Our Centers for Ethics:

Weekly writing prompt

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September 27 - October 3, 2009 Driving Lessons October 1, 1908, marks the introduction of Henry Ford’s Model T automobile. This affordable, reliable car made automobile transportation available to the average American and introduced new systems of mass production. Students will speculate about the future of the automobile by designing innovative transportation models – a lesson in perseverance that reinforces the value of responsibility.

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

"Most people see what is, and never see what can be."
– Albert Einstein, German-born physicist, Nobel Prize-winning formulator of the theory of relativity and peace advocate (1879-1955)

Focus Pillar: Responsibility
If you could create your own vehicle, what would it look like? Would it be environmentally friendly? Design a new car that is safe, efficient and attractive. Draw a diagram of your car and label at least 10 different features that make yours unique from standard vehicles.

Extension Activity: Bring in a copy of the Sunday newspaper for students to explore. Have students create advertisements like those in the automotive classified section. Then compile them to make a newspaper insert.

Secondary level

"It’s never crowded along the ‘extra mile.’"
– Wayne Dyer, American psychotherapist, author and lecturer (b. 1940)

Focus Pillar: Responsibility
Drive-through restaurants, billboards, professional auto racing…these are just a few outcomes of the automobile’s growing popularity. What would the world look like if flying cars became a reality? Examine the impact of this innovation as it relates to leisure, travel, business, sports and the environment.

Extension Activity: Use this opportunity as a cross-curricular integration of physical science lessons by addressing motion, forces or alternative-fuel sources.

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