CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Valiant Efforts - Seventh Grader Who Took the Wheel of a School Bus After Driver Lost Consciousness Called "a Hero"

It takes courage to do the right thing and support other people. Through valiant efforts, anyone has what it takes to be a hero.

Valiant Efforts
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Responsibility
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Responsible Decision-Making
Academic Skills
  • Curiosity and Passion
  • Effective Problem Solving

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.
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.
Responsible Decision-Making

Make decisions based on rationality, ethics, and effectiveness.

Curiosity and Passion

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

Effective Problem Solving

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

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

Students will learn about bravery and valiant efforts from a group of students riding a bus when the bus driver has a medical emergency. They will apply these concepts to their own lives.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What does it mean to be brave? 
    • When we are brave, we show the mental and moral strength to overcome fear and difficult things.
  • What does it mean to be valiant?
    • When we are valiant, we are boldly courageous and brave.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How was a valiant effort made in the video? What led to it happening? (Encourage students to think beyond the medical emergency. What else was happening on the bus?)
  • “Courage is a muscle. It grows stronger with use.” – Ruth Gordon. What does this quote mean to you?
  • What are some examples in your life when it was important to be courageous?
  • What are some reasons that someone may not be courageous when they should be?
  • What strategies can help you be more courageous?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Sticky notes
  • Chart paper
  • Markers
activity

Activity: Courage Muscles

  • Talk to students about their “courage muscles.” Consider reading the following text to discuss courage and valiant efforts before continuing the activity:
    • Everyday heroes are all around us! Never underestimate your ability to be brave or to help others. Sometimes we lack courage and are fearful when we are faced with challenges, dangerous, or uncomfortable situations. Sometimes, there are situations when we might need to use our voice. No matter what, we can always develop our “courage muscles” and remember that we have a responsibility to speak up or act when something is not right!
  • Give students a stack of sticky notes. They will write one way they can strengthen their “courage muscle” on each sticky note. Encourage them to develop as many strategies as they can think of.
    • Example: “I can practice what I might say if someone is being bullied.”
  • Let students work for up to five minutes.
  • Collect the sticky notes and post them on the chart paper.
  • As a class, group common ideas to develop a list of strategies to strengthen everyone’s “courage muscles.”
  • Follow-up question:
    •  What are ways we can help each other strengthen our “courage muscles” as a class?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • The student in the video is considered a hero because of his valiant actions. He reacted within seconds to save his bus driver, classmates, and friends.
    • How do you define a hero?
    • Is there anyone you know personally whom you consider to be a hero?

6-12

  • Do you feel all forms of courage are the same? In what ways can they be different?
  • Is it ever ok to not be brave? If so, when?
  • Think of someone throughout history who has been courageous. What made them heroic?
  • What qualities did the student in today’s video possess that made him a hero?
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

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about courage and valiant efforts.

  • Do you believe that courage can be developed?
  • How can you be courageous at school, at home, or within the community?
  • What famous people throughout history have been courageous?

Activity

  • Visit your local public library to check out books about courageous people throughout history. Consider checking out books based on who you talked about as a family.

Lesson contributed by Erinn Williams, West Louisville Elementary School, Owensboro, KY

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