CHARACTER COUNTS! Week highlights the value of good character and its important role in building strong communities that value positive, healthy relationships and respectful behavior.
During CHARACTER COUNTS! Week, we celebrate young people who are role models of good character in their communities and support the parents and educators who teach our young people to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and good citizens.
Days Until CHARACTER COUNTS! Week
October 15-22, 2023
Here are ten ideas you can use with a single class or an entire school/organization. They’re easy to adapt to your grade level and can be adjusted to meet the needs of your students.
We’ve also included ideas from last year’s school celebrations. We’d love to share your CC! Week plans, activities, and photos too! Share your celebration on social media and use #CharacterCountsWeek in your posts.
Decorate Your School!
Theme Days
Recognizing students who show good character and make positive choices is an important part of character education and a great way to celebrate CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. Here are a few ideas:
For quick activities anytime, pick one of the Six Pillars of Character and give students opportunities to practice that skill or discuss it. Here are a few examples (that you can adapt for your grade level) focused on caring.
We show caring by being kind, compassionate, grateful, and forgiving others.
Character education can be fun!
Give students opportunities to explore their passions while also developing their character skills.
Educators love CHARACTER COUNTS! because it can be customized to your class or school. It’s also easy to weave values like the Six Pillars of Character into your current academic lessons. Here’s an example of how you could highlight character this week.
Dave Kinnoin is ready to meet your students at a Six Pillar Songwriting assembly.
Once you start looking at your lesson plans, you’ll be able to quickly see how naturally you can include just a few character and social-emotional concepts in what you’ve already planned.
Click here to download daily challenges for your students.
This activity allows students to practice trustworthiness and fairness.
Students will compete to write the numbers 1-10 (or 1-20, etc.) with their index finger in the air.
This activity allows students to practice trustworthiness and fairness.
You’ll need a ball for students to toss around. A NERF-sized ball generally works best. Have students stand in a circle.
Schools that emphasize character development and build a positive school culture are more likely to succeed when students, faculty, and staff build respectful and healthy relationships. This activity is a fun way for students to learn about each other.
Questions:
In addition to the products in our store, we have lots of free resources available in our Digital Classroom.
We’ve selected a variety of activities that are great additions to your CHARACTER COUNTS! Week celebration.
You’ll find K-12 activities for
Families impact kids’ character by being good role models who teach values and good decision-making.
CHARACTER COUNTS! Week is a great opportunity to distribute our Family’s Guide to Teaching Good Character.
Learn more about these guides and download your free copies here.
Helping your school and community demonstrates all of the Six Pillars of Character!
Social media is a great way to show your community and families how you’re celebrating CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. Plus, you’ll help other schools that are looking for new ideas!
Idea: you can even let your students take over your social media platforms! Or, post your students dancing to the Six Pillar Shuffle.
However you choose to share, be sure to tag us! We’re @CharacterCounts, on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok and @TheRayCenter on Instagram.
🔵 Twist is for Trustworthiness.
🟡 Roll is for Respect.
🟢 We’re gonna reach up for Responsibility.
🔴 Then we blow a kiss for Caring.
🟠 Flap your arms for Fairness.
🟣 Stomp your feet for Citizenship.
The Six Pillar Shuffle is a kick!
Every year since 1993, the U.S. President, U.S. Senate, state governors, and officials around the world proclaim the third week in October as CHARACTER COUNTS! Week.
Check back for this year’s White House Proclamation.
School Principal Allison Box, from Downey, CA shares why her school celebrates CHARACTER COUNTS! Week: