Mission Statement
It is the mission of Learning for Life to enable young people to become responsible individuals by teaching positive character traits, career development, leadership, and life skills so they can make ethical choices and achieve their full potential.

Vision Statement
Learning for Life strives to be the foremost co-educational youth
program for character and career development.

What is Learning for Life?
Learning for Life is an educational program designed to meet the needs of youth and schools. It helps youth meet the challenge of growing up by teaching character and good decision-making skills and then linking those skills to the real world.

Developed by professional educators and child development experts, the age-appropriate and grade-specific lesson plans of the Learning for Life program have been praised for their ability to get youth involved through the use of such teaching techniques as role playing, small group discussions, and reflective and dilemma exercises.

Learning for Life offers six programs designed to support schools and community-based organizations in their efforts to prepare youth to successfully handle the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. The seven programs focus on character development and career education. Learning for Life programs help youth develop social and life skills, assist in character and career development, and help youth formulate positive personal values. It prepares youth to make ethical decisions that will help them achieve their full potential.

• School based programs that utilize curriculum for grade K-12 as well as a component for Special Needs.
  Seekers (K-grade 2)
  • Discoverers (grades 3 and 4)
  • Challengers (grades 5-6)
  • Champions (special needs)
  • Builders (7th and 8th Grade)
  • Navigators (High school grades

Learning for Life Lesson Plans

Seekers/Discoverers/Challengers Programs - Starting Out Right
The Seekers program is for kindergarten through second grade youth. Grades three and four are part of the Discoverers. Students in fifth and sixth grade are in the Challengers program.
There is curriculum for each grade level contained in a Teacher's Edition. These lessons are designed by educators to reinforce social, ethical, and academic skills in areas such as critical and creative thinking, ethical decision making, interpersonal relationships, practical living skills, building self-worth, writing and other language arts, and participating citizenship. A Student Workbook for each grade with activities for each lesson plan is also available.

Seekers' Program (Kindergarten--2nd Grades)
The Seekers' Program offers an integrated approach to character development designed for kindergarten through 2nd grade youth. The program blends character development, life skills, academic learning, and outdoor experiences into a comprehensive program geared to help students successful handle the complexities of contemporary society, reinforce social skills, critical and creative thinking, ethical decision making, conflict resolution, and build their self-esteem. The 8 core character traits promoted in the Seekers' Program are: 1) Respect, 2) Responsibility, 3) Honesty/Trust, 4) Caring/Fairness, 5) Perseverance, 6) Self-Discipline, 7) Courage, and 8) Citizenship, A group of Life Skills lesson plans with themes like Safety and Classic Literature are also included.

Curricula books for each grade level consists of 61 lessons plans, all age-appropriate and grade specific. Lessons focus on themes such as "Accepting Consequences," "Gangs," "Meeting Deadlines," "Respecting Differences," and "Sticking to What's Right." Through reflection activities in each lesson, students engage in analyzing their behaviors. Lessons are easily integrated into core curricula subjects. Each lesson plan also includes a "Home/Family Activity Worksheet" which teachers send to the student's parent/guardian as an extension activity to reinforce the lesson plan in the home environment.

The Seekers Program has its own recognition plan that includes honor charts and 15 colorful stickers for student participation

Other valued-added features of the Seekers' Program includes: outdoor experiences, community speakers, field trips, and teacher training.

Discoverers' Program (3rd--4th Grades)
The Discoverers' Program combines character development, life skills, academic learning, and outdoor experiences specifically designed for 3rd and 4th grade youth. It mirrors the Seeker's Program by providing an integrated approach to character development. The age appropriate, grade specific lesson plans focus on the same 8 character traits as the Seekers' Program: 1) Respect, 2) Responsibility, 3) Honesty/Trust, 4) Caring/Fairness, 5) Perseverance, 6) Self-Discipline, 7) Courage and 8) Citizenship. Life Skills with topics on Youth Protection, Hobbies and Art lesson plans are also part of the Discoverers Program.

Each of the 3rd and 4th grade books has 61 lessons plans focusing on many of the same themes as the Seekers' Program; however, lesson plans progress in difficulty and cognitive level. Lessons focus on critical thinking, conflict resolution, perseverance, courage, interpersonal skills, and ethical decision making. A "Home/Family Activity Worksheet" is included which each lesson to the lesson plan at the home.

To further enhance the Discoverers' Program, each book contains an interactive CD-Rom game for students titled "SuperSafe." The game presents a series of six age-appropriate scenarios where students have to make choices about safety issues. The six scenarios are: Internet Safety, Nonviolent Strategies, Verbal Abuse, Bullying, Youth Protection, and Unsupervised Children. The game also provides information that can be sent home to parents. The information details issues that are being addressed in the SuperSafe CD-Rom game and shows ways parents/guardians can help their child's development.

The Discoverers Program also has a unique recognition plan that includes honor charts and 15 colorful stickers.
Other valued-added components of the Discoverers' Program includes: community speakers, mentors, outdoor experiences, field trips, and teacher training.

Challengers' Program (5th--6th Grades)
Specifically designed for the cognitive and developmental levels of 5th and 6th grade students, the Challengers' Program continues Learning for Life's character education emphasis by integrating components of both the Seekers' and Discoverers' Program. The Challengers' Program focuses on the same 8 character traits as Seekers' and Discoverers: 1) Respect, 2) Responsibility, 3) Honesty/Trust, 4) Caring/Fairness, 5) Perseverance, 6) Self-Discipline, 7) Courage, and 8) Citizenship. Life Skill themes such as Money Management and Fire Safety are an added feature.

The 61 age appropriate, grade specific lesson plans in each of the Challengers' books focus on topics such as "Being Responsible," "Making Good Decisions," "Code of Ethics," "Empathy," etc. The lesson plans are geared to a higher-level of cognitive and developmental learning than the Seekers' and Discoverers' lessons. Teachers can send to the student's parent/guardian the "Home/Family Activity Worksheet" which is included with each lesson. It can be used as an extension to reinforce the character trait in the home environment.

The Challengers' Program, like the Discoverers' Program, also comes with a "SuferSafe" CD-Rom game for students. However, the game for Challengers' is completely different from the Discoverers' game, and offers more difficult scenarios to enhance their critical thinking skills.

Like the Seekers and Discoverers Program, Challengers have a set of 15 stickers and honor charts specific to the program.

Other value added features in the Challengers' Program are: community speakers, mentors, outdoor experiences, field trips, and teacher training.

Building Character, Discovering Careers
The Builders program is the seventh- and eighth-grade program. It is for begins Learning for Life's career preparedness emphasis, while reinforcing character, relationship building and citizenship.
The resources for the Builders Program include:

Teacher's Guide
Each grade has its own guide with 44 age appropriate lesson plans. Youth learn to ascertain the need for having a job and being employed, to recognize obstacles, how to make mature and ethical decisions, and how to deal responsibly with their decisions.
The lessons are divided into 4 sections.

1. Character Education Lessons: focus on 4 traits.
   1. Respect: with lesson on empathy and peer pressure
   2. Responsibility: the focuses on concepts like Decision Making and Perseverance
   3. Honesty/Trust: works on commitment
   4. Self Discipline: exposes students to Courage and anger management
2. Building Relationships Lessons: develop understanding of concepts like Prejudice, problem solving, communications and family dynamics
3. Citizenship Lessons: discuss freedom, liberty, laws and diversity
4. Career Education Lessons: show students work related skills like Time Management, Job Traits, and Goal Setting while also helping them investigate careers that they have may process an aptitude.
   

Community Role Models
The Learning for Life seventh- and eighth-grade program is designed to provide community role models to motivate and interact with the youth. Role models meet with a specific class (e.g., English, social studies, and math) and discuss the relationship of that subject to a work situation. These role models, with backgrounds similar to those of the youth, share their personal paths to success, including the pitfalls and the high points.
Resource people from the community serve as mentors and role models and give the youth insight into personal decisions, educational goals, and career choices.

Life Choices: A Character Game
A computer interactive game that gives students opportunities to practice ethical decision making skills. A series of situations is presented where the student must make a choice. The computer gives the student immediate feedback by providing a consequence of the choices made while playing the game. Reports are given at the end of the game, summarizing how the student performed in some key elements of character. Life Choices is included with the 8th Grade Teachers Edition.

A Time To Tell Youth Protection Video
A Time to Tell Youth Protection DVD is included with the latest edition of the 8th grade teacher's edition. This presents different scenes that help youth see strategies that are needed to keep them safe. The DVD can play in English or Spanish. A meeting guide for A Time To Tell that can be used with youth ages 11 - 14.

Student Workbooks
For both the 7th and 8th Grade Builders program, a Student Workbook is available. Each workbook come with the lesson plan activities printed on perforated paper, ready to be used in the classroom. Student workbooks can be ordered from your local Learning for Life Office.

Builders' Program (7th and 8th Grades)
The Builders' Program is a comprehensive, four-tier blend of elements focusing on Character Education, Career Education, Building Relationships, and Citizenship for students in the 7th and 8th grades. Lesson plans in both the 7th and 8th grade books are designed to reinforce social, academic, and career education skills in various areas, such as critical and creative thinking, conflict resolution, decision making, interpersonal relationships, practical life skills, self-esteem, writing and language arts, citizenship, and personal fitness. There are 44 lesson plans in each of the Builders' Books, ranging in topics from "Peer Pressure: Who Can I Trust," to "Self Assessment of Skills and Abilities," to "Problem Solving: The Intricacies of Relating to Others." The lessons are action-oriented and uses teaching techniques such as role-playing, small group discussions, and reflective and moral-dilemmas exercises. In addition, many of the same value-added features included with the Seekers', Discoverers', and Challengers' Programs are also part of the Builders' Program, including community speakers, mentors, outdoor experiences, field trips, and teacher training.

Navigators' Program Senior High (9th - 12th Grades)
The Navigators' Program is designed to extend the learning experiences taught through Learning for Life's Builders Program for seventh and eighth grade students. Just as the word "navigators" implies, the program serves to guide youngsters in making a successful transition from high school into real-world endeavors, including post-secondary education, acquiring a job, being a productive citizen, and establishing and maintaining positive relationships with others. There are two (2) books in the Navigators' series. One book is entitled: "A Personal Compass for Daily Living". It includes lessons in three chapters:

• Habits of Character
• Service to Others
• Ethical Dilemmas

A DVD entitled "Personal Safety Awareness" is included with Book One. This DVD covers youth protection issues facing high school students. A meeting Guide for Personal Safety Awareness which can be used with high school aged youth.

The Leadership Workshop Series DVD ROM is now available as a printed book called "Leadership Development Guidebook for Teenage Youth". It includes the 16 Workshops as well as options on how to organize the workshops. A sample certificate for local reproduction is also included. It can be ordered through your local Learning for Life office (32148).

A Character Achievement Award is also available.

The second book is called "A Roadmap for the Future". Lessons in this book are included in these chapters:

• Life Skills
• Career Education
• College Life

Book two features a CD ROM included with the teacher's edition. It is called the Life Choices a Career Game. This is an interactive game that presents situations that require a selection that involves character and could have career implications. The game culminates with an interactive job interview. Students using this book can work on earning the Career Achievement Award in one of 12 different career clusters.

In addition the Navigators program services can also include Career Seminars and Career Fairs. The local Learning for Life staff can work with your school to recruit qualified speakers. The Student Career Interest Survey is a resource that helps to identify potential career topics.

Speakers are recruited and trained by Learning for Life so that they can make an effective career presentation to high school students.

Although aspects of these two books are introduced in Learning for Life's programs for elementary schools and taught in a more extended way through the 7th and 8th grade Builders Program, the Navigators' Program takes students to a much deeper level of learning and a much broader set of learning experiences. When students complete the Navigators' Program, they will be much better prepared to enter the workforce or enter post-secondary education. They will have deeper understandings and many more strategies to support their efforts to achieve success in their chosen venture.

Drug Abuse for Teens is available: This is a publication created in cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It is aimed at helping give teens information on the dangers of drugs so they can make good choices.