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A Person of Honor

Grades: 
6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Character Education: Honesty
Good Character

Learners may use either journaling or role-playing to reflect on the benefits to the community of truthfulness and straightforward actions. They analyze traits and actions of someone who has built a "good reputation."

Duration 
PrintOne 20-minute lesson
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • define good reputation and analyze how it is earned.
  • discuss Mohandas Gandhi and his example of honesty and integrity.
  • reflect on personal honesty and what it means to be a person of honor.
Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set

    Ask, "What does it mean to have a 'good reputation'?" Reflect on the reputation of people of honor, such as people who support social justice. Their reputations for honesty and integrity allowed them to lead people and to effect major social changes. The benefit of their integrity was the power to make a difference.

  2. Discuss how people of honor earned their reputations. Brainstorm the elements of a reputation (actions, how you treat people, what you spend time on, honesty, work ethic, etc.).

  3. Read aloud or have a young person read aloud the following:

  4. Mohandas Gandhi was a lawyer from India who practiced nonviolence to change laws. He helped to change laws related to Indian people in South Africa. Then he moved back to India where he continued to fight for the rights of the poorest Indians who were mistreated under British rule. He was known for his integrity. He did not ask anything of his supporters that he did not do himself, such as making his own clothes so they wouldn't buy British cloth and cleaning toilets to show that all people are equal. Gandhi led his people to nonviolently protest the British rule until the British leaders left India in 1947.

    Mr. Gandhi said, "A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble." What did he mean by this?

  5. Gandhi is remembered for his honor. Tell learners to write a journal reflection about what it means to be a person of honor and its impact on the community. Encourage the learners to write about their own personal goals about honesty and being people of honor.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 01. Self, citizenship, and society
      1. Benchmark MS.4 Describe the characteristics of someone who helps others.
    2. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark MS.2 Describe the importance of hearing all voices in a community and respecting their right to be heard.
      2. Benchmark MS.3 Give an example of how philanthropy can transcend cultures.
  2. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.3 Identify and give examples of stewardship in cultural traditions around the world.
      2. Benchmark MS.4 Identify and describe the actions of how citizens act for the common good.
      3. Benchmark MS.5 Describe the responsibility students have to act in the civil society sector to improve the common good.