A character education program designed to prevent and stop bullying is perfect for elementary students. Kids start bullying behaviors at very young ages, so the sooner they learn what bullying is and how to prevent it, the better. Teachers can start by simply asking students to define bullying. Ask the students to clarify their definitions of bullying by asking for concrete examples. For example, if a student says that being mean is bullying, ask them to describe what a person does when he is "being mean." They might respond by saying it is mean when a kid knocks another kid's books off his desk. After describing several bullying behaviors, have the kids come up with ways they could stop the bullying or help a classmate who is being bullied.
Kids are never too young to give and receive respect, but many times they are taught to respect adults, when it is equally important to teach them to respect their peers. One way to do this is to have them come up with ways they can show respect to their classmates. This can be done through discussion or as a writing activity. If kids do this as a writing activity, follow up with discussion later. After students have come up with ways they can show respect to their peers, have them choose their favorite way and illustrate it. Have them write a short explanation below their illustration and display their pictures on classroom walls. Anytime a disagreement occurs, find a student's illustration that exemplifies a way to respectfully come to an agreement.
One virtue that can never be ignored is trustworthiness. While many kids automatically display behaviors associated with trustworthiness, it's a great idea to get them thinking about the importance of trusting others and how it applies to teamwork. Ask students why it is important to trust others and behave in such a way that people trust them. Then divide the students into small groups and assign each group a team leader. Give the team leader a figure built of building blocks, such as Legos, and instruct her to keep it hidden from the other members. Give the remaining members the blocks necessary to replicate the figure. Instruct the team leader to verbally direct the other members to rebuild the figure. After the task is completed, discuss the ways the group displayed trustworthiness and why it was important to be able to trust the leader. If time permits, allow other members to take turns as the team leader. Not only is this activity good for teaching about trustworthiness, but it's also great for building listening skills and following directions.
Productive and orderly classrooms need rules. Many times, teachers simply make the rules, post them and expect students to follow them. This is okay, but an even better way to encourage students to follow rules is to allow them to help make them. Ask students what rules they think a classroom needs. List the rules the kids come up with, discuss them and add any the kids forgot. Pick the ones that are most important and make them the class rules. This is a good character development exercise because it makes students think about the rules of good behavior and why the rules are important. When a rule is broken, it's easy to remind the offenders they helped make the rule and then discuss how to refrain from breaking it again.