Character Circles

Character Circles is an educational board game specifically designed to challenge students to think critically about important character issues. They will learn what constitutes good character (and bad character), and what character means in terms of the quality of relationships with family, friends, and adults at school.

There are five dimensions of character built into the game:

• Honesty
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Respect
• Caring

Players pick cards that describe behaviours by fictitious students in three different settings -with friends, in the classroom, and at home. There are three levels of play, and the teacher can select the level(s) that are most appropriate for the students playing the game.

At the first level, players read the cards and must decide whether the behaviour on the card shows good or bad character. At the second level players also must decide of which character trait the behaviour is an example. At the third level the players describe (for examples of bad character) what they would do instead in order to show good character. Additional cards ask players to give examples of good character demonstrated by themselves or someone they know. An example would be to give an example of showing respect to a member of their family at home. Players also encounter ‘good luck’ and ‘bad luck’ cards that help or hinder their quest for point certificates. With really bad luck, they may be sent to the ‘Bad Character Detention Center’ and lose points there. The character issues in the game have been carefully selected so that they represent common beliefs held by school administrators, parents, and religious organisations in this country. The specific examples reflect the character traits listed above.

Grades: 2 – 5 (also high interest material for older special needs students).

Objectives:

• Understand the concept of character and commonly accepted character traits.
• Learn that character is judged by a person’s actions, not by claims of good character.
• Learn specific ways of showing good character at home, in school, and with friends.
• Relate their own real life issues to their experience in the game.
• Learn critical thinking skills by developing suggestions for showing good character.