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Character Education: Self-Discipline (Grade 6)

Unit of 5 lessons

6th-8th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

Lesson 1 :	ELA:	Brainstorming; Concept Mapping; Graphic Organizer; Inferences/Generalizations; Vocabulary
	PHIL:	Character; Character Education: Self-Discipline; Civil Society; Common Good; Self-Discipline
	SOC:	Civic Responsibility/Virtue; Civil Society; Common Good
Lesson 2 :	ELA:	Brainstorming; Compare/Contrast; Concept Mapping; Graphic Organizer; Group Discussions; Vocabulary
	PHIL:	Character; Character Education: Self-Discipline; Self-Discipline
Lesson 3 :	ELA:	Biography; Group Discussions; Response to Text/Others
	PHIL:	Character; Character Education: Self-Discipline; Self-Discipline
	SOC:	Gandhi, Mohandas; White, Shaun; Whittaker, Jim; Yamaguchi, Kristi; Geography
Lesson 4 :	ELA:	Group Discussions; Vocabulary
	PHIL:	Character; Character Education: Self-Discipline; Self-Discipline
Lesson 5 :	ELA:	Journaling; Reflection; Response to Text/Others
	PHIL:	Character; Character Education: Self-Discipline; Self-Discipline

Unit Purpose:

Students examine the role of discipline in their lives, in the lives of others, and in a civil society. They define self-discipline and compare and contrast discipline and self-discipline. The students read and discuss profiles of people who demonstrated self-discipline to reach goals and have also contributed to the common good. They determine the characteristics of people who exercise self-discipline to achieve success. The students create a plan that includes steps and strategies for practicing self-discipline. They set a personal goal and make a plan for using self-discipline to meet the goal. As a conclusion, they reflect on their level of self-discipline and their determination to increase that level as they mature.

Focus Question: What role does self-discipline play in relationships and life success? How can developing self-discipline equip people as world citizens who contribute to the common good?

After using this character education unit, please complete a short evaluation.

Unit Duration:

Five 20-minute class periods

Unit Objectives:

The learner will:

list examples of discipline.
determine the negative and positive aspects of discipline.
discuss if discipline applies to just children, or to adults also.
work in groups to develop a definition of self-discipline
compare and contrast discipline and self-discipline

identify characteristics of self-discipline in profiles of successful people
list ways self-discipline leads to success.
brainstorm strategies for becoming self-disciplined

set a personal goal for self-improvement
create a plan to meet a goal
reflect on their ability to discipline themselves

Service Experience:

Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to The League.

School/Home Connection:

In Lesson One, students are asked to talk with their parents/guardians about how they (the students) were disiciplined as small children and how their parents/guardians see the form of discipline changing as their students gets older.

In Lesson Four, students are asked to decide on one goal they want to be more self-disciplined about reaching. It's suggested that they discuss this goal with their parent/guardian.