Character traits of role models

General

Students learn about role models and are able to describe the characteristics that make a person a role model.

Learning objective

Students will be able to describe the character traits of role models within their family, school, and community.

Introduction

Have students turn and talk with a partner and discuss a person (or people) that they admire, respect, or want to be like as they grow older. You may decide to ask students to share who some of their role models are in the class as they complete their partner discussions.

Instruction

Discuss the term "role model" with the students and explain that a role model is someone who inspires good behavior. This is a person that you want to be like. Give some (possible) character traits of role models and then give some examples of possible role models. Then discuss some (possible) character traits that role models don't have and give examples of some people who aren't good role models. Ask students to drag the character traits of a good role model to the box. As a class, read the description of the individual. Have the class decide if this person is a role model or not. Ask students to explain why or why not. Repeat with two more examples. Be sure to ask students why they are or are not role models. Then discuss police officers and parents and have students circle the character traits that make them role models. Ask students to think about who their role models are and to draw a picture of them. Students then give at least one reason why this person is their role model. Ask if any students want to share who their role model is.

Quiz

Students are given a set of true or false questions to check their understanding of key concepts of the lesson. They are then asked to answer multiple-choice questions about who can be a role model and what character traits a role model would have. They will view two images and decide which one demonstrates the behavior of a role model.

Closing

Discuss the learning goal of describing what a role model is, and encourage students to think about who their role models are. Close the lesson by asking students to stand up if the person described would be a role model.

Teaching tips

You can take some time to point out that role models are not perfect, and that it is possible for a good person to not always be good. You could even argue that some of the best role models are people who were first "bad" role models who have learned a lesson or gone through the difficult job of becoming better. You can also choose to discuss the fact that you can have a "bad" role model or someone who you look up to, but that they aren't demonstrating good behavior (or could be encouraging you to do things that aren't good for your future).