Brief Description: Students will define character words, look for real-life examples of the traits "in action," and write an acrostic poem based on one of these qualities.

Standard Course of Study Goals and Objectives:
Technology: 
1.1 Recognize the influence of technology on life in the U.S.
1.4 Describe the Acceptable Use Policy
2.1 Use technology tools to collect, analyze, and display data.
2.3 Use keyboarding skills to improve speed and accuracy
2.4 Use a word processing application to create and format a document.
3.7 Evaluate information found via telecommunications for appropriateness, content, and usefulness.
Language Arts: 
1.03 Increase Reading, Writing, and vocabulary through wide reading and content area study.
1.04 Use word reference material to identify unknown words.
2.13 Conduct research from a variety of sources.
3.04 Make informed judgments about bias in media and technology.
4.02 Use written language to influence the thinking of others.
4.07 Compose poetry
4.10 Use technology as a tool to enhance and publish a document.
Social Studies: 
2.3 Analyze economic, social, and political situations which involve ethical and moral dilemmas.
7.0 Examine relationship of United States to other nations and to world affairs.
8.2 Analyze how society deals with issues of justice.

Materials/Resources Needed: 

• Newspapers, 

• Internet

• (News sites- ex. USA Today, MSNBC, etc.), 

• Word processing program

• Computer

• Printer

Pre Activities:

1. Students will define vocabulary words. I use this as my vocabulary list for the week: (decency, fairness, honesty, respect, discipline, justice, courage, integrity, compassion, morality, humility, kindness, persistence, responsibility, ........etc.)

2. Put students in cooperative groups of three or four. Assign one of the words to each group. Each group will create and present a brief skit/role-play that illustrates the character trait.

3. Discussed how coverage and recovery from this tragedy would have been different if it had happened years ago....before the availability of the present day technology and the Internet, etc. (Students found that they obviously were able to find more immediate answers on a range of topics much more quickly. They also recognized that public support and help could be organized more quickly because of technology. On the other side of the coin, we decided that technology through cell phones, computers, etc......also what technology made it easier for the terrorists to "pull this off").

4. Students use a rubric to evaluate information found via telecommunications for content and usefulness.  Rubric for Evaluating Web Pages for Primary Grades: http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/edu/rubric1.htm 

Activities:

1. Students will search the Internet news sites for articles about real people of strong character. (Here you can address acceptable use policies by asking them to cite their sources.)

2. Each student will choose one of the people to "spotlight" by creating a collage. (If your students are familiar with "Thinking Maps," a circle map also works well. They might even get together later to compare/contrast with a partner by making a double bubble map.)

3. Students present an oral presentation on their "Hero Spotlight" to the class.  

4. Students will write an acrostic poem using one of the featured vocabulary words. 

5. Final products will be published using a desktop publishing  program such as ClarisWorks/AppleWorks.