*Respect for self includes avoiding tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, turning down rides with others who have been drinking, etc.

The above list of character traits is not given to the students before playing the game. Part of the learning experience is for the students to come up with their own list based on their experiences in the game and in life in general.

In the game, the President of the United States has just announced a national competition among schools for "character teams". Schools compete to come up with the best team - a group of students with sterling character. The players are in the role of school principals, and they try to field the best possible team. The fictitious students face a series of moral dilemmas, and the players must rate their character based on how they handle the dilemmas. Players can then improve their teams by throwing the students with bad character off the teams. The situations that are judged by the players are not obvious and require careful thought.

The moral issues in the game have been carefully selected so that they represent common beliefs held by school administrators, parents, and religious organizations in this country. The specific examples reflect the character traits listed above.


Grades 5-8 (also high interest material for older special needs students)

SCANS Skills Addressed:

   Foundation Skills: Thinking Skills, Personal Qualities, Basic Skills
   Workplace Competencies: Interpersonal Skills, Information

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the concept of character and commonly accepted character traits.

2. Learn that character is judged by a person's actions, not by claims of good character.

3. Understand the concept of a moral dilemma.

4. Learn how decisions to resolve moral dilemmas relate to character.

5. Relate their own real life issues to their experience in the game.

6. By playing the principal, develop understanding for the position
   of the school in prohibiting certain behaviors.

7. Learn critical thinking skills by evaluating the behavior of
   the fictitious students.