Our Centers for Ethics:

Weekly writing prompt

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September 20-26, 2009 A Fruitful Endeavor Johnny Chapman’s birth on September 26, 1774, would not be noteworthy were it not for his outstanding character. Chapman, now known as Johnny Appleseed, envisioned a land in which apple trees fed the hungry and brightened the landscape. He traveled through many states to plant apple orchards that still stand today. Students will measure the impact of their decisions as they explore the pillar of Citizenship.

Write or discuss it! Foundations for Life gives teachers an easy way to improve students' critical thinking and composition skills. Each of these weekly prompts comes with a maxim illuminating an ethical issue. Students can analyze it and apply it to current events and their own lives, through discussion or writing. Each prompt also references at least one of the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. As a result, students can easily tie the author’s words to community values. Suggestions for using the prompts:

• Read the biographies in the Teacher’s Resource.
• Present the maxim to the students.
• Briefly discuss:
  •   What did the author mean?
  •   Can you think of ways the statement applies to something in your life?
• Point out the Pillar related to the maxim.
• Present the writing prompt to the students and have them answer these questions in their draft book or other format.

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Elementary level

"When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree."
– Vietnamese proverb

Focus Pillar: Citizenship
Your neighbor has an abundant garden and just brought over a basket full of your favorite fruit. Because they will spoil before you can eat them all, you decide to prepare a treat for your neighbor as a thank-you gift. Invent your own healthy snack that includes this fruit as one ingredient. Write instructions for preparing your snack, being sure to include:

• A list of ingredients
• How to combine ingredients
• Best way to serve the food

Extension Activity: Correlate students’ responses with the USDA food pyramid, highlighting recommended daily fruit servings.

Secondary level

"A society grows great when old people plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit."
– Greek proverb

Focus Pillar: Citizenship
Thanks to a generous donation, the principal of your school has awarded your class funding for a campus improvement project. Everyone is invited to submit an idea for the venture. The winning proposal will be constructed and enjoyed by future classes. Describe what you would include in your plan, addressing:

• Analysis of current problem
• Why your solution is best
• Descriptive elements for your idea
• Cost analysis

Extension Activity: Encourage students to share their ideas with administrators and parent associations.

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