chart. Create a responsibility tree to show what you are responsible for doing. Make your own daily planner. Find examples of popular music that promote responsibility, dependability, and perseverance. Examine the role of responsibility in sports. Playa "What's Their Responsibility?" game for various careers. Read stories about responsibility. BACK TO INDEX ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SELF-DISCIPLINE
What is self-discipline? 3

Self-discipline is self-control and self-restraint. Self-discipline is self-reliance and independence. Students who exercise self-discipline: Complete their assignments Stay on task Wait to be called on Work toward personal and community goals Try again and again Ignore peer pressure Choose productive rather than destructive activities Control their tempers Eight ways to strengthen your self-discipline Decide that you really want to be someone who's self-disciplined. Your desire will motivate you to make good choices. Make a personal commitment to develop and strengthen these traits. Write down specific things to do. Learn the rules that determine what you can and cannot do. Be accountable. Accept responsibility for your own behavior. Don't blame others for your actions and decisions. Practice. Self-discipline is something you can teach yourself. For example, set aside time to read more or to clean up. Do activities that enhance your self-discipline like yoga, walking, rock-climbing, practicing a musical instrument. Eliminate harmful habits. For example, if you spend several hours each week watching violent videos or tv programs, make a conscious decision to spend your time in healthier, more productive ways. Start a self-discipline group to plan and carry out activities. Activities Brainstorm a list of problems that might result from a lack of self-discipline: personal appearance, physical-mental-emotional health, school success, life success, friendships, job performance, talents, participation in family-clubs-community-faith, marriage, parenting. Do silly exercises to strengthen your self-discipline like not scratching. Role-play how you might talk with a younger brother or sister who is demonstrating a lack of selfdiscipline. Write or tell a chain story about a make-believe prince or princess who has no self-discipline. Interview scientists, engineers, doctors, and other people to learn the role of self-discipline in training for their careers and in working. Investigate different animal species to learn if they use discipline. Is misbehavior punished in young or in a group situation? Examine nature to find examples of discipline and order such as patterns. Explore tessellations (repeating geometric patterns). Research discipline in history. Draw cartoons showing examples of self-discipline vs. no discipline. Write new lyrics to a popular song that encourage self-discipline, self-restraint, and self-reliance. Explore musical dynamics and control. Learn about self-discipline in sports. Play a "stop-wait-go" game thinking of different situations. 4

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RESPECT
What is respect? Respect means showing regard and appreciation for the worth of someone or something. It means honor and esteem. It includes respect for self, respect for the rights and dignity of all persons, and respect for the environment that sustains life. Respect keeps us from hurting what we ought to value. Why is respect important? Much of the universal values and virtues that contribute to the good of the individual and society and affirm our human dignity are derived from the value of respect and the value of responsibility. We need respect to collaborate and to have a peaceful world. Children with respect Listen Keep unkind thoughts to themselves Speak kindly to teachers and others Play fairly and wait their turn Raise their hands before talking Say "please" and "thank you" Clean up after themselves Share Proverbs and maxims Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. (Seneca) My religion is simple. My religion is kindness. (Dalai Lama) Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. (Goethe) It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness and kindness can only be expected from the strong. (Leo Rosten) Other quotes on respect Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? (Confucius) I must respect the opinions of others even if I disagree with them. (Herbert H. Lehman) I can live for two months on a good compliment. (Mark Twain) Heroes and heroines Abraham Lincoln - respected his enemies and modeled understanding, forgiveness, and kindness. He was committed to restoring the union and freeing the slaves. Golda Meir - served as Israel's prime minister and worked to secure peace agreements with the Arab nations. Set goals for yourself Respect for yourself Respect for your family 5

Respect for your teacher Respect for other people Respect for property Respect for rules Respect for differences Respect for the environment Respect on the telephone Ask the person you are calling if it is a good time to talk Don't call friends or family during the hours around dinner time or too early or too late Keep background noise down Limit the amount of time you talk Take accurate phone messages Don't interrupt Say "please" and "thank you" Put respect into action Practice the Golden Rule Practice Random Acts of Kindness Practice saying "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" Make a point of not teasing and encourage your friends not to Be patient with yourself and others when a mistake is made Discuss with your parents what good manners are Practice good table manners Make an effort not to gossip Make an effort to not swear Be courteous toward everyone Learn how to properly introduce yourself Practice giving a firm handshake Remember to raise your hand when you want to speak in class Community service ideas Entertain senior citizens at a retirement home Correspond with students from another country and learn about each other's culture Write thank you letters to community leaders Volunteer to help the disabled Volunteer to help with cleanup or gardening chores at a park or other public recreational area Share with another school the meaning of respect by exchanging art projects, writings, and other ideas. Try to exchange visits Honor Labor Day by showing respect for the working people in your community Make posters "The Golden Rule" "Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself." The Golden Rule urges all people to treat one another with dignity and respect. Remember Respect means using good manners; being courteous and polite, speaking to others in a kind voice; using polite body language. Respect means showing consideration toward other people (including your elders, parents, guardians, teachers, peers, siblings, other family members, employers, and people in authority). Respect means honoring other people's wants, needs, ideas, differences, beliefs, customs, and 6

heritage. Respect means caring for other living things and the earth (animals, plants, the environment). Respect means obeying the rules, laws, and customs of your family, faith, community, and country. Other activities Write a poem about respect. What does it mean to you? Or write a story about an incident where someone shows respect or disrespect. Perform it as a skit. Make a list of disrespectful words and phrases. Replace with compliments, congratulations, and encouragement. Learn about netiquette or proper behavior using the computer for communication. Learn about etiquette for different occasions such as meeting new people, giving a party, eating a meal, writing a thank you note, participating in sports. Research respect and courtesy in other cultures. Make a chart to compare simple courtesies. Brainstorm rules of respect for your family, classroom, club, etc. BACK TO INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHARING AND CARING

What is sharing Sharing is giving, service, love, helpfulness. Sharing is kindness, generosity, unselfishness, sacrifice. Ways to show you care and can share: With your actions With your words With your thoughts With material gifts With your actions You might make your parents' bed, rake leaves off the lawn, tutor a younger child, open a door for someone, or sit with someone unpopular at lunch. Spend an hour listening to a lonely person. Be helpful and kind to someone who needs a hand. With your words Say kind things to and about other people. Offer advice when it's wanted and sympathy when it's needed. Don't spread gossip, rumors, or cruel stories, even if they are true. Sometimes silence is golden; sometimes the kindest words are those that aren't spoken. With your thoughts Positive thoughts and prayers can be very powerful. You can do an act of kindness for another person merely by thinking good thoughts about him or her. Other people will feel the positive thoughts you sent their way. With material gifts Try giving household items to the homeless or poor, donating trees to your community, buying a 7

shirt for your brother or chocolates for a friend. Don't limit your gifts to special occasions (charity drives, birthdays, holidays). Give when you're in the mood and when you're not. Do it just because. Activities Write in your journal about a time when someone was kind to you or did a service for you. How did you feel? Read a biography about a famous philanthropist - someone who has dedicated his or her life to improving the lives of others. Learn about the welfare system. Research how other countries have cared for their citizens through history in times of greatest need such as disasters, wars, poverty, illness. Do a "secret service" or a project in which you do something nice for others without telling them. Write your own "random acts" of sharing book. Brainstorm a list of possible needs and wants for various people. Help fulfill those needs. Start a kindness "chain reaction." Write a skit about sharing and ways to serve others. Make "I Care" kits - for a new student, for people who have suffered a misfortune such as a loss of a pet, home. Collect songs about caring and sharing. Be a caring team player. Brainstorm ways to support team members when they make mistakes, have poor skills, or insult each other. Start a service project Research your project. Form a team. Find a sponsor. Make a plan. Consider the recipient. Decide where you will perform your service. Get any permissions you need to proceed. Advertise. Fund-raise if necessary. When your project has ended, evaluate it. Reflect and see what has been accomplished. Are there things that can be improved the next time? BACK TO INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PERSEVERANCE
What is perseverance? Perseverance is commitment, hard work, patience, endurance. Perseverance is being able to bear difficulties calmly and without complaint. Perseverance is trying again and again. You show perseverance when you ... Give up your tv time to spend hours studying Try a new sport that is very difficult but you don't give up Have a learning disability but keep studying even when discouraged 8

Come from a home where there is fighting and unhappiness but you still try your best Have missed a week of school but you work hard to catch up Are at the end of a difficult race but you cross the finish line Save money and make sacrifices to buy something Spend hours practicing on your music Study and work hard to raise your grade Try out for something you weren't successful at the first time Proverbs and maxims Failure is the path of least persistence. All things will come round to him who will but wait. (Longfellow) Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily. Work hard and give it your best shot; never be a quitter. (Charley Taylor) More quotes on perseverance Victory belongs to the most persevering. (Napoleon Bonaparte) Hitch your wagon to a star. (Emerson) To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage to a man. (Euripides) You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. (Beverly Sills) Many strokes overthrow the tallest trees. (John Lyly) People who persevered despite handicaps and disabilities Beethoven (composer) - was deaf Ray Charles (musician) - is blind Thomas Edison (inventor) - had a learning problem Albert Einstein (scientist) - had a learning disability Terry Fox (runner) - is an amputee with cancer Stevie Wonder (musician) - is blind James Earl Jones (actor) - was a stutterer Helen Keller (author) - was deaf and blind Marlee Matlin (actress) - is deaf Franklin D. Roosevelt (president) - was paralyzed from polio Vincent Van Gogh (artist) - was mentally ill Woodrow Wilson (president) - had a learning problem Itzhak Perlman (concert violinist) - was paralyzed from the waist down Stephen Hawking (physicist) - had Lou Gehrig's disease (of the nervous system) Heroes and heroines Susan B. Anthony was a women's rights activist who spent her entire life working for a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. Marie Curie was a physicist who published 32 scientific papers and continued to study sources of radioactivity over many years. Amelia Earhart became famous as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and as an advocate of aviation and women's rights. Babe Didrikson Zaharias was a great American female athlete who excelled in many sports. Benjamin Franklin was a leading scientist, inventor, publisher, and politician whose persistence, patience, and hard work paid off. He is on our $100 bill. Wilma Randolph was an Olympics Gold medalist in track who was not able to walk properly as a child. El Chino was the first Chinese matador in Spain. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked very hard to lead the civil rights movement in the 1960's. He 9

withstood prejudice and resistance to change. Put perseverance into action When something starts to bother you, wait as long as you can before you express frustration. When something doesn't work right, try again and again. Don't lose your temper when something upsets you. Always finish what you start. Keep working at something that is difficult until you complete it. Don't give up on difficult jobs or situations. Focus on someone or something that ordinarily makes you lose your patience and try to understand it (and don't "lose it"). Work a little harder or a few minutes longer on a task that you do not like. Community service ideas Volunteer to work in the library, at a nature center, or in an animal shelter doing tasks that require a great deal of patience and persistence. Organize a campaign to promote good study habits in your school. Help with the recycling project at your school and community. Not so cool ways to cope Escape or avoid your problems. Blame yourself. Blame other people. Blame chance. Blame other things, forces, or powers. Cool ways to cope Face and accept what happens in your life. Express your feelings. Write about your feelings. Get help if you need it. Try to make it better. Take good care of yourself. Learn and grow from your experiences, including the ones that hurt. Activities Write in your journal about difficult situations and how you handled them without giving up. Write a poem about suffering, what you can learn from it, how to face it, how not to hurt others, or anything else about obstacles. Collect stories, poems, diaries, or quotations by writers about persistence. Brainstorm cures for "the blues." Learn what Galileo (a famous astronomer) or other scientist endured with opposition faced during his or her lifetime. Find out what help is there for people who face difficult situations - counselors, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, therapists. Create a skit that shows what to do when disaster strikes. Explore the healing power of music. Explore the healing power of exercise. Explore the healing power of pets. Put some extra effort into a project that is difficult and try to improve your skill (like public speaking or learning a dance). 10

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HONESTY
What is honesty? Honesty is telling the truth. Honesty is straightforward conduct. Honesty is being sincere, truthful, trustworthy, honorable, fair, genuine, and loyal with integrity. Honest, trusting kids: Tell the truth despite consequences Voice their opinion in a kind, thoughtful way "Tell on" someone only when necessary Show and share their feelings Know their classmates and teachers care and want the best for them Feel and react without guilt Express themselves positively as well as critically You are being honest when you ... Do your own homework Tell a friend the truth Explain the real reason you didn't turn in your homework Keep your eyes on your own paper Clean up your room after making a promise Give the cashier the extra money she gave you by mistake Write a report in your own words instead of copying Admit you made the mistake Keep a friend's secret Turn in a wallet full of money that you found Be honest with yourself Accept responsibility for your own actions; don't blame others. Be honest about your feelings. Face issues as they arise. If you are considering lying, try to think of the consequences. When confronted with a situation, think of others. Proverbs and maxims Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented. (George Braque) The truth is more important than the facts. (Frank L. Wright) In the mountains of truth, you never climb in vain. (Nietzsche) If you tell the truth, you have infinite power supporting you. More quotes about honesty There is no wisdom like frankness. (Disraeli) A harmful truth is better than a useful lie. (Thomas Mann) Honesty is the best policy. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. (Jefferson) One falsehood spoils a thousand truths. (Ashanti proverb) 11

Heroes and heroines Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who believed that a person's first duty was to be virtuous. Cochise was a Native American leader who was known for his honor and for keeping his word. Barbara Jordan was a remarkable Congresswoman who was a model for honesty in politics. Martin Luther was a religious leader who led the Reformation movement (against the existing church) with honesty and courage. Put honesty into action Thank someone in your family for being honest. Tell your parents about a mistake you've made. Tell the truth when you've done something wrong. Compliment a friend for being honest. Express your real feelings without anger, without blaming others, without exaggerating, and without hurting the feelings of someone else. Turn in something that is lost and encourage others to do the same. When someone wants to copy your work, politely explain that it isn't right and that it's best to do your own work. Admit a mistake or error in judgment you have made and apologize to anyone it might have affected. Do your schoolwork honestly Be truthful with your friends and thank them for being truthful with you. When you ask someone to be honest with you, don't get angry with them if their honesty isn't what you wanted to hear. Community service ideas Write a letter of thanks to a politician or community leader who has taken a stand on a controversial issue. Visit a senior citizen center to play board games with the residents. Make very honest moves as you play. Share the meaning of honesty with your family. Ask them to share their ideas with you. Remind members of your community to be honest. Decorate public areas with signs telling about the value of honesty. Create a classroom honor code. Write it down and hang it up in the classroom, so that everyone can see it all year long. Plan a class field trip to a daycare center to tell stories with themes of honesty to young children. 8 great reasons to tell the truth Telling the truth lets everyone know what really happened. There's less chances of misunderstandings, confusion, or conflict. Telling the truth protects innocent people from being blamed or punished. Telling the truth allows everyone to learn from what happened. You usually get into less trouble for telling the truth than for lying (and getting caught). Other people trust you more when you tell the truth. You don't have to tell more lies to keep your story straight. You gain a reputation for being truthful - a trait that most people value. Telling the truth helps you feel secure and peaceful inside. 10 tips for being more truthful Make a commitment to tell the truth and honor it. Tell someone about your commitment and progress. Think before you give a dishonest answer, explanation, or reason. 12

Be careful of when and how you use exaggeration, sarcasm, or irony. Be careful not to twist the truth or leave out part of it. Don't indulge in little white lies; don't get caught in cover-ups. Watch out for silent lies. When you know about a lie and keep quiet, the lie lives on. When you catch yourself lying, throw your mouth into reverse and tell the truth. Talk to yourself quietly and ask what is the best thing to do. Treat your to something special with you tell the truth even when it's hard. More activities Write and perform a skit in which you and others debate the saying "Honesty is the best policy." Discuss what is means to "live a lie." List examples of what honesty means to you and role-play. Research whistle-blowers or people who go public about an unfair, unsafe, or unethical practice in the workplace or other place. Study honesty and dishonesty in advertising. Read or look at ads - in the news, magazines, on tv. Learn about the relationship of honesty and (mental) health. Learn about honesty in scientific or medical research. Compare national honesty (crime statistics) with local honesty. Which is higher? Research cultures past and present to learn their views of honesty. Find out how your school handles dishonesty. Are there student guidelines about cheating, stealing, lying, plagiarism, and other issues? Survey your class to find out how honest students are. Collect pictures of people throughout history who have been known for their honesty. Write a jingle about honesty or dishonesty. Read stories about honesty. BACK TO INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRIENDSHIP
What is friendship? Friendship is an unselfish concern for the good of another. Friendship is your relationship with someone you like. "A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts who you've become, and still, gently invites you to grow." Children who are good friends: Accept others for who they are Share their belongings Listen Enjoy others' company Support others in need Smile, laugh, and tell jokes Avoid teasing and put-downs Encourage others with kind words Avoid tattling Ask for help from their peers Solve problems peacefully Consider others' feelings before acting 13

Proverbs and maxims Look for the good in people and expect to find it. Friendship is the best present you can give. Love without friendship is like a shadow without sun. (Japanese proverb) 12 ways to start and strengthen relationships Be a person of good character. Be kind and caring. Be loving and supportive. Be a good listener. Spend time together and share experiences. Recognize when you have problems with others. Be willing to compromise. Talk about your feelings. Don't play the blame game. Try not to judge others. Expand your circle of friends. Be friendly. Fun ways to strengthen friendships Make popcorn balls (or other treats) and bring them to someone new in your school. Have a water balloon toss (outside). Bring old baby pictures to class and share them. Fly kites. Start a club. Read a play together. Assign different parts to different friends (or ask which parts they'd like to read). Have a "read-a-thon" or "music-a-thon" and share your favorite books and music. Volunteer together for a worthwhile activity. Other pointers to make friends Friendliness starts with a simple "hello" so practice different greetings like "hi" or "how's it going." Reach out to others. Join groups, organizations, and clubs. Get a pen pal. Call someone on the telephone. Include others. Look for people who are left out of activities and groups and invite them to join you. Make eye contact to show sincerity and interest in others. Learn and remember names. When you meet someone new, repeat their name. Don't focus on yourself; think of the person you are with. Smile to show you enjoy a person's company. More activities Write a surprise letter to someone you care about and tell how much he or she means to you. Read about famous people of the past to learn what kinds of relationships they had with others. Visit a local store that sells greeting cards and see what they say to bond friendships. Decide what's most important to you in a friend. You might want to do a questionnaire and rank order qualities you feel are the most to least important - family income level, honesty, intelligence, education, interest, kindness, ability to have fun, is law-abiding, loyalty, physical fitness, political beliefs, popularity, cultural background, religious beliefs, so on. With your class, debate the most important character trait for a friend to have. Survey your class to find out how long friendships last when friends are the same gender or opposite genders, when friends are the same age or different ages, and so on. 14

Role-play things you can do in a new school to develop friendships. Switch seats in your classroom once a week for 10 minutes so everyone can get better acquainted with each other. Create a photography bulletin board about friendships. Learn about relationships among animals such as whales, bears, lions, dogs, and cats. BACK TO INDEX --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COOPERATION
What is cooperation? Cooperation is the common effort of a group for their mutual benefit. Cooperation is teamwork. Cooperation is working together peacefully. Team players are students who: Listen Encourage their peers Allow and invite others to contribute their talents and skills Follow as well as lead Recognize their strengths and use them for the common good Treat others equitably Recognize the needs of the group Think before acting Communicate calmly Put competition aside You show cooperation when you ... Work in a small group to accomplish a task Allow each person in a group to have a say Try to use everyone's ideas Do your fair share of the work on a project Pitch in at home doing chores Play a team sport and work toward a goal Work with your friends to help clean up Participate on a student council committee Proverbs and maxims The more cooperative the group, the greater is the fitness for survival which extends to all of its members. (Ashley Montague) There is no more sure tie between friends than when they are united in their objects and wishes. (Cicero) We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) More quotes on cooperation Better bend than break. (Scottish proverb) We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers. (Adlai Stevenson) 15

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. (Ethiopian proverb) A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle. (Japanese proverb) Heroes and heroines Dag Hammarskjold was Secretary General of the United Nations and practiced "quiet diplomacy" to reduce conflict between countries. Margaret Mead was a well-known anthropologist who introduced the concept of culture into education and promoted racial equality and environmental concerns. The Wright Brothers took years to perfect their flying machine with patient, cooperative experimenting. Ralph Bunche was a black diplomat whose efforts led to armistice in the first Arab-Israeli War. Guidelines for cooperative learning Be a good listener. Distribute the work evenly among team members. Encourage each member to contribute ideas. Try to incorporate each person's ideas. Treat each person of the group with respect. Be open and receptive to new ideas. Try to compromise to resolve differences. Put cooperation into action Happily do what your parents ask you to do. Play the game your friends want to play even when you rather do something else. Help someone by opening a door or helping to carry something. Help find a compromise when a group is in disagreement. Always play fair when playing games. Be a good loser. Invite someone who is alone or "left out" to join your group. Help family members realize the importance of family cooperation by demonstrating a spirit of cooperation in your daily activities. Become involved in a community service project. Ask your friends to help you do something to preserve the environment. Practice good sportsmanship. Community service ideas Contribute clothing to a community service organization serving families in unfortunate circumstances. Adopt a beach or park and keep it clean. Volunteer to help with a project to promote community safety. Learn about how you can become prepared to help with disaster relief. Make and display posters to help the Heart Association with their campaign for healthy hearts. Plan a "share a book day" to contribute books to a children's hospital or after-school program. BACK TO INDEX --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPASSION
What is compassion? Compassion is the desire to ease others' suffering. 16

Compassion is a sympathetic awareness of another' distress combined with a desire to alleviate it. Kindness and caring are shown. Service and generosity are ways that compassion can be demonstrated. Kind compassionate children: Recognize and express appreciation for others' talents and skills Put others' needs before their own Help others because they want to Listen and provide sympathy Show kindness without expecting rewards Tell and show others they care Share Recognize and help those less fortunate than themselves Try to make the world a better place You show compassion when you ... Comfort a friend whose mother has been taken to the hospital Bring blankets and food to a family in need in your community Volunteer at a senior citizen nursing home Take action and stop someone who is being cruel to an animal Listen when people confide in you Help out at the Special Olympics Bring ice cream to a friend who has had his or her tonsils removed Can understand why your best friend is depressed about a divorce Send a donation to help people starving in a foreign country Tutor a younger child who is having trouble in school Tips on becoming more compassionate and caring Be a good listener Look people directly in the eye when they speak Look for kids at school who are being left out and inviting them to join in activities Stick up for someone being teased Each week, do one nice thing for a friend or family member Proverbs and maxims The course of human history is determined, not by what happens in the skies, but by what takes place in our hearts. (Sir Arthur Keith) Never, if possible, lie down at night without being able to say: I have made one human being, at least, a little wiser, a little happier, or a little better this day. (Charles Kingsley) More quotes on compassion and kindness Kindness gives birth to kindness. (Sophocles) Be nice to people on your way up because you'll meet them on your way down. (Wilson Mizner) Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read. (Mark Twain) Kindness in words creates confidence. (Lao-tzu) Heroes and heroines Dalai Lama - is the spiritual leader of Tibet who continues to speak of forgiveness, justice, and living together in harmony. Mother Teresa - worked in the slums of Calcutta, India, helping and nursing the poor and sick. She had a great reverence for human life. Jane Addams - founded Hull House, a settlement house for the poor, and worked for child labor 17

laws, safe working conditions, better housing, and women's suffrage or right to vote. Father Damien - became a resident priest for those suffering from Hansen's disease on Molokai. Put compassion into action Be friendly to someone who needs a friend. Do helpful things at home without being asked. Be generous with your time and your belongings. Create and participate in a litter control program. Plan and participate in food drives. Look for ways to help in any situation without being asked. Put someone else's need before your own. Look for ways to help in your community. Try to understand why a family member or friend is sad. Forgive someone who has hurt you. Talk with your family about the problems of the homeless and find a way to help. Try to understand someone who you disagree with or don't like. Community service ideas Recycle aluminum cans. Put the money earned into a local food bank. Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their chores. Take a meal to someone who is ill. Write a letter or send a card of compassion to a victim of some recent tragedy. Create a school bulletin board where students and teachers can recognize people who have demonstrated great compassion. Choose a historical figure who represents compassion. Write and perform a short play about the person. BACK TO INDEX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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