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Web Resources
Character & Values
America's Promise (www.americaspromise.org )
"Mission: To mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by fulfilling Five Promises for young people. [ K-12 ]
Boston University Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character (http://www.bu.edu/education/caec/ ) [ K-12 ]
Center for the 4th and 5th Rs
(http://www.cortland.edu/www/c4n5rs/)
"THE CENTER FOR THE 4TH AND 5TH Rs (Respect and Responsibility) serves as a regional, state, and national resource in character education. A growing national movement, character education is essential to the task of building a moral society and developing schools which are civil and caring communities." [ K-12 ]
Character Counts! (http://www.charactercounts.org/)
"A nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of schools, communities and nonprofit organizations working to advance character education by teaching the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship." [ K-12 ]
Character Education Partnership
http://www.character.org/
"The Character Education Partnership (CEP) is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our nation's youth as one means of creating a more compassionate and responsible society. [ K-12 ]
Community of Caring (http://www.communityofcaring.org/)
" Through training for teachers, values discussions, student forums, parent involvement and service learning, Community of Caring addresses destructive attitudes that lead to early sexual involvement, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, delinquent behavior, and dropping out of school." [ K-12 ]
Don't Laugh at Me Project (DLAM) (http://www.dontlaugh.org/ )
"The Don't Laugh at Me Project (DLAM) is working to transform schools, camps and other youth organizations into more compassionate, safe and respectful environments for children. Founded by Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, the project disseminates educational resources that are designed to establish a climate that reduces the emotional and physical cruelty some children inflict upon each other by behaviors such as ridicule, bullying and - in extreme cases - violence." [2-8]
Education World
(http://www.education-world.com/ )
A wealth of resources for K-12 teachers and administrators. The search engine on this site can be used to find lessons and themes related to Character Education, Conflict Resolution, Social Skills, etc ... [ K-12 ]
Institute for Global Ethics
(http://www.globalethics.org/)
"The Institute actively works with schools, community members, state departments of education, and educational organizations. The Institute also has developed curricular materials for use in K-12 settings. These materials are based on Dr. Kidder's book, How Good People Make Tough Choices." [ K-12 ]
Laws of Life Essay Contest (http://www.lawsoflife.org/)
"The Laws of Life Essay Contest is special because the program emphasizes reflection and writing. The contest encourages students to think about the people and experiences that have helped to shape their values. It challenges them to take a stand for what they believe in. [3 – 12]
The National Center for Student Aspirations (http://www.studentaspirations.org/)
Mission: To make the world a better place for children to learn and develop into well-educated productive citizens." [6 – 12]
Primary Focus
(http://www.primaryfocus.org/)
Primary Focus is a non-profit, national assembly organization that deals with Character Education. Five teams of nine college-aged young adults tour extensively throughout 40 states. These teams present a mini Broadway musical called, "Choices Count!" This musical incorporates 6 basic character traits (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) into a production that has a lot of singing, dancing, skits, choreography, costume changes, props, and audience participation. Primary Focus will be in the Maine area in the Fall of 2002 and urges Maine schools to take advantage of this exciting program. [ K – 6]
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (http://www.actsofkindness.org/home.html )
" The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation supports the Kindness Movement by encouraging and assisting individuals and groups who wish to perform kind acts. We provide leadership, inspiration, guidance, educational and promotional materials, and opportunities to connect with people around the world." [ K-12 ]
democracy & citizenship
Active Citizenship (www.activecitizenship.com )
This website provides information targeted to 7 -12 grade in the following categories:
Curriculum Information / Free Lessons
Civic Values
Service Learning / Free Service Learning Guide
Teacher Training for Active Citizenship
The American Jury Bulwark of Democracy (www.crfc.org/americanjury/index.html )
"The American Jury: Bulwark of Democracy is an on-line resource guide for teachers, students, and citizens devoted to explaining the American jury system and its role in American legal, social, and political life. It features lessons, information, and resources developed by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago with high school teachers from California, Colorado, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin, and Illinois in cooperation with national experts and scholars on the jury system." [ 7 – 12 ]
The American Promise (www.americanpromise.com )
"A Web site devoted to helping K-12 teachers bring democracy to life in their classrooms. This site is a supplement to the videos and teaching guide produced for the original PBS series." [ K-12 ]
Celebrating America's Freedoms (http://www.va.gov/pubaff/celebam/caindex.htm) [ K-12 ]
Celebrating Freedom Resources from Glencoe http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/celebratingfreedom/web.shtml [ K-12 ]
Celebration USA (http://www.celebrationusa.org/ )
"Celebration U.S.A. is a non-profit educational organization established in 1992 to encourage young people to honor the principles of democracy, good citizenship, and patriotism." [ K-12 ]
Civics Online (http://civics-online.org/ )
"Civics Online is a collaborative, online project providing a rich array of primary sources, professional development tools, and interactive activities to help in the teaching of civics." [ K-12 ]
Educators for Social Responsibility (http://www.esrnational.org/)
"ESR's mission is to make teaching social responsibility a core practice in education so that young people develop the convictions and skills needed to shape a safe, sustainable, democratic, and just world. This site provides more than 50 free lesson plans that include the following topics : war, peace, conflict, bullying, anthrax, airline safety, Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, discrimination, hate crimes, "
Facing History and Ourselves (http://www.facinghistory.org/facing/fhao2.nsf)
"Our Mission: to engage students of diverse backgrounds in citizenship education; to teach that the study of history is a moral enterprise; and to provide interdisciplinary programs, resource materials, and speakers for middle and high school educators to relate past to issues in the world today." [ 7 – 12]
Kids Voting USA (http://www.kidsvotingusa.org/)
"Kids Voting USA® is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots organization working with schools and communities to enhance civics education and provide youth a voting experience at official polls on election day." [K – 12]
Lessons of Liberty Initiative (http://www.va.gov/Veteranedu/ )
"The "Lessons of Liberty" initiative is an opportunity for American students to learn more about our country and its values, as well as the people that have been called upon to defend its freedom." [K – 12]
Whitehouse Kids.gov (http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/ )
"Whitehousekids.gov is an educational opportunity for young Americans to learn about the White House and the President through fun and exciting features." [K – 6]
You the People (http://www.youthepeople.com/)
"You the PEOPLE is a training program for citizens of democratic republics. Since citizens are the base of power in democratic forms of government, their performance is critical to its long-term success. The Founders of the United States are the authors of modern successful democracy. We have researched and been faithful to their concepts while also looking at modern examples and methods in designing our program. It is multi-level and interdisciplinary and written in plain English for the average citizen. It shows people the principles and ideals of a democratic republic and trains them to accomplish the duties of its highest office, citizen." [7 – 12]
peace & human rights
Friendship Through Education (http://www.friendshipthrougheducation.org/)
"The Friendship Through Education Consortium is committed to creating opportunities that facilitate online and offline interactions between the youth of the world, inside and outside of classrooms, in order to build a culture of peace in which the dignity and rights of all human beings are respected." [K – 12]
Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine http://www.hhrc.org/
"The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine grew out of a seminar, "Teaching About the Nazi Holocaust in Maine Schools," held at Bowdoin College in 1984. The participants found the seminar to be a powerful and compelling commentary on the fragility of democracy. They resolved to carry on the work. Under the leadership of Gerda Haas, herself a survivor and author of a book on the Holocaust, they formed the Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine. [K – 12]
Peace Corps Kids World
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/index.html
"Welcome to Kids World, brought to you by the Peace Corps. Join our pal, Traveler, as she explores the globe and learns about making a difference. Come on in to the home of adventure and service -- Peace Corps Kids World!" [K – 6]
PeaceJam (http://www.peacejam.org/ )
"PeaceJam is an international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to inspire a new generation of peacemakers who will transform their local communities, themselves and the world." [9 – 12]
The Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States
(http://www.raoulwallenberg.org/main.html )
"The Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States was created as a not-for-profit corporation in May 1981. The Committee's mission is:
o To perpetuate the humanitarian ideals and the nonviolent courage of Raoul Wallenberg through the national distribution of a unique academic program; A STUDY OF HEROES, an interdisciplinary curriculum for use in elementary and high schools.
o To help fund the efforts to determine Raoul Wallenberg's actual fate.
To bestow The Raoul Wallenberg Award on individuals, organizations and communities that reflect Raoul Wallenberg's humanitarian spirit, personal courage and nonviolent action in the face of enormous odds." [K – 12]
Teaching Tolerance (http://www.tolerance.org/teach/)
"The mission of Tolerance.org is to create a national community committed to human rights. Its goal is to awaken people of all ages to the problem of hate and intolerance, to equip them with the best tolerance ideas and to prompt them to act in their homes, schools, businesses and communities. [K – 12]
Wish Only Well (WOW): Peace Education Project (http://www.wowzone.com/wowpep.htm )
"The goal of The WOW Peace Education Project is to spread a powerful message of hope, peace and goodwill around the world. It is a collection of ideas and actions taken on and off the Internet - through web pages, mailing lists, newsletters, posters, radio, television, and by any positive means that help promote peace. [K – 12]
September 11 and Terrorism
AskERIC Teaching Students About Terrorism and Related Resources
http://ericcass.uncg.edu/virtuallib/stresstrauma/1006.html [K – 12]
Behind the Headlines: Resources for Educators on the September 11 Tragedy and the Response (http://www.teachingforchange.org/Sept11.htm ) [K – 12]
Beyond Blame: Reacting to the Terrorist Attack (www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6930.html)
"In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist tragedy and subsequent attacks against Arab-Americans, Education Development Center, Inc. developed this curriculum for middle and high school students, focusing on issues of justice and mislaid blame." [7 – 12]
Healing Children With The Help of Books: Bibliography in Response to Tragedy http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/healingus.html [K-12]
Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks
(http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/ ) [K-12]
Heritage Preservation
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PDFS/Cataclysm.pdf
Heritage Preservation has published Cataclysm and Challenge, a 26-page report detailing what was lost--both in Lower Manhattan and at the Pentagon on September 11. The report also highlights survey findings that include museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions in Lower Manhattan. It reveals significant lessons that may help protect our nation's cultural heritage from future disasters. [9 – 12]
Memorializing September 11, 2001 (a teacher lesson plan)
www.education-world.com/a_tsl/archives/02-1/lesson008.shtml [3 –12]
9-11 As History
www.familiesandwork.org/911ah/911ashistory.html
Readings by grade cluster
www.familiesandwork.org/911ah/reading.html [Pre-K—12 ]
Poetry in Response to September 11 www.poetry.com/us_tragedy/searchgroup.asp [K - 12 ]
Remembering September 11: Links and Resources from the National Association of School Counselors (NASP)
( http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/911memorial.html)
NASP has made these materials available free of charge to the public in order to promote the ability of children and youth to cope with the anniversary of September 11. The materials may be adapted, reproduced, reprinted, or posted on websites without specific permission as long as the integrity of the content is maintained and NASP is given proper credit. [K – 12]
Scholastic Web Site – 9/11/2001: The Day that Changed America (http://teacher.scholastic.com/911/index.htm )
"Bookmark this page because on August 29, Scholastic.com will launch a special Web site to help kids, parents, and teachers observe the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11." [K – 12]
September 11 - First Year Anniversary Lesson Plans-- National Education Association - Health Information Network http://www.neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/september11/materials/lessonexamples2.htm [K – 12]
September 11 Resources for Teachers
www.library.umass.edu/sept11/education.html [K – 12]
Teachable Moments - National Council for the Social Studies
www.ncss.org/resources/moments [K – 12]
Tips for Parents and Schools Regarding the Anniversary of September 11, 2001 Brian Lippincott, PhD. John F. Kennedy University, Graduate School of Professional Psychology http://www.jfku.edu/psych/parents.html [K – 12]
Uniting America Series Summary Report
www.unitingamerica.org/dialogue
In March 2002, a group of prominent national leaders met to create Building a More United America, a report summarizing the previous Uniting America series Assemblies. The meeting considered the series' reports in the radically new context brought about by September 11, and adapted policy recommendations and priorities for use as the basis for the National Dialogue. [9 – 12]
Service & Service Learning
Community Builders: Teens Turning Places Around (http://www.pps.org/tcb/highlights.htm )
Community Builders is a Project for Public Spaces (PPS) initiative. "At Project for Public Spaces, we believe it's important to highlight accomplishments of young people. In our work around the U.S., we witness all too often how young people are shunned and treated almost like undesirables by the owners and managers of public spaces. On top of that, there seems to be continuous press coverage of negative activities undertaken by teens. This makes it even more important to tell stories of youth who are doing positive things to improve their communities. In addition, these examples of teens' success can provide inspiration to other youth who are struggling to make a difference, and trying to create public places that are comfortable for them and their peers - places where they have a sense of ownership and involvement." [9 – 12]
Do Something (http://www.dosomething.org/)
"Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who know they can make a difference in their communities and take action to change the world around them. As part of Do Something, young people are asked what they want to do to make things better and then given the resources and support to bring their unique vision to life. [7 –12]
Family Cares
http://www.familycares.org/familycares/mainpage.shtml
" We are a non-profit, multiracial, non-denominational organization dedicated to the development of compassion and the spirit of charity in children. To that end, we provide children, families, schools, and religious groups with meaningful opportunities to help others in their local and global communities. [K – 12]
Gratz Cluster Service Learning Center (http://www.gratzclusterydslc.org/)
"Mission: to serve as a catalyst for community development by facilitating partnerships among community members. These members - agencies and organizations, higher ed institutions, teachers and students (K-12), businesses and concerned citizens - working in partnership, will positively impact our students and their communities." [K – 12]
KIDS Consortium (http://www.kidsconsortium.org/)
"KIDS (Kids Involved Doing Service) Consortium moves education beyond the classroom as students apply academic knowledge and skills to real community needs. Working with teachers, schools, and communities, we promote a learner-driven process that results in better educated, civic-minded, and responsible students." [K – 12]
Learning In Deed: National Commission on Service-Learning (http://learningindeed.org/index.html )
"The National Commission on Service-Learning will bring a new level of public commitment to service-learning by (1) developing recommendations and an action plan to make quality service-learning available to all K-12 students and (2) encouraging adoption of service-learning among target audiences. These audiences include teachers in K-12 public schools; education administrators in school districts and at the state level; and elected and appointed officials at the federal, state and local levels." [K – 12]
National Youth Leadership Council (http://www.nylc.org/)
"The National Youth Leadership Council's mission is to build vital, just communities with young people through service-learning. As one of America's most prominent advocates of service-learning and youth service, the NYLC is at the forefront of efforts to reform education and guide youth-oriented public policy." [K – 12]
SERVEnet (http://www.servenet.org/ )
"SERVEnet.org is the premier website on service and volunteering. Through SERVEnet, users can enter their zip code, city, state, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with organizations needing help. SERVEnet is also a place to search for calendar events, job openings, service news, recommended books, and best practices. YSA's commitment to America's Promise is to have volunteer opportunities on SERVEnet for every zip code in America." [7 – 12]
