Developed by: Mary Ann Gormley
Upton, Massachusetts (USA)
Topic:
Virtues and My Life (I am in the process of growing and becoming. What kind
of person do I want to become?)
Description:
Students in this project will communicate what they have learned about virtues and values in life, and articulate the virtues that they want to model in their own lives. They will also share what they personally believe about virtues and values in life with other students around the world on the online Virtues forum. At the end of the project, each student will present all his or her work to their teacher in the form of a booklet.
Participants: Students in grades 7-12.
Objectives:
In this project, students will:
Communicate what they have learned about virtues and values in life.
Ask themselves: "What kind of person do I want to become?¨
Identify and articulate the values that, if they incorporate into their lives,
will help them to be the type of person that they want to be.
Share what they personally believe about virtues and values in life with other
students around the world.
Produce a booklet that contains the activities that they have completed in this
project.
Desired Outcomes:
The goals of this project are to:
Help the students grow in self-knowledge.
Help the students learn about the values, which are held by other people around
the world.
Foster understanding and appreciation of the values of other cultures.
Provide opportunities for the students to communicate with students from other
countries who are involved in the Virtues project.
Timeline:
Students will work on this project from January to May.
Procedures:
Introduce the project to the students and invite them to participate in it.
Share with the students the objectives, desired outcomes, and timeline for the
project.
Provide students with the requirements of the project.
Respond to their questions and concerns.
Ask for their input.
Provide students with access code so that they can view what has been posted on
the Virtues project interactive forum.
Support and encourage them in their endeavors.
Work with students as they post their replies on the interactive forum and
complete their booklet.
Project Plan and Activities:
Students may use any format (listed below) to complete the following assignments and put them in the order listed in their booklet:
Poem
Essay
Drawing or cartoon
Story
Poster or collage
Pictures with captions
(Directions and requirements for students who as they participate in this
project.)
1. Think about what values are most valued and promoted in our culture.
Review/look at what kind of
people television shows, music, movies, magazines, advertisements, books, plays, our peers, etc. say
that we should be?) how what AT LEAST 10 of these values are.
2. Show at least three of the most important virtues/values your parents have taught you.
3. Think about virtues and values that are held as important by your religion. Show what these values are.
Ask your parents, friends (at least 3), and one teacher to tell you what they think are the virtues by which you live.
a. Ask them to fill out the questionnaire (copy attached) and return
it to you.
b. You will also complete a "gift¨ sheet in class (copy attached).
c. Look over the questionnaire and "gift" sheet.
d. Write down your thoughts in a journal type entry—answer the following
questions:
What did people say about you?
What did you learn about yourself?
How do you feel about what you read?
How can this help you to become the person you want to be?
Complete one of the following:
Make a list of the things you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Write a poem that shows what you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Design a collage that shows what you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Write your own epitaph or eulogy.
Design your own tombstone.
Post at least one of the above activities (# 1,2,3, or 5) on the interactive forum Virtues discussion site.
Read what students have posted on the interactive forum Virtues site and respond to at least 3 postings from students in another country.
What 5 virtues do you think are most needed in our world today? Give your reasons why you think these virtues are important.
Post your answer to #8 on the Virtues forum, read what others have written, and respond to at least 3 postings.
Articulate AT LEAST 5 of the virtues that people of your age who participated in this Virtues project consider to be most important.
Post your response to the question above on the interactive forum Virtues site.
Review what you have learned about virtues and values in your class.
Think of what kind of person you would like to become and what virtues you would live by to become this kind of person.
Articulate the kind of person (be specific) and the virtues and values by which you need to live in order to become this kind of person.
Post your response to the question above on the interactive forum Virtues site and respond to at least two postings by other students.
Discuss your ideas about participating in this project: Did you like participating in it? Why?/Why not? Would you recommend doing such a project again? What would you do differently? What was your favorite part of the project? What was your least favorite part of the project? Do you have any suggestions or advice about doing such a project?
Pass in your completed booklet to your teacher/Post your work in the iEARN Virtues forum
Questionnaire:
Distribute a copy of this questionnaire to your parents, 3 friends,
and 1 teacher.
Dear ___________________________
This questionnaire is part of a project that I am doing. The
questionnaire asks what people think about me. You do not have to
participate (it's voluntary) or put your name on it. I would appreciate
your feedback.
Thanks for your help.
_______________________________
(Sign your own name here)
Please circle one: I am your friend classmate teacher parent
1. When you think of me, what three words come to your mind?
List at least 3 of my strengths and 1 weakness.
If you could change anything about me, what would you change?
What do you think are the three virtues/that I try to live by?
Are there any other comments that you would like to make?
GIFT SHEET EXERCISE
Each of us has gifts that he/she gives to those with whom they live and
interact.
In this exercise, each student in the class is given a blank piece of
paper and colored marker.
1. Each student is asked to write/print his or her name in the center of
the paper.
2. These papers are exchanged with every student in the class.
3. When a student receives a paper with another student’s name on it, he
or she will write a note to the student telling them what gifts they
have brought to them/the class.
4. When every student has written their messages on the papers, they are
returned to the student whose name is on the paper.
Schedule of dates by which each of the sections of the project MUST be completed by students.
Week #1 ____
Show these values.
Week #2 ____
2. Show at least three of the most important virtues/values your parents have taught you.
Think about virtues and values are held as important by your religion and illustrate them.
Week #3 ____
4. Ask your parents, friends (at least 3), and one teacher to tell you what they think are the virtues by which you live.
a. Ask them to fill out the questionnaire and return it to you.
b. You will also complete a "gift¨ sheet in class.
c. Look over the questionnaire and "gift" sheet.
d. Write down your thoughts in a journal type entry—answer the following
questions:
What did people say about you?
What did you learn about yourself?
How do you feel about what you read?
How can this help you to become the person you want to be?
Week #4 ____
5. Complete one of the following:
Make a list of the things you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Write a poem that shows what you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Design a collage that shows what you would want people to remember about you when they think or talk about you.
Write your own epitaph or eulogy.
Design your own tombstone or memorial.
Complete week during weeks #5, 6, & 7 ____
Post at least one of the activities (# 1,2,3, or 5) on the interactive forum Virtues site.
Read what students have posted on the interactive forum Virtues site and respond to at least 3 postings.
What 5 virtues do you think are most needed in our world today? Give your reasons why you think these virtues are important.
Post your answer to #8 on the Virtues forum, read what others have written, and respond to at least 3 postings.
Week #8 ____
Articulate the virtues that people of your age who participated in this Virtues project consider to be most important.
Post your response to the question above on the interactive forum Virtues site.
Complete during weeks # 9 & 10 _____
Review what you have learned about virtues and values in your class.
Think of what kind of person you would like to become.
Articulate the kind of person you would like to become.
15. Post your response to the question above on the interactive forum Virtues
site.
16. Discuss your ideas about participating in this project:
17. Pass in your completed booklet to your teacher.