This can and should be done not just a half hour set aside a day or on Fridays, but intertwined within your classroom environment and clearly a part of each lesson taught. It may mean thinking outside the box, looking deeper for ideas online or in articles or book, reaching out to others for help, but it will be well worth it.
Below are just a few ideas with a project based learning approach if you wish to take part. ( I have been reading Ron Clark's book, The End of Molasses Classes and in explaining core principles and values two things he said stuck with me:
" Make it HAPPEN" and "push yourself to be innovative beyond your imagination"
Over the next 7 weeks, review the 7 habits with your students and parents. (The Annotated Teachers Edition of The Leader in Me Activity Guide,which was purchased for each teacher K-2, is a great start to understanding the habits at a deeper level and seeing how they can be integrated into other subjects).
At the end of the 7 weeks students or classrooms may enter the " I'm a Leader Inside and Out" project using their understanding of the Habits and how it shows in and through them to create a poster that tells others how they lead. (Project Based Learning)
So, what is project-based learning? One definition of project-based learning is a meaning-oriented and student-centered instructional approach that allows students to discover content, engage in higher-level thinking, make personal connections, construct their own meaning, and reflect on what they have learned.
So, to begin planning for your Project Based Learning Project start with a BIG Question.
What makes you 7 Habit Strong on the inside and out?
Next, develop strong standard based lessons across the curriculum that help the students to discover the answer to this question, make connections to their own actions, define the habits in their own language, and reflect on what they have learned before they create their final project to show others the true meaning of being Habit Strong.
Some ideas for doing this are listed below... but there is no one way to create these lessons. It must first be built and taught through your classroom environment. Then, taught in an engaging manner that helps the students to discover a deeper understanding of each habit.
- Weekend News (Write to inform) where the students must report on something that they did or saw over the weekend and what habit it represented and how it affected others around them. (Helps them make personal connections to the 7 Habits) Here is a sample scoring key.
- Read about or research people to see what leadership skills they showed and which habits they had on the inside and out. ( I watched the movie this break, Concussion and Will Smith played the Dr. (based on a true story) who fought all obstacles to bring knowledge and safety to others. It was not easy, but it was the right thing to do. He was Habit strong on the inside and out!.. What person would appeal to your students to study... maybe the boy who started the lemonaide stand http://www.alexslemonade.org/about-alexs-lemonade-stand-foundation-childhood-cancer, or kid president, or who else.. start looking.. think outside the box.. be innovative! (Thea used one last year I think it was called Sarah? Tap into her nugget of knowledge)
- Use lots of literature as you ask and answer questions and discover the author's purpose to develop a deeper understanding of the 7 Habits. (Check out the Professional Library Section just created).. don't be afraid to read deeper books with your students. (Salt in My Shoes by Michael Jordan's sister, Charlie Anderson, Red Balloon, Fly Away Home, The Mitten Tree are a few that come to mind.
- Create or search for songs for each of the habits. Tap into the different learning style of your students. (Visual, Auditory, etc.) (Paula's class sings ones for all or most of the habits)
- Even Mathematical... think hard and see how the 7 habits apply to math. How can you develop Think Win Win in math? Maybe: different ways to solve the same problem, more than one word that means the same thing... subtract, take away, difference?
- Act out skits depicting the 7 habits. (We did this at our first training)
- Utilize a new leadership tool with your class as you dive deeper into reviewing the habits. Stop and Think Chart, Synergizer, Circle of Control to name a few.
What are you waiting for... get with some fellow teachers & coaches, start looking up ideas (but be sure to make them your own... better than ever.. awesome enough to make an impact on your students... innovative.. (in other words.. better than TPT, can't be carried out with a worksheet or maybe even better!)
Project Based Learning Poster Guidelines: "I'm a Leader Inside and Out" project using their understanding of the Habits and how it shows in and through them to create a poster that tells others how they too can lead.
1. Entries may be created by individual students, groups or classrooms after developing a deeper understanding of each of the 7 habits. (7 Weeks)
2. All projects must be created at school. (others may come in to assist)
3. 8 x 10 (landscape or portrait, any color, any type of paper or material)
4. Any medium may be used (crayons, pencils, markers, paint, etc)
5. Must be turned in on time and meet all guidelines. Due Date: Feb. 19
This is not a contest... it is a project based learning activity (see definition above).. all who take part gain more than a certificate or a prize... they gain a deeper understanding of the principles that help the leader in them shine through and the privilege to teach others how to be habit strong on the inside and out! (and the final projects will displayed in a fun and unique way)
