Every Child is Special – Character Development
Unit 1
Foundation – Year 6
The Character Development Program nurtures virtues and habits essential for personal growth, emotional resilience and meaningful relationships. Through guided lessons, reflective practices and consistent application, students learn to navigate life’s challenges with integrity, kindness and determination.
The program prepares students to thrive in all areas of life, fostering a deep sense of purpose, resilience and commitment to personal and collective growth.
Free Starter Lessons
Year Overview
Foundation Year
Unit Overview
This unit is designed to introduce Foundation students to key concepts of self-discipline, reflection, and kindness. Through a series of interactive lessons, students will explore the meaning of self-discipline, learn how to recognise and manage their emotions, and understand how reflection can improve their behaviour and learning. The unit highlights the importance of making mistakes as a natural part of growth, encouraging students to view mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of kindness and gratitude, learning how to express appreciation and perform acts of kindness in daily life. Real-life examples will help students connect these concepts to the world around them. By the end of the unit, students will have built essential character traits such as making thoughtful choices, learning from experiences, and showing kindness and gratitude to others.
Features & Real Life Exemplars
Features
- Animated flipbook
- Audio and video clips
- Animations
Real Life Exemplars
- Thomas Edison (Lesson 3)
- Michael Jordan (Lesson 4)
Lessons and Resources
Lessons
- 9 Week Unit
- Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks
- Week 9 –Personal Reflection is completed by students
Resources
- Instructional Teaching Guide
- Student Workbook
- Unit Overview
- Personal Reflection
- Posters
- Professional Learning Modules
Year 1 – Year 2
Unit Overview
In this unit, Year 1 and 2 students will explore key concepts that support personal growth: self-discipline, kindness, gratitude, passion, curiosity, belief, and grit. Through a variety of hands-on activities, real-life exemplars, and reflective exercises, students will learn to harness these traits to set goals, overcome challenges, and build positive character. Students will engage in activities such as goal-setting, writing letters of kindness and gratitude, exploring passions through interactive games, and learning how belief and perseverance contribute to personal growth. By the end of the unit, students will have developed strategies to manage their emotions, set and achieve personal goals, and recognise the power of persistence and kindness in their daily lives.
Student Activities
- Lesson 1: Set a Goal
- Lesson 2: Showing Kindness and Gratitude
Features & Real Life Exemplars
Features
- Animated flipbook
- Audio and video clips
- Animations
Real life exemplars
- Walt Disney (Lesson 1)
Lessons and Resources
Lessons
- 9 Week Unit
- Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks
- Week 9 –Personal Reflection is completed by students
Resources
- Instructional Teaching Guide
- Student Workbook
- Unit Overview
- Personal Reflection
- Posters
- Professional Learning Modules
Year 3 – Year 4
Unit Overview
In Years 3–4, students will discover how effort, time, and consistency play vital roles in achieving their goals. Through engaging activities and real-life exemplars, they will explore the concepts of self-discipline, gratitude, curiosity, belief, and grit, with a particular focus on how consistent effort and the time spent practising a skill can lead to growth and success. This unit introduces key ideas such as how to use time effectively, the value of consistent effort, and the importance of perseverance when challenges arise. By connecting these concepts to relatable activities and inspiring role models, students will be encouraged to apply these lessons in their own lives to build skills, overcome obstacles, and grow in confidence.
Features and Real Life Exemplars
Features
- Animated flipbook
- Audio and video clips
- Animations
Real Life Exemplars
- Alexander Graham Bell (Lesson 1)
Lessons and Resources
Lessons
- 9 Week Unit
- Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks
- Week 9 –Personal Reflection is completed by students
Resources
- Instructional Teaching Guide
- Student Workbook
- Unit Overview
- Personal Reflection
- Posters
- Professional Learning Modules
Year 5 – Year 6
Unit Overview
This unit empowers students to explore and develop essential character traits that foster personal growth, resilience, and leadership. Through real-life exemplars, engaging activities, and reflective exercises, students will deepen their understanding of self-discipline, kindness, curiosity, belief, grit, and service. By cultivating these traits, they will learn how to overcome challenges, pursue their passions, and make a positive impact on their communities. The unit emphasises a Growth Mindset, encouraging students to see mistakes as opportunities for mastering learning and to actively build skills that strengthen character.
Special Inclusions
In lesson 2, students learn the beginning stages of a classroom meeting (ie: forming a circle, using a talking tool/stick to determine the speaker, giving and receiving compliments)
Features and Real Life Exemplars
Features
- Animated flipbook
- Audio and video clips
- Animations
Real Life Exemplars
- Michael Jordan (Lesson 1)
Lessons and Resources
Lessons
- 9 Week Unit
- Lessons are 20 minutes and delivered once a week for eight weeks
- Week 9 –Personal Reflection is completed by students
Resources
- Instructional Teaching Guide
- Student Workbook
- Unit Overview
- Personal Reflection
- Posters
- Professional Learning Modules