Social Emotional Learning: Courage {Lesson Plans and Activities}

After several years in the classroom, I realized that my students needed instruction on HOW to be kind, respectful, and all the things I was asking them to be. I developed these units to support teachers in teaching and rewarding great character in the classroom! Building a classroom community is one of the most important things teachers can do and it greatly impacts our students academically! This unit on COURAGE is part of a year-long curriculum for teaching students how to have great character! However, this unit could also be used as a stand-alone resource for teaching all about being courage in the classroom. :)

This unit is part of a BUNDLE that includes TEN units on character education at a discounted price.

Lesson 1-What Does Courage Mean?
To introduce courage, you'll watch a short video and song about courage. Then you'll discuss courage and bravery, and create a class anchor chart. Finally, students will draw and write about courage.

Lesson 2-How Do We Show Courage
Your class will review courage, and then work as a whole group to sort scenarios as having courage and NOT having courage. This allows for a great class conversation about how to show bravery in different situations. Then students will draw and write 3 examples of courage.

Lesson 3-What Things Scare You?
Your class will spend some time discussing things that scare them, like spiders or heights. You'll take some time to share things YOU are afraid of. This is a great time to discuss things that are GOOD to be afraid of (like wasps or poisonous snakes.) This lesson allows you to discuss that even grown ups are afraid of things, and it's okay to be afraid! What's important is that we face our fears!

Lesson 4-What Things Scare Us At School?
After discussing things that scare you, you'll move on to things that are scary at school. Things like speaking in front of peers, trying something new, and taking a test. THEN students will discuss why these things are positive and good for us! After the class discussion, students will draw and write about scary things at school and why they are good for us.

This Resource Also Includes:
-A Poem about Courage
-Courageous or Not Drawing/Writing Page
-That's Scary Writing Page (4 versions)
-Write a Courage Acrostic Poem
-Parent Letter about Courage

Other Volume Two Units
Honesty
Gratitude
Compassion
Creativity
Perseverance
Mindfulness
Optimism
Self-Discipline
Sportsmanship

Volume One Units
Kindness
Fairness
Respect
Self-Control
Conflict Resolution
Responsibility
Empathy
Self-Awareness
Leadership
Giving Back