SUBJECT: Writing, reading and religion
GRADE LEVEL(S): 4TH- 8TH

OBJECTIVES:
Help students focus on their positive traits.
Help students identify with people in different vocations
Practice reading comprehension skills
Practice writing an expository paragraph

TIME:
Older group: 45 Minutes
Younger groups: 2-30 minute periods

MATERIALS:
Chalkboard
Unlined paper
Kids Explore American Catholic Heritage books
Attached Similar Characteristics Worksheet

ACTIVITY:
1. Model the lesson by drawing a sketch of the teacher on the board and listing positive personality characteristics (ex: generous, thoughtful, athletic, honest) and likes (ex: camping, piano, dancing, basketball) with the students help.
2. Read to the class a vocation story from Kids Explore book pages 109-132
3. Help the children find five or six positive items about this person. Example: Brother Simon’s story on pages 122-124 - Characteristics: Happy, prayerful, athletic, thoughtful, musical, courageous, hard working; Likes: Camping, scouting, fishing, riding a bike, music, and doing thing with his family
4. Have students find characteristics/likes that occur in both lists and circle these on the board
5. Model how you want the children to share their research results. For Example: Brother Simon and I have a lot of things in common. We are both musical, prayerful, hard working and enjoy camping. Brother Simon shows his musical talent by doing raps and I show mine by dancing. Brother Simon enjoyed camping with his family and so do I. Brother Simon likes to cover his head with his hood and pray. I also like to have a quiet time to pray. Brother Simon works hard helping others and I work hard teaching my students. I am proud to be like Brother Simon.
6. Have students make a simple sketch of themselves on unlined paper and list five to six of their own positive characteristics/likes. They may work with a partner for help on ideas.
7. Have students read several vocation stories from pages 112-132.
8. Have students list five or six items for one of the people that they share characteristics/likes with in the vocation chapter.
9. Have students share characteristics/likes that they have in common with people in the book. The attached worksheet is one way to do this.

EXTENSION:
This activity could help children in preparing an autobiography later.

Similar Characteristic Worksheet

NAME___________________________________
DATE___________________________________

_________________________ and I have a lot of things in common. We are __________________, _____________________, and ________________________.

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Concluding sentence: