Sometimes people say bad things about themselves. For example, "I'm so stupid," or "I can't do anything right." In this exercise, students discuss whether these things would be acceptable if said to someone else. If not, students can agree not to say them about themselves. Students think of ways to talk to themselves that affirm respect and good self-care. Students trade compliments with others in a small group. Each student must also say complimentary things about himself.
A classroom can contain children of different nationalities, economic levels, abilities and family types. Divide students into small groups to explore how class members are similar and different. Each student must learn at least one new thing about each person in the small group. Each group presents a class report about how understanding differences and similarities encourages respect. Groups compare whether students are more similar or different. Encourage students to think of ways to celebrate diversity as one way to improve respectful behavior. Explore how seeing the commonalities makes it less likely that people will behave disrespectfully.
Most students know the Golden Rule. Provide different scenarios that allow students to determine if the Golden Rule was followed or not. For example, Mary tells Helen her hair looks funny or Bill laughs at Chris because he falls in the mud. Students think of appropriate ways to behave in scenarios that don't follow the Golden Rule. Using the previous example, Bill could offer to loan Chris his spare shirt or help him clean up in the bathroom.
Student groups take a collection of rules, such as classroom rules, rules at home or civil laws, and determine how following the rules affords respect to others. For example, that stealing ignores respect for someone's property and cheating is a form of stealing, or that defacing property disrespects the owner. Students create a list of consequences for disobeying the rules. Students may look beyond legal penalties to more personal consequences, such as hurt feelings, vengeful actions and loss of friendships.