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 generationon.org.

Anticipatory Set:

Remind the students that they were to have three goals that they would like to achieve through self-discipline. Ask the studetns to "think, pair, share" the goals on their list with a classmate and select one goal to focus on.

• Distribute copies of Handout One; Go for the Goal! Read aloud the quotes. Ask a few students to briefly paraphrase, to restate in their own words, the quotes' meanings.  

"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 could call it character in action."  Vince Lombardi (one of the most famous NFL football coaches of all time) 

"Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power." Lao Tzu (philosopher of ancient China)

"Unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got." Jim Rohn (popular American motivational and business coach)

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort." Jesse Owens (African American track and field athlete, won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany) 

• Ask the learners to complete the handout activity. If time allows, have the students pair and share their writing, or ask for a few volunteers to share it.