CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Legacy – Homeless Donate in Honor of Slain Police Officer

Our character has the power to shape our legacy. It is important to consider who we are and how we want to be remembered as we work on developing our character.

Legacy
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Trustworthiness
  • Respect
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Critical and Creative Thinking 
  • Curiosity and Passion 

Definitions

Trustworthiness
  • Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal.
  • Have integrity. Do what you say you’ll do.
  • Keep your promises.
  • Be loyal. Stand by your values.
Respect
  • Follow the Golden Rule.
  • Be accepting of differences.
  • Be courteous to others.
  • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings.
Good Citizenship
  • Do your share to make your home, school, and community better.
  • Cooperate.
  • Stay informed. Vote.
  • Be a good neighbor.
  • Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others.
  • Protect the environment.
Self-Awareness

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

Social Awareness

Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge.

Curiosity and Passion

Enthusiastic to understand more about themselves, others, and the world around them.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
Share This Activity
The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will consider their character and legacy as they reflect on how a police officer was remembered by her community.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • How do you define legacy?
    • A legacy is something we leave behind that impacts others.
  • Who is someone with an impactful legacy? Think about someone you know personally or someone famous.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What legacy did Police Officer Seara Burton leave behind? Why?
  • What kind of a person do you want to be remembered as?
  • How does someone create a legacy?
materials

Activity Materials

activity

Activity: Legacy of Our Character

  • Police Officer Seara Burton respected and cared for all citizens, including those without homes. After her death, she left a legacy of kindness. The unhoused community wanted to honor her with their sincere respect and share what little they had.
    • What is the legacy of police officer Seara Burton’s character?
    • Based on the video, how would you describe Officer Seara Burton’s character?
  • Ask students to illustrate what they want the legacy of their character to be.
    • Create a word collage, word cloud, or piece of art listing the top three characteristics you want to be remembered for.
    • Consider making a list of positive characteristics as a class before students work independently.
    • Use art supplies or technology-based word generators:
  • Follow-up question:
    • What is the legacy of your character?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • How do people show respect in a community?
  • Think about a family member you admire. What will their legacy be? What can you learn from them?

6-12

  • Can you change your legacy? Why or why not?
  • Write about three character skills that you want to be remembered for. Give examples that show you or someone else displaying each of those character skills.
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/p1EPshbQCRI.

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about legacy.

  • What legacy did Officer Seara Burton leave behind?
  • What do you want to be remembered for?
  • Share one character skill that describes what each person in your family is known for.

Activity

  • Create a care package, bake cookies, or write a card to someone who serves your community and deliver them as a family.
  • Write a letter to someone in your life who is impacting you in a positive way. Tell them how they help you see the importance of building character and leaving a positive legacy.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

2702 Forest Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50311

515-271-1910

RayCenter@Drake.edu

Character Counts
DONATE TO OUR MISSION
Facebook Twitter Instagram Tiktok Youtube
Contact Us

(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.