Sample Lesson: Courage

Volume X, Issue Y
Month Date, Year

Story

During recess today, we played soccer. My best friend was the goalie and he let a shot go in. He was really angry and swore so loud that the little kids on the playground could hear him. As we walked back into school, I heard one of the younger boys say the same swear words my friend just used. You could tell the little boy thought he was being cool because he was acting like the older kids. I was disappointed in my friend. He had made doing the wrong thing seem cool.

Should I say something to him so it doesn't happen again? Do I need to confront my friend? He might get really mad at me and say I'm being a goodie-goodie. Does it matter that much?

Then I remember something my mother always says: "The time is always right to do what is right." She uses it when I'm trying to put off cleaning my room or doing homework, but I think it applies now, too. It will be hard to confront him, but I have to do it. If I can't stand up to a friend, how will I have the courage to stand up to an enemy? I need to be courageous now because "The time is always right to do what is right."

This week's maxim is "The time is always right to do what is right."

Homeroom Discussion Information

Does this story seem like something that could happen at our school?
What does it mean to "take a stand?"
How do you know when something is important enough to take a stand?
What makes it hard to do the right thing?
Why is it so hard to stand up to your friends?
What gives you the courage to stand up to your friends when they are doing something wrong?
Would you want one of your friends to tell you if he/she thought you were making a bad decision or hurting other people?
What are some helpful and kind ways of telling others that you think that they are making bad choices?
How can you make sure your actions match your beliefs?
Who is someone you know who is courageous like the student in today's story? Tell why you picked that person.

Home-Use Information

Five tips for maxim-izing your family time

Ask open ended questions (beginning with who, what, when, where, why, how).
Try to emphasize what courage is, more than talking about what it is not. Use concrete, "real life" examples of people you know. You can also use examples from your children's favorite books, movies, etc.
Even if your kids tell you they "don't know," stick with it!
Count to 10 after you ask each question—give kids time to answer before you ask something else.
Be willing to feel silly—if you model the kind of conversation you desire, your kids will follow along.

Maxim

"The time is always right to do what is right."
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Character points

Courage - I am willing to do the right thing even if it is hard.
Leadership- I act in a way that makes me a good example.
Responsibility- I how what I should do and I do it.
Respect - I know that each person is worthwhile and special and the way I treat people reflects my beliefs.
Justice - I know that everyone has rights and is valuable; I do my best to make sure that all people are treated with care and concern.
Honor - I recognize the difference between right and wrong and, as result, treat myself and others with respect.

Discussion starters

What did you think of the story read that was read at school today?
Why do you think kids use words that they know are inappropriate?
What should you do if you hear someone using those words?
Does it matter if the person is an adult?
Should you tell an adult if you think that they are doing something wrong?
What should you do when you see an adult being a bad example?
Do you ever have to be courageous?
Have each member of the family think of (and share) a person that has modeled courage to them.
How can we, as a family, help you to be more courageous?
What makes it difficult to make good choices?
What do you wish that we, as your parents, knew about your life?
What sorts of challenges do you face?
What is an example of a time that someone in our family has been courageous? In what way?

Related issues you could discuss at home

Are these people showing courage?
Musicians who write and/or sing controversial lyrics, like Eminem
Kids who are in gangs, and do illegal things to gain membership
An activist who blocks the entrance to an event
Environmentalist who tamper with the site of a new housing development to stop construction
An editor of the high school newspaper who prints an article about corruption in the school's basketball team, even though the moderator told her not to
A high school athlete who begins taking steroids so his relay team will win the state championship