This document discusses the importance of character education in schools. Character education teaches students how to develop good moral character and become respectful, well-mannered citizens. It is important to teach these skills at a young age so students can learn to have positive relationships. In the 21st century, character education teaches students the importance of having good manners in order to build positive relationships and get through life. The document provides examples of character education lessons and projects that use technology tools to teach students about manners, ethics, caring for others, and respect.

1. 21st Century Education
Character Education
By: Lindsey McSweeney, Abbey Duffey,
Kelsea Thayer, and Jessica Jacoby

2. Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them
develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional,
compliant or socially acceptable beings.
Character Education
The importance of character education is to teach children how to be a good citizen in the world we live
in. It is important for students to learn this at a young age so that they grow up to have respect for
others. Learning this young is a lot easier than learning when they get older.
The role in 21st century for character education is that to get through life, you have to have good
manners towards others to shape positive relationships.

3. How to save the world eco project. The tool used for this project would be to collaborate in a wiki.
Students will place information in a wiki about recycling and what they can do to reduce carbon
foot prints.
Using technology for ethics. The tool used for this project would be to show videos off of YouTube.
Students will be shown various YouTube videos and students will discuss the lessons they can take
away from these videos.
Baby doll circle time: The tool used for this project would be students to use Zello. When students
take their baby home, they can ask other students on Zello how to take care of their baby or any
other questions pertaining to their babies.
Using google documents to share and compare manners with students from different countries.
The tool used for this would be to create blogs. Each student will create a blog of what manners
are appropriate at their home. They will upload it to google documents to share with other
students.
Teaching Table Manner. The tool used for this would be digital storytelling using storybird.com.
Students will learn about table manners and then create their own story on storybird.com and
present to the class.

4. Teaching Table Manners
To start the lesson, we will greet each student and ask if they need any help. Students will ask each other if they
need help with anything. For example, one student will ask, “Do you need help getting your crayons?” The other
student will say, “Yes I would like some help.” After that we will read, Dude That’s Rude (Get Some Manners) by
Elizabeth Verdick and Pamela Espeland. Once the story is complete will discuss students will get into groups of
three or four and create a poster of different examples of manners. For example, one group may place a plate
with food in the middle and around that plate place words like, “Please pass the salt” to show proper table
manners. Students will share this poster in front of the class. Students will then get to create a book on
storybird.com. This will be a collaborative group project. Each student will be responsible for creating one page
of the book. Once everyone has completed their page, we will read it aloud as an entire group.

5. A Song About Table Manners
We say, "Thank you."
We say, "Please."
We don't interrupt or tease.
We don't argue. We don't fuss.
We listen when folks talk to us.
We share our toys and take our turn.
Good manners aren't too hard to learn.
It's really easy, when you find.
Good manners means JUST BEING KIND! -

6. Conclusion:
Schools that implement character education in the classroom have higher
academic achievement, improved attendance, a decrease in violence,
fewer disciplinary actions, less vandalism, and a reduce in substance
abuse. It is so much easier to teacher students at a young to be respectful
and learn how to positively interact with other people in our world.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." --Aesop

7. Works Cited
http://character.org/lessons/lesson-plans/elementary/kay-granger-elementary-
school/
http://www.wiseskills.com/blogs/latest-blog-post/12110201-using-media-to-
teach-about-ethics-and-values
https://consciousdiscipline.com/resources/five-steps-to-baby-doll-circle-time.asp
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr232.shtml#sthash.vk7TJRau.dpuf