Web Activities

UNIT 6: VALUES, BELIEFS, AND CHOICES

Assignment 1 Teaching Suggestions

Before the Assignment

Ask students to define what a value is. Have them also provide examples of things or qualities that can be considered values.

The Assignment

An important aspect of personal growth involves the process of identifying what it is that we value in life. Visit the Power of Personal Values site. In the introductory paragraphs, a definition of values is provided. Put this definition into your own words.

This site also provides a listing of 52 “Common Personal Values.” Choose ten that you feel are of most importance to you. For each, provide a brief discussion of why or how each is value to you.

Then create a poster or PowerPoint Presentation, complete with words and graphics that illustrates your personal values.

During the Assignment

Some students may find it difficult to narrow down the list to ten values. If such is the case, suggest that they not worry about which ten are the most important but rather focus on ten that are of significant importance.

After the Assignment

Provide students with the opportunity to share their PowerPoint presentations.

Assignment 2 Teaching Suggestions

Before the Assignment

Ask students to define what a value is. Have them also provide examples of things or qualities that can be considered values.

The Assignment

As we go through life, we are constantly faced with difficult decisions or dilemmas. How we deal with such situations determines and reveals we and what we are. What is a dilemma? For a complete definition, visit this Internet Philosophy site. According to the definition provided, what are the two main prerequisites for a situation to be considered a dilemma?

This site also provides a listing of 52 “Common Personal Values.” Choose ten that you feel are of most importance to you. For each, provide a brief discussion of why or how each is a value to you. Then create a poster or PowerPoint presentation, complete with words and graphics, that illustrates your personal values.

During the Assignment

Some students may find it difficult to narrow down the list to ten values. If such is the case, suggest that they not worry about which ten are the most important but rather focus on ten that are of significant importance.

After the Assignment

Provide students with the opportunity to share their PowerPoint presentations.

Assignment 3 Teaching Suggestions

Before the Assignment

Ask students to consider why it is that sometimes the simplest things in life give us the most pleasure. Have them provide examples of simple things in their lives that they have come to value.

The Assignment

Many people have used the Internet to publish their poetry or other creative modes of expression. Simple things in life is a poem that you will likely only find on the Internet. The ideas and sentiments shared in the opening verse echo many of the themes developed in this unit:

If your wants and needs are simple
They'll know no bounds or measure
It's the simple little things in life
That bring the greatest pleasure

Visit the site and read the complete poem. Using the three middle verses as a model, write your own poem of the simple things in life that bring you the greatest pleasure.

During the Assignment

Encourage students to follow the links at the bottom of the page and to read more of the poems collected by the Web site owner.

In creating their own poems, students should use the opening and closing verses of the original. Some students may prefer to write their own framing verses

.

After the Assignment

Using the choral reading process, have every student in the class read aloud one verse from their poems.