- Grade:Grades 3–5
- Subject:Plot, Character and Setting, Literature, Expository Writing, Photography, Visual Arts, Creativity and Imagination, Compassion, Honesty, Cooperation and Teamwork, Equality, Fairness and Justice, Manners and Conduct, Respect, School Life, Understanding Self and Others, Classroom Management, Teacher Tips and Strategies
- Skill:Plot, Character and Setting, Expository Writing
- Duration:2 Weeks
Overview
The start of the school year is the time to set the tone for the rest
of the school year. This literature-rich unit will ignite a discussion
about the necessary traits for a year of success. Members of a learning
community demonstrate many traits of success while fostering those traits
in others.
Objective
Students will:
- Generate a list of traits that facilitate success (tolerance, respect, integrity, etc.)
- Identify the traits portrayed by characters in literature
- Rank the traits in order of importance
- Justify their top 3 and bottom two ranked traits
- Agree upon 10-12 traits for success that will guide the students through the year
- Define each of these traits in student-friendly language
- Reflect in writing how students are demonstrating these traits in school and at home
- Reflect and discuss how their peers are demonstrating these traits in school
- Reflect in writing about the traits (“Which attitudes are your strengths?”)
- Set goals for a successful year (“Which attitudes do you want to further develop?”)
Lesson Plans for this Unit
Culminating Activity
In cooperative groups, students will use a digital camera to illustrate each of the traits and write a caption to accompany the photos. These photos can either be made into books or into a beautiful classroom display.
