©2006 All Rights Reserved. Wet Cement Productions, Inc.

Escondido Motor RacewayResponsible - Respect - DepenDable

cRew chief hanDbook

chaRacteR eDucation

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welcome to the esconDiDo motoR Raceway!This character development curriculum was prepared for students by active teachers and principals. We suggest that each character trait would take up to a week to complete. The week could be divided in the following way:

One class session to watch the related video segment from “Auto-B-Good.” Four class periods of discussion, student interaction, and activities which would support and strengthen the understanding of each character trait. Each class session may vary from 10-20 minutes or longer, based on time available.

objectives foR these lessons: Students will:

learn, review and assess what they know about each character traitunderstand how that character trait affects their livesunderstand how the lack of character negatively affects others

Helpful hint:Begin by asking yourself the question, “What can I do during this session to take a student who lacks this character quality to the point of both knowing it and desiring how to acquire it?”

Results of these lessons:Students should

know – to have practical understanding of the traitdesire – to want the trait in their own lifedo – to put the trait into action

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page 3-4 Lap 1 – Responsible

Video: “Growing Responsible” (10:50)page 5-6 Lap 2 – Respect

Video: “Red Card to Respect” (13:05)page 7-8 Lap 3 – DepenDable

Video: “The land of Odds” (10:12)

page 9 mechanics toolbox Additional lesson resources

Index

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legenD/key:Each Crew Chief Handbook (Leader’s Guide) is designed for a specific race – each race is broken into three laps (or lessons). Each lap has the same elements…

Recap: A quick synopsis of the video for each word of the week

unDeR the hooD: Comprehension questions for students

Literal

Implied

Qualifying lap: Featured character trait highlights for lesson prep

Race stRategy: An assortment of related activities that can be incorporated into the overall lesson plan as needed

putting it in geaR: An extra activity for the students to do outside of the classroom

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RESPONSIBLEMy assignment, no excuses, you can count on me

...good references, good jobs

Growing Responsible is the story of Cali taking care of Franklin’s prized flowers. Actually, it is the story of Cali not taking care of the flowers and then blaming others when the flowers died. First of all, she needs to learn that to be responsible, she must do the job she agrees to—and not to pass it off on others. Secondly, she

needs to realize that if the job does not go as planned, to accept any fault and offer to correct it.

Qualifying lap

Give students the opportunity to discuss the following...

My favorite part of the story is...In this story, I saw an example of responsibility when...My favorite responsibility is and why...

Franklin tells us that when we stop making excuses and blaming others, we start being responsible. What was the beginning of Cali’s problems? There are consequences for what we do and what we don’t do. How do you think someone feels when you promised to do something for them but didn’t do it? Has there ever been something similar that has happened to you?

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Under the Hood...What were some of the responsibilities that Cali had when Franklin was away for two weeks?What was Cali’s plan to make things easy for herself?What was the result of not having a plan for watering the flowers?

How do you think Cali felt about responsibilities?How do you think Franklin felt when he saw what had happened to his flowers and shed?How do you think Cali can fix the problem she caused?

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LAP1

Activities:Interview a classmate about responsibility. Ask him/her to define responsible in his/her own words. Ask for an example of responsibility in your classroom.

At home, interview an adult about responsibility. Ask for their definition and an example of responsibility at home.

Based on the definitions you develop, do you consider yourself a responsible person? Pair up and share your answers with a classmate.

In this episode, Cali grew to be more responsible. List three ways you can improve or grow in your responsibility at school or at home.

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putting it in geaR...

With permission from an adult, go on the Internet and find an example of a job application. This could be for a local merchant or service. Look it over and determine if there is a place for a person to show they are a responsible individual. How would you fill it out if you were applying for the job?

Race stRategy

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Check out The Mechanic’s Toolbox:in the back of this booklet!

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Red Card to Respect is the story of EJ getting a red card in the soccer match. That means he was sent off, not allowed to play anymore. Mr. Morgan, the referee, thought that EJ was being very disrespectful to him and to the other players. When EJ actually seemed pleased that Mr. Morgan became injured later in the game,

Franklin knew he had to do something. Luckily, EJ learned quite a lot about Mr. Morgan and learned even more about respect.

Qualifying lap

Give students the opportunity to discuss the following...

My favorite part of the story is...This week, I saw an example of respect when...How it makes you feel when people show you respect...

At the end we see EJ show respect. Take some time to share with your class an example of an older person you respect. Tell us why you respect this person. Take it to the next level and write that person a letter telling them about your respect for them.

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Under the Hood...What was the problem EJ was having on the soccer field?What was the result of the red card?What was the award that EJ won?

What do you think are some of the consequences of “trash talking?”Why do you think EJ didn’t show respect to Mr. Morgan until he knew “how cool he was?”Why is it a good idea to show respect to people we don’t even know?

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LAP2 RESPECTShow high value and consideration to others

...no respect—you lose, show respect—you win!

Activities:Take a few minutes to describe how CJ’s spirit lives on in the way EJ showed respect. Now create and write a story with the same concept but with a setting around your school.

Pair and Share:While playing sports or out at recess, do you see students treating each other with respect?What are specific situations we all need to work on to show respect? How could some students show more respect? Be specific and give examples.

Watch a sporting event with an adult at home. Talk about the examples that you see of respect or disrespect. Examples could be helping another player up off the ground after a play, or a late hit in a football game.

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putting it in geaR...

To be respectful means to honor, esteem, and to hold others in high regard. We often talk at school about showing respect for adults or those who have a position of authority. Brainstorm some reasons why we should show respect to others and write a poem, rap, or rhyme about showing respectful behavior.

Race stRategy

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Check out The Mechanic’s Toolbox:in the back of this booklet!

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The Land of Odds is a story of Johnny’s trip to a land that actually is... very odd. He imagines the entire story after taking a hard bonk on the head from Professor’s new rocket kite. But even though the place is not real, Johnny learns a real lesson: that dependability is not dumb and boring—it is very important.

Qualifying lap

Give students the opportunity to discuss the following...

My favorite part of the story is...This week I saw an example of Dependability when...I consider myself dependable because...

Take a few minutes to discuss this quote: “A real friend is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out.” How can we apply this principle here at school?

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Under the Hood...What does Johnny think the definition of dependable is?Johnny admits he is not dependable. But he says he is...what? He compares himself to the wind in what way?

At the beginning of the episode, Johnny is getting a car wash and says he “loves that squeak, happens every time.”

Why do you think he depends on the car wash doing a good job each time he visits?How did the other cars feel when Johnny is not dependable in bringing what he needed to the picnic?What do you think some of the lessons were that Johnny learned in the Land of Odds?

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LAP3 DEPENDABLEYou can rely on it occurring

…being dependable isn’t boring at all

Activities:Being dependable is often what commercials try to tell us their products are. Brainstorm a list of ways in which students can show they are dependable. Plan and act out a TV or radio commercial advertising how the students in your class can be dependable.

When talking about dependability, we use other words like trust, count on and rely on. What happens when we can’t depend on others to do what we trust them to do? What would happen if we didn’t have dependable people in our community?

Think of an important job you do around the house or at school: mowing the lawn, baby-sitting, delivering newspapers, or even washing cars. Make a flyer that would advertise your job, and describe in a clear way how dependable you are.

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putting it in geaR...For one week keep a daily record of all your responsibilities at home or at school. Include social commitments, homework, household chores, everything. Make sure you are listing things that others depend on you to do. At the end of the week, give yourself a grade on how dependable you were, or in other words, how well you did in carrying out your responsibilities.

Race stRategy

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Check out The Mechanic’s Toolbox:in the back of this booklet!

RESPONSIBLE:...The following books are great examples of being responsible:

Marc Brown, Arthur’s Pet BusinessMarden Dahlstedt, John Patrick Norman McHennessy – The Boy Who Was Always LateAlexandra Day, Frank and ErnestJohn Reynolds Gardiner, Stone FoxNorma B. Green, The Hole in the DikeDennis Smith, Little Fire Engine That Saved the City

RESPECT...These titles are excellent resources on respect:

Betsy Byars, The House of WingsJanice Derby, Are You My Friend?Patricia MacLachlan, Sarah, Plain and TallPeggy Rathmann, Ruby the Copy CatElberta H. Stone, I’m Glad I’m Me

DEPENDABLE...These books are wonderful stories about dependable:

Olive Blake, Mystery of the Lost LetterMargaret Mahy, The Seven Chinese BrothersRichard Scarry, Richard Scarry’s Busiest People EverMarjorie Weinman Sharmat, Taking Care of MelvinDennis Smith, Little Fire Engine That Saved the City

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MECHANICS TOOLBOX:

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NOTES:

LAP3 DepenDable:

LAP2 Respect:

LAP1 Responsible:

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Wet Cement Productions, Inc.“…so little time to leave lasting impressions!”

©2006 All Rights Reserved. Wet Cement Productions, Inc.

This award winning series presents 36 different character traits that will captivate, entertain and educate students – of all ages. It

is the goal of Wet Cement Productions to create products like Auto-B-Good™ that leave

positive lasting impressions.

We would love to hear your story about Auto-B-Good™ and the difference it’s making in your

community, school and students’ lives.

For comments, additional resources or updates visit:

www.studentsbgood.com