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."

Teacher Information

Maxim

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

Featured character trait

Courage - I am willing to do the right thing even if it is hard.

Character points (for substitution if this week's trait isn't one of your school's core values)

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

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.

Extending the Conversation

Have students brainstorm ways that the narrator could confront his/her friend. Then, choose two students to role play ways the narrator could confront his/her friend. To make the role play more challenging, have the players switch roles at least once during the activity. You can stop the action at various points and have classmates offer the characters advice or characters can "tag" other students to take over their roles. After the role play, be sure to process the role play: did students feel different when they acted it out, did acting it out give them any new ideas about ways to handle it, etc.