This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to www.generationon.org.

Antitcipatory Set:

Write the following quote in a display area and read it aloud to the class. Discuss.

"Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind -- you couild call it character in action." Vince Lombardi

• Remind the students that their homework was to think of one goal that they would like to accomplish that would require them to exercise self-discipline. Ask for volunteers to share their goal. Caution the students that the goal should be short term -- one that can be successfully completed during the remainder of the school year -- and attainable.
• Review the chart created in the previous lesson of the steps and strategies of a self-discipline plan.
• Have each student write one goal and at least three steps or stratgeies to begin and persevere in successfully meeting the goal. They may write in their character education journals.