Responsibility:

Able to be trusted or depended upon to carry out duties in a timely manner. A responsible person is accountable, dependable and trustworthy.

“Provision for others is the fundamental responsibility of human life.” Woodrow Wilson, 28th US President

Practical Applications of Responsibility:

• Complete homework
• Complete work around home without prompting
• Be helpful before you are asked
• Take care of possessions
• Be accountable to friends and family

Activities:

Ranking Traits-Ask your student to take a piece of paper and rip it into ten pieces. Have him write a phrase that describes himself on each piece of paper — encourage him to be honest. After he has completed this task have him rank the traits in order of what he likes most about himself to what he likes least. When he is done ask him what he thinks about his character traits. Next ask him to remove one of the traits and ask him how he feels about himself with the lack of the trait. Next ask him to remove another and another until six of the traits have been removed. Continue to discuss how your student feels about themself with the lack of the traits. Tell the students to take their traits back and then discuss what they have learned about themself as they completed this activity.

Encourage Responsibility- Make a list of household jobs that your student can do to develop the character trait of responsibility. Look for possible ways that you can turn this character trait of responsibility into a service learning project.

Service Learning Ideas:

Develop a volunteer service program- Identify a local problem (e.g., public saftey, environmental issues, crimes, vandalism). Conduct research about the problem and alternative solutions by accessing written material and interviewing local legislators, officials, citizens, and others.

Educate Preschool Children- Help younger students understand how history relates to events, people and places of other times. Choose historical figures that exemplify responsibility.

Causes and effects of homelessness- Visit a homeless shelter and discuss their concerns and needs. Organize a collection drive that meets the needs of the homeless in the community. Develop the character trait of responsibility by becoming a person that makes a difference in the lives of homeless people.

Create a Hunger Chart- Create a statistical chart to compare national and local statistics on hunger. Look at nutritional value of foods and study the effects of hunger on student achievement. Teach your community to make responsible choices about foods they choose to feed their families and know what foods help in the fight against hunger.