1. What’s Your Character? What’s Your Character? What's Your Character? What’s Your Character?

2. A character is… …somebody in a book, play, or movie. Character is also… …the set of qualities that make somebody distinctive (especially qualities of mind or feeling). (from http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861695812/character.html)

3. This week’s character trait is Empathy Definition: The ability to feel another person’s emotions as your own (from Webster’s School Dictionary, 1986) How do you treat people when you understand how they feel? (Pair & Share) Think of a time when you were empathetic to someone else’s feelings.

4. Do you have empathy??? Take a look at “Don’t Laugh at Me” by Mark Willis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVjbo8dW9c8&feature=avmsc2 Do you “see yourself” in this video?

5. The facts about bullying… U.S. public school students (12-18 yrs.) reported that 32.0% were bullied at school (2009). Let’s break it down! 21% were made fun of, called names, or insulted. 18.3% were the subject of rumors. 11.4% were pushed, shoved, tripped, spit on. 6.2% were threatened with harm. Every number was higher in middle school!!!! (Some were doubled!) (U.S. Dept. of Ed. Institution of Ed. Sciences http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/crimeindicators2009/tables/table_11_1.asp)

6. Using what you have learned about empathy and yourself, create a product that celebrates our diversity and discourages bullying. Ideas: t-shirt design, poster/flyer/sign, bumper sticker video/commercial, song or rap, button, hat design Your Challenge:

7. Be a GRIZZLY HERO! The next time someone is being bullied, you have the power. Will you laugh at them, or show your empathy and TAKE A STAND, LEND A HAND?