CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Confidence - Teen Born Without Legs Makes the Basketball Team

Confidence is all about how we see ourselves and our capabilities. Practicing confidence will help us extend our skills to the greatest potential.

Confidence
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Responsibility
  • Fairness
SEL Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
Academic Skills
  • Effective Problem Solving
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

Definitions

Responsibility
  • Do what you are supposed to do. Try your best.
  • Persevere. Keep on trying.
  • Be self-disciplined.
  • Think before you act. Consider the consequences.
  • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes.
Fairness
  • Play by the rules.
  • Take turns and share.
  • Be open-minded. Listen to others.
  • Don’t take advantage of others.
Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes.

Self-Management

Regulate emotions, attitudes, and actions, and resist negative emotions and impulses

Effective Problem Solving

Make rational, ethical, and effective decisions to find the best solutions to problems.

Self-Direction and Engagement

Fully engaged in the educational process and connected to the school community.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
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The Ray Center at Drake University
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Students will understand the concept of confidence and its importance in overcoming challenges.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What game would be hard to play without using your legs?
  • How do you define confidence?
    • Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance arising from our appreciation of our abilities or qualities.
  • Do you have confidence in yourself?
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How did Josiah show confidence in himself even if others thought his goal was impossible?
  • What does it mean to have self-confidence?
  • What can you do to build confidence in yourself?
  • How can encouragement help others boost their confidence?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Sticky notes
  • Markers
activity

Activity: Traveling Verbs

  • Line up students along one side of the room.
  • Explain that each student needs to reach the opposite side of the room but cannot use the same method as anyone before them.
  • The teacher demonstrates by running across the room and announcing, “Now, you cannot run.”
  • Each student must verbalize the verb or action they intend to use to cross the room.
  • After reaching the other side, students will write something they appreciate about themselves on a sticky note. Have students put their sticky notes on the wall in the same general area. Then, they should share what they wrote on their sticky note with the class, speaking with confidence (for example, “I am brave!”).
  • Take turns, ensuring each student finds a unique way to cross the room safely and shares a positive attribute about themselves.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • How did you show confidence during the game?
    • How can other people tell you are confident?
    • What are some things we appreciate about ourselves? Do we have a common theme as a class?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • What is something you’re proud of doing even when it was hard?
  • How did you feel when you accomplished it?

6-12

  • Describe a time when you faced a challenge. How did you overcome it?
  • What did you learn about yourself from that experience?
family connection

Family Connection

Educators: Copy the Family Connection and email it to parents, or click here to download a PDF version to email or print.

Watch
Watch the video as a family: https://youtu.be/VCBRfStmZ44.

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about confidence.

  • What did you think of Josiah’s story?
  • How do you think Josiah’s confidence in his ability helped him achieve his goals?

Activity

  • Have a family game night where everyone participates in a physical activity or game that requires teamwork and encourages each other’s efforts.
  • Play frisbee or catch while sitting in a chair and encourage each other’s efforts.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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(C) 2024 The Ray Center at Drake University is proud to be the home of CHARACTER COUNTS! CHARACTER COUNTS!, the Six Pillars of Character, and Pursuing Victory with Honor are trademarks of the Josephson Institute. CHARACTER COUNTS! was founded by Michael Josephson through the Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics.