Heroes and Villains

Resource Overview:

In a nation founded on constitutional principles such as individual liberty and consent of the governed, civic virtue must be central to all civic education. To teach civic virtue is to help preserve our republic by developing the character of students. This civic resource avoids shallow topics, inviting teachers and students to dive straightforwardly into robust, history-based topics. Through rich narratives, critical questions, meaningful discussions, and personal application, teachers and students will examine the civic virtue assumptions of our nation’s Founders and their relevance today.

Educator Facilitation Guide

Special Features:

• 24 narratives that convey stories of individuals who faced decisive moments in which to practice virtue or vice – including Benedict Arnold, Clara Barton, Frederick Douglass, and more.
• Journal exercises that encourage deep reflection of individual students’ hearts and minds.
• “Virtue in Action” supplements provide ideas and activities for students to practice habits of civic virtue in their schools and communities.
• Cross-curricular connections make it easy for faculty and staff to work together toward the same goals within the context of their own classrooms.
• Engaging videos that provide additional context in a different medium meeting the needs of diverse classrooms.

Teachers Say:

“These lessons serve a vital purpose and prompts very interesting conversations that connect past events to current events and to students themselves. Listening to the students describe their perspectives about these virtues was eye opening and a great way to get to know the students in depth.” Wendy Wuenker, Florida Educator

 

“All schools, at any level, can be enriched by character education.” Kathy Hagee, California Educator

 

“The lessons were valuable because they made the students reevaluate their own ethics. Although many of our students are “good” people, these lessons help reinforce the virtues and standards that we would like our students to embrace and display as citizens. – Pilot Test Educator