Name of Lesson 11: Many Faces of Courage Topic: Exploring the virtue category of courage Gifted Standard and element(s): G6: Relationships and Connections d. Seek opportunities to become a productive/proactive community member. G9: Self-Reflection a. Recognize and develop areas of strength in self. b. Recognize areas of weakness in self and develop strategies for improvement. G10: Respect for Others b. Recognize the value of individual differences. c. Recognize the strengths of others. Unit Essential Question(s): How do character strengths and virtues help us and others to be our best selves? How can I recognize the use of character strengths and virtues in others? How can I choose which character strengths to use in differing situations to achieve both academically and personally? How can I use character strengths and virtues to be a positive and productive community member? Lesson Questions: What are the different types of courage? What is the character strength of bravery? How can the character strength of bravery be used in my life to help me? Lesson Summary: In this lesson, students will explore the virtue of courage, and the character strengths of bravery, perseverance, honesty and zest by exploring the many faces of courage. Assessment Description/Performance Task: Constructed response Informal assessment Performance task Selected response Brief Description of Assessment Students will create a collage to show their understanding of the different ways to be courageous.
Instructional Methods: Lesson Overview: Hook: Telling of the story of the fable The Lion s Whisker Teacher discussion of the virtue category of courage, and the character strengths of bravery, perseverance, honesty and zest PowerPoint presentation of six types of courage My Face of Courage Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usihenaxuag Assessment: Student-created collage Hook/Activator: Tell the students the traditional story from Ethiopia, The Lion s Whisker (attached). This is a story about emotional and physical courage. Try to tell the story to students instead of reading it to them. Ask students the following discussion questions: Why did the wise healer tell the woman to get a Lion s Whisker instead of getting one himself? What is the moral of the story? What charter strengths do you think the woman is showing in the story? How is she exhibiting these? Teaching Strategy: 1. Today s lesson will focus on the virtue of courage, which includes the character strengths of bravery, perseverance, honesty and zest. Discuss the definitions of these (see vocabulary), being sure to distinguish between courage and bravery. Tell the students that in everyday life, courage can show up in many ways. We can show courage in physical, social, intellectual and emotional situations. In other words, there are many faces of courage. 2. Tell students that you will be showing a PowerPoint that explores what these faces of courage look like. As you show the PowerPoint Many Faces of Courage (CS_11.1_pptx.), be sure to point out the character strengths that may be at work (bravery, perseverance, honesty and zest). Lead students in their understanding that each of us can be courageous by tapping into our greatest character strength in that virtue category. For instance, one person may show courage by never giving up (perseverance), another by always telling the truth (honesty), another by being physically bold (bravery), and still another person may show it through the sheer energy that they offer, even in the face of obstacles (zest). 3. Distribute copies of My Face of Courage to each student (attached). Tell students to think of a situation in their lives in which they can show a type of courage in one of the categories: physical, social, intellectual and emotional. Ask them to tell a story or draw a picture to illustrate how they might use each of the four character strengths in the virtue category of courage as they face that situation. (Be sure students can access the character strengths posters or flashcards if they need to review the definitions of the strengths.) 4. If time permits, as a concluding activity, show the Youtube video about real life people who have shown courage at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usihenaxuag Summary by the Learner: Students will create a collage using various materials that show the many ways to show courage and bravery. Students can use words, pictures cut from magazines, or any media to show their understanding of the different ways to be courageous. Differentiation: Some students may need help choosing an instance in their lives in which they can show courage Advanced students may illustrate more than one face of courage
Materials for this Lesson: Student copies of My Face of Courage (attached) Large sheets of paper for each student (11x16) Magazines to be cut apart Crayons Glue Scissors Vocabulary for this Lesson: Courage: a virtue category that includes emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internal Honesty [authenticity, integrity]: Speaking the truth but more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way; being without pretense; taking responsibility for one's feelings and actions Bravery [valor]: Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what is right even if there is opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but is not limited to it Zest [vitality, enthusiasm, vigor, energy]: Approaching life with excitement and energy; not doing things halfway or halfheartedly; living life as an adventure; feeling alive and activated Perseverance [persistence, industriousness]: Finishing what one starts; persisting in a course of action in spite of obstacles; getting it out the door ; taking pleasure in completing tasks
A Lion s Whisker A long time ago, a woman in a certain village adopted a boy whose parents had died of a disease. She had no children herself, and she wanted this boy to love her. He was not ready to love her; however, as his heart was still grieving for the parents he had lost. This woman loved him very much already, but she was sad that he would hardly look at her when she gave him his food. She thought she would ask advice from the wise healer in the next village, and see if there was some magic that could make the child love her. There is a special drink which I can make for you to give the boy, said the healer. When the child drinks it he will love you as his mother. Please make this for me, the woman begged. The healer raised one finger. It is difficult to make. It requires the whisker of a living lion. The woman felt her heart pound in her chest. What a fearful task! I will get this whisker, she whispered. The next afternoon, she took some meat to a pond where lion tracks had been seen. She put the meat by the water and hid behind a tree to wait. Sure enough, at dusk a lion came. She knew by the way he sniffed the air that he knew she was there, but he was satisfied with the meat and did not bother her. The next evening she did the same thing. The lion sniffed the air, but did not approach her, for he was satisfied with her offering. The next evening, she did the same thing but did not hide behind the tree. She crouched on the path where he could see her. She was very frightened when the lion looked at her, but she did not run away. Every day she did this, and every day she waited a little bit closer to where the lion ate. At last, after two months of this, she was placing the meat in front of the lion and waiting just a few feet away. The lion would eat the meat quickly, his great teeth gleaming in the sunset light, but the woman thought of the boy and she did not run away. After three months there came a night when the woman placed the meat on the ground and did not move. The lion approached the meat, and sniffed her before eating. As he lowered his head to the meat, the woman reached out, and plucked one whisker from his cheek. The next morning, the woman hurried to the next village to give the wise healer the lion s whisker. The healer looked with astonishment at the whisker, and then smiled. You now have everything you need to win the boy s love. The drink? You will make the drink? the woman asked. But the healer put a gentle hand on the woman s arm. You do not need any magic drink. You have learned how to win the boy s love, with patience, and with courage, and with a small step every day, and with not running away.
Name: Date: My Face of Courage Think about an instance in your life where you need to show more courage. Complete the statement below then you can either write about it, or illustrate it by drawing a picture below. I can show more (circle one) Physical Intellectual Social Emotional courage in my life when
Explain how you can use each of the four character strengths defined at the bottom of the page to show your courage in that area of your life. I can show courage by using the character strength of Bravery when being courageous by I can show courage by using the character strength of Perseverance when being courageous by I can show courage by using the character strength of honesty when being courageous by I can show courage by using the character strength of zest when being courageous by Bravery [valor]: Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what is right even if there is opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but is not limited to it Perseverance [persistence, industriousness]: Finishing what one starts; persisting in a course of action in spite of obstacles; getting it out the door ; taking pleasure in completing tasks Honesty [authenticity, integrity]: Speaking the truth but more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way; being without pretense; taking responsibility for one's feelings and actions Zest [vitality, enthusiasm, vigor, energy]: Approaching life with excitement and energy; not doing things halfway or halfheartedly; living life as an adventure; feeling alive and activated