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Ethical Engagement
Ages 6 to 7Systems / Engagement
Acting on what you believe, at the size you can manage.
Let’s Experience It
Choden saw crayons on the floor after art time. She could leave them there. Someone else might pick them up. But Choden picked them up herself. She put them in the box. Then she saw a classmate drop his papers. Choden helped pick them up. “Thanks, Choden!” he said with a smile. Choden felt good inside. Helping was a good choice!
What’s Happening?
Choden made good choices. She saw things that needed to be done. She did them without being asked. This is called being responsible. Cleaning up the crayons helped her whole class. Now everyone can find the crayons next time. Helping her classmate made him feel cared for. Good choices help us and help others too.
Being kind is a good choice. We can be kind in many ways. We can say nice words. We can share our things. We can smile at others. We can include someone who is alone. Every day, we can choose to be kind. Kind choices make the world better. They make people feel happy and safe.
Helping is also a good choice. We can help at school and at home. At school, we can help clean up after activities. We can help a friend who is struggling. At home, we can help with chores. We can help set the table or feed a pet. When we help, we make things easier for everyone. We show that we care. We are part of a team. Every little bit of helping matters!
Why It Matters
When you make good choices, good things happen. Your classroom stays clean. Your friends feel cared for. Your family has help. You make the world a little bit better. One good choice leads to another!
Good choices also make you feel good inside. When Choden helped, she felt proud. She knew she did the right thing. Making good choices builds good character. It shows who you are. You are someone who is kind and helpful. That feels great!
Try It Yourself
Be a helper this week! Each day, find one way to help without being asked. You could clean up something that’s messy. You could help someone carry their things. You could say something kind to someone. You could hold the door open for someone. Keep track of your helpful choices. Draw or write about one helpful thing you did each day. At the end of the week, look at all your good choices! Notice how helping makes you feel inside. Notice how it makes others feel too!
Remember
You can make good choices every day!
Being kind, helping others, and cleaning up are all good choices.
When you help, everyone benefits.
Good choices make you feel proud and make the world better!
Check yourself
13 questions on this topic. Nothing is saved and nothing is
sent anywhere.
You see trash on the playground. What can you do?
Picking up trash helps keep our playground nice for everyone! This is taking responsibility for our shared spaces. When we all help take care of our school, it's a better place for everyone. Small actions make a big difference!
Your job this week is to pass out papers in class. What does being a helper teach you?
Having a classroom job teaches us that everyone can help and everyone's help matters! This is being responsible and caring for your community. When everyone does their part, the classroom runs smoothly and everyone benefits. You're an important part of the team!
You see someone drop their lunch on the ground. Their face looks sad. What is a kind choice?
Helping someone when they need it is a kind and brave choice! This is compassion in action - not just feeling sorry for someone, but actually doing something to help. When we make kind choices, we make the world a better place, one action at a time.
When you're kind to someone, they often feel happy and might be kind to someone else. What is this called?
Kindness spreads like ripples in water! When you're kind, that person feels good and might be kind to someone else, who might be kind to another person. This is how kindness grows and grows. Your one kind action can help many people! This shows how we're all connected and affect each other.
You find a lost toy on the playground. What's the right thing to do?
Taking a lost item to a teacher helps the person who lost it get it back! They might be very sad without their toy. Doing the right thing even when no one is watching shows good values. You can help reunite someone with their toy!
You see trash on the ground at the park. What can you do?
Picking up trash helps keep our park clean for everyone! Even if you didn't drop it, you can help. This is ethical engagement - taking action to make things better. Small actions like this show you care about your community!
In Tibet, people leave food and water out for wild animals. Why is this kind?
In Tibet, people care for wild animals because they value all life! This shows compassion extends beyond just people to all living things. When we help animals, we show we care about the world around us!
You can tell the truth or lie to avoid getting in trouble. What should you do?
Telling the truth, even when it's hard, is being honest and brave! Lying might keep you out of trouble for a moment, but truth builds trust. People can count on you when you're honest. This is integrity - doing what's right!
You hear kids being mean to someone. What can you do?
Standing up for someone being hurt is brave and kind! You can tell the kids to stop, help the person, or get a grown-up. Even when it's hard, helping others who are being hurt is the right thing to do. You can make a difference!
Why is it important to turn off lights when you leave a room?
Turning off lights saves energy! Making energy can affect our planet, so saving it helps. Small actions like this show you care about the world. When everyone does small things, it makes a big difference!
Your class is collecting food for families who need it. Why should you help?
Sharing with families who need food is compassion in action! Everyone deserves to eat. When you donate, you help people you may never meet. This is ethical engagement - using your actions to help others and make the world better!
You promised to help your friend but now you want to do something else. What should you do?
Keeping promises shows you're trustworthy! When you say you'll do something, people count on you. Even when something better comes up, keeping your word is important. This is integrity - doing what you said you'd do!
What happens when everyone in a class is kind and helpful?
When everyone is kind and helpful, the whole classroom is better! People feel safe to try new things and make mistakes. Learning is easier when you're happy. This is how our actions create the world we live in - everyone benefits from kindness!
Ethical Engagement at other ages
The same topic, written for older and younger children. Worth a look when
you are judging how far to take it.