Our wellbeing focus for this term is Character Strengths and the school value of Growth. We are exploring three main questions across the school.
What are character strengths?
How can you spot them in others?
How can we use our strengths to grow?
Over the coming newsletters we will share what classes are learning as they investigate strengths.
Here is a little background information on Strengths.
Character strengths are things that we are good at, we get energy from and we are self-motivated to use.
The Values in Action Framework (VIA) https://www.viacharacter.org/ has identified 6 overarching virtues all humans possess (courage, temperance, transcendence, humanity, wisdom and justice). The way in which these 6 virtues are enacted is through what psychologists call our character strengths. Our character strengths are the way in which we put our virtues into action.
Grade 5/6 Brelis
Grade 5/6 Brelis started by exploring the vocabulary of the 6 virtues that we all possess. They unpacked which strengths we use to enact the virtues. The students investigated the synonyms and antonyms of the words; creating diagrams representing the vocabulary of virtues and strengths.
Using this knowledge, the class then watched an animation called Lili, and went looking for evidence of the virtues of Transcendence and Temperance. The strengths of prudence, humility, humour, gratitude, hope, self-regulation, just to name a few were found as they watched the clip. Some rich discussion was had!
1/2 Parker
Grade 1/2 Parker have been looking at the strength of bravery, through the picture book, The Very Brave Bear. The students created artworks of their own brave bears and wrote about a time when they were very brave.
The class also read, The Little Cute Penguin and discussed the message of being yourself and being proud of your own strengths. Following this discussion, the class made their own very cute penguins.