*Trustworthiness

Small School Gathering Sept. 2010

TRUSTWORTHINESS

1. Welcome the group and get acquainted by passing out baggies of colored goldfish crackers. Go around the circle as each child selects a cracker and tells something about himself. For example, red crackers—tell a food you like, orange crackers—tell an activity you like, etc. Repeat until all the crackers are gone. Kids may eat the cracker after they tell something.

2. Explain that this month’s character trait is Trustworthiness. Explain that it means to be dependable, reliable, to be counted on. “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.”

3. Read the book __Stellaluna__ by Janell Cannon. Discuss ways in which Stellaluna was trustworthy.

4. Show a chart divided into two columns, labeled trustworthy and untrustworthy. Prepare cards with possible emotions and draw an “emoticon” to illustrate each emotion. Brainstorm emotions that describe how you would feel if someone acts in a trustworthy way (happy, glad, safe, cheerful) and how you would feel if someone acts in an untrustworthy way (sad, disappointed, upset, frustrated). Have students sort the cards into proper categories, and tape into the proper column on the chart.

5. Trust Walk. Divide students into two teams and have each team stand in a line. Place a blindfold around the first student's eyes on each team. Place some obstacles along the path that the children must walk around. Place several objects to be pick up along the path in front of the the children with the blindfolds. The second student in line will give the first student directions for picking up the objects while going around the obstacles. Each child takes a turn wearing the blindfold and giving directions. Discuss thoughts and feelings related to the completing the activity.