Interactive Program Teaches Elementary Students Good Character Traits

Respect. Responsibility. Caring. Fairness. Citizenship. Trustworthy.

These were the six character traits the students at learned about while using each one as a clue to solve the mystery of “The case of the missing mom,” part of a character education exercise that took place at the school Tuesday morning, another step in the district’s

The students took part in this interactive and entertaining program called “Inspector Iwannano Character Show” which was presented by Derek McDonald of Mobile Ed Productions, Inc. who played the role of the inspector. He entertained the youngsters with silly voices and silly props, games, and even some magic all which had vital character lessons interjected within.

Through several demonstrations, which students took part in, McDonald showed the children the importance of all these traits. In one case, he asked two students and one adult to participate in a contest which proved to be unfair as the adult was given a balloon much too large to be blown up quickly. Following this demonstration of an unfair situation, McDonald told the students that if they see someone being treated unfairly they should not pick fun at them.

Other activities involved learning when to trust someone and to not immediately trust a stranger he or she has just met. Through the use of a fun flag-making contraption, he taught the students why it’s important to be good citizens.  

All the activities led to the conclusion of the exercise - the solving of the mystery, with the answer being “Coal is the mother of all diamonds.”  

McDonald explained that the way one becomes a diamond character is the same way a piece of coal becomes a diamond, it is shaped and molded.

“Everyday when we wake up we ask ourselves if we want to be the coal character or the diamond character,” he told students and when he asked which one they would prefer to be,  McDonald received an enthusiastic answer of “diamond” from the students.