HS.35 Ethics and Personal Character
This LifeKnowledge high school lesson (HS.35, “Ethics and Personal Character”) teaches students to identify and define the traits that make up strong personal character and to connect those characteristics to professional ethics through integrity. Using a journaling activity, a master list of 30 characteristics, an illustrated “flash folder” project, and a brick-and-building analogy, students explore how personal character plus integrity enables ethical behavior that fits a group’s professional ethics.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- List characteristics that make up a strong character.
- Define the thirty most important traits of a strong character.
- Explain the relationship between personal character and professional ethics.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
- Grade level
- High School
- Materials
-
- Overhead projector
- Writing surface
- HS.35.AS.A Characteristic Definitions
- HS.35.TM.A List of characteristics
- HS.35.TM.B Connections
- HS.35.Assessment.A
- Colored pens, markers, pencils or crayons
- Tape or thumb tacks
- Bell, whistle or other noisemakers—air horn?
- One sheet of 8"x 12" construction paper/student
- 30 slips of paper in a cup or basket with one characteristic written on each slip
- Unit
- Stage One of Development—ME
- Problem Area
- How Do I Begin to Grow?
- Precepts
- N3: Make ethical decisions.
- Resources
- The Virtues Project: Simple Ways to Create a Culture of Character, Linda Kavelin Popov. Jalmar Press, Torrance, CA, 2000.
- Key Terms
- Assertiveness, Characteristics, Commitment, Compassion, Confidence, Cooperation, Courage, Courtesy, Creativity, Detachment, Determination, Diligence, Enthusiasm, Ethics, Flexibility, Forgiveness, Friendliness, Honesty, Humility, Idealism, Integrity, Justice, Loyalty, Modesty, Orderliness, Patience, Personal Character, Reliability, Respect, Responsibility, Self discipline, Tact, Tolerance, Trustworthiness
- FFA Activity
- Job Interview Contest, PALS
- SAE Activity
- Work Experience Project
- Extended Classroom Activity
- Have students create an analysis pizza for a personal characteristic (Categories: definition, importance, actions, and benefits). Create a collage of pictures that represent a personal characteristic.
Downloads & Links
Lesson plan
Presentation
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NPH-H.9-12.5Using Communication Skills to Promote Health — Analyze how interpersonal communication affects relationships.