Christian Character Lesson Plans

Transcription

1 Christian Character Lesson Plans Lesson #7 Character Ages 6-12 Preview Many people misunderstand what character is, but everyone needs to build character. Easy-to-teach lesson for 6-to-12-year-olds uses Mystery at Lake Cachuma to clarify that character is a collection of high moral values. Optional character chain activity gets children involved thoroughly, linking kinesthetic activity to your lesson. Suggestion: Read through the lesson and prepare well before class time. What you will need: 1 or more copies of Mystery at Lake Cachuma 1 copy of page 3 or write it out in large letters on a blackboard / white board 1 length of paper chain or plastic chain with character traits written on it. (See Page 3 activity.) items for the character chains you will make in the activity What you will do: 1. Before lesson time, place all materials where you can reach them readily. 2. Say: (Holding up book) In Chapter Five of Mystery at Lake Cachuma, Charlie finally cleaned up that slumgullion he spilled! Let s see what happens today. 3. Read, or have a good reader read Chapter Six Necessary Link 4. Close the book. 5. Say: Wow! I wonder what Aunt Rachel saw and why she couldn t see the knife in the grass. 6. Ask: Do you remember how Aunt Rachel defined character? Hold up the yellow page 3. Have your listeners read the definition together. 7. Say: Character is a collection of things that are right. We call them high moral values. When you know what things are right, and do those things, even when no one is watching, you are exercising character. But look at the last thing Aunt Rachel said in her definition. Read it with me. 8. Read: Taking consequences for what you do.

2 9. Say: Aunt Rachel told Charlie and Hailey that people with character are willing to take the consequences for what they do. 10. Say: If you do what s right, sometimes people make fun of you. They might call you names like Goody 2-Shoes. Aunt Rachel says that people who have character know that s going to happen, but they still do what s right. 11. Say: Some people might stop being your friends if you do what s right. That s a consequence, and people with character take that consequence. They don t let it stop them from doing what is right. 12. Ask: What project did Aunt Rachel and the twins do together? 13. Hold up your chain and show the character traits. 14. Say: They made two chains, didn t they? One chain was white and showed the traits of people that don t have character. Those are wrong things people do. 15. Say: The second chain was colorful. It showed character traits the right things people do. 16. Say: You can make chains like Aunt Rachel made with Hailey and Charlie. Character chains help you remember to build character in your life. Character Chains: Make colorful paper or plastic character chains using instructions on the next pages. Make white chains of paper or plastic, writing the non-character qualities on the chains links. Make a mess! Talk! Laugh! Have fun! Reinforce the meaning of character as a collection of high moral values.

3 CHARACTER IS... knowing the right thing to do doing the right thing even when no one is watching taking consequences for what you do

4 FOR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS and WORKERS Daniel Takes the Consequences Before a class for younger ages, print copies of the coloring picture on page 5. After your character chains are finished: 1. Say: When we exercise character, we do what is right. We do it no matter what may happen to us. 2. Say: The Bible tells us about a young man who exercised character. He was captured and taken away from his home to a strange country. There, he was made a slave, but he still did what was right. 3. Say: That young man s name was Daniel Tell the story of Daniel and the lions. You will find the account in Daniel 6: Say: Daniel knew what was right. He knew it was right to pray only to God. He knew it was not right to pray to anyone else, including King Nebuchadnezzar. 6. Say: The trouble was, there would be consequences. Something would happen if Daniel prayed to his God. It would cost him, but it wouldn t cost money. 7. Ask: What would it cost Daniel? Yes! He would be thrown into a den of lions. That would be the consequences if Daniel did what was right. 8. Ask: Did Daniel decide to do right or to do wrong? 9. Ask: Did Daniel pray only to God, or did he pray to King Nebuchadnezzar? 10. Say: Daniel knew exactly what would happen, but he chose to do right anyway. Daniel showed character no matter what. Daniel was a man of character. 11. Close with prayer that each one will learn to exercise character as Daniel did. 12. (For younger ages - Distribute coloring pictures as take-home reminders.)

5 I will do what is right.

6 CHAINS PAPER OR PLASTIC Either provides Colorful Fun and Learning! Copyright 2003 by Elizabeth L Hamilton Uses : Decorate your classroom, bulletin board, or character tree (see trees) Drape above your doorway or windows Make a countdown chain leading up to National Character Week Motivate children to character traits Provide a character education classroom activity Recognize character improvement by letting child wear a chain Reinforce character education Show support for character Tie in to any book from the Character Mystery Series for children ages 9 and up. Children may read about the books characters making chains like this in the first book of the series, Mystery at Lake Cachuma. Paper chains are easily assembled by any child. Plastic chains require a little more work, but are more durable and can be reused from year to year. Simply follow the instructions for either chain on the next page. Let older children make character chains for or with younger children, and have them read the Character Companions Series books to the children. Both ages will learn character traits together in the process.

7 esponsibility Caring Honesty PAPER CHAIN Instructions (read all before starting) You will need: 1 colored construction paper 2 pens or markers 3 glue or paste 4 scissors 5 glitter (optional) What you do: 1 Cut paper strips 1 x 7. 2 Write a character trait on each strip: honesty, responsibility, etc. 3 Apply glitter around the letters if desired. 4 Glue the ends of the strips, linking together to make a chain. PLASTIC CHAIN Instructions (read all before starting) You will need: 1 colored plastic chain (available at hardware and home stores) 2 indelible pens that will not smear on plastic What you do: 1 Write character traits on the individual links of your chain.