Activities, discussion topics, and books to help teach and learn about each month’s character trait.
JANUARY 2023: INTEGRITY
Being committed to a task or purpose, and devoting time and energy to that particular task or purpose.
What does integrity mean to you?
Definition: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.
Synonyms: goodness, honesty, uprightness
In the month of January, we also recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Chinese New Year.
WEEK ONE
New Year’s Day – A time to gather with family and friends to celebrate! You may reminisce about the past year and share hopes and goals for the new year.
Make a family timeline of the past year’s events. Make another timeline of some goals you would like to accomplish in the coming new year.
Create an Integrity mixing bowl. Then make a recipe card for Integrity (your own special recipe). What ingredients do you think are needed? Then discuss what these ingredients will produce. Whenever an action or behavior is produced, write it on a piece of paper and put it in your bowl.
Fireworks in a Jar – Oil/Water Firework Experiment
Need: Warm Water, Oil, Food Coloring
Fill a jar ¾ of the way with warm water. In a separate bowl, add 3-4 Tablespoons of oil. Then add 4 drops of each color of the food coloring to the oil. Use a fork to gently mix the oil and food coloring together. Gently pour the oil mixture into the jar.
Watch what happens!
The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing
Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport
Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller
WEEK TWO
Integrity: “Doing the right thing, even when no one else is watching.”
Honesty Bingo – Make a square grid (either 9 or 16 total squares). Have the whole family come up with ideas to fill in the individual squares.(Ex. “tell the truth”, “pick up litter”, “cheer someone on”, “do an extra chore”).
Then make matching cards and place in a bag. Let child pull out cards and match to the board.
Discuss ways and opportunities to demonstrate the ideas on the card.
Compliment Circle – Have a time once a week where everyone comes together and share ways others have demonstrated integrity.
“Ruthie and the (not so) Teeny Tiny Lie”
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly Dean & James Dean
Eli’s Lie-O-Meter by Sandra Levin
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstain
WEEK THREE
The third Monday of January is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day to recognize and remember his many accomplishments and contributions. It is also a reminder that we should always act and speak with integrity.
Plan a family service project:
+Pick-up trash in a local park or neighborhood.
+Deliver canned goods to a food bank or pantry.
+Make cards to thank and encourage service workers in the community.
+T.H.I.N.K. before you speak!
T- is it true?
H- is it helpful?
I – is it inspiring?
N- is it necessary?
K- is it kind?
Make this a mindset to practice, especially when someone says something unkind.
+Make s’mores and discuss ways to have more integrity.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
Martin Luther King, Jr. by Mary Nihn and Yulia Zolotora
Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins
WEEK FOUR
Chinese New Year – Chinese New Year is a time to welcome good fortune, leave the past behind, and prepare the way for new experiences.
Chinese New Year Candle Holders – Decorate glass candle holders with red tissue paper or red paint. You can cut pieces of red tissue paper and glue them on or paint your candle holder. Allow it to dry completely. Place a tea light inside, and you have a festive light for the new year!
Tangram Puzzles – Take a square piece of cardstock paper. Cut the paper into 5 triangles, a small square, and a parallelogram. Color each shape a different color. See how many shapes and objects you can create.
The 12 Days of Lunar New Year by Jenna Lettice
Playing with Lanterns by Wang Yage
Maisy’s Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins
Wrong is Wrong, even if everyone is doing it.
Right is Right, even if no one is doing it.