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Program Overview
Philosophy:
The Our Hidden Heroes Social Responsibility/Character Education program for grades 1 through 8 is endorsed by educators, parents, students and policy makers. It has proven to enthuse and energize teachers and to empower and motivate children. It is as powerful as it is simple as students learn that small things can make a big difference, and therefore that each one of them can impact the world one person, one family, one community at a time. They also learn that the world is populated by many more positive than negative role models; many more Hidden Heroes than hidden crooks.
We define Hidden Heroes as ordinary people who are extraordinary role models; people who have much to teach us simply by the way they lead their lives consistently doing small positive things that any other ordinary person could do in similar circumstances; things that make a difference in their own lives and the lives of the people around them.
Standards and Outcomes:
Normally a six to eight week unit, although many teachers spread the Hidden Heroes lessons and concepts through the school year, the Our Hidden Heroes social responsibility/character education program reflects learning outcomes from a variety of Integrated Resource Packages including those provided by the BC Ministry of Education.
Our program also reflects the British Columbia Social Responsibility Performance Standards, which set out expectations for student behaviours as they develop their skills in various aspects of social and emotional learning. Each lesson addresses at least two of these performance standards, so teachers in BC can meet those learning outcomes by following the Our Hidden Heroes program. Most lessons also meet a variety of other cross-curricular learning outcomes including social studies, language arts and personal planning.
Further, our program has been designed to fit well with most other provincial and territorial curricula. Currently school districts in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and western Quebec are using the program.
ONTARIO TEACHERS NOTE: Direct links have been clearly outlined between each Our Hidden Heroes lesson and the Ontario curriculum. To review them now go here
Student Participation:
The Our Hidden Heroes model asks students to redefine their concept of what a hero is and what a hero does. To make a significant difference in this world, you don't have to be a super hero relying on super powers, or a celebrity relying on fame, fortune or good looks. In fact we believe that it's not the one in a million heroes that make the biggest difference in this world, but rather it's the millions of Hidden Heroes, ordinary people consistently doing small, positive things that make a difference in their own lives or the lives of people around them. Hidden Heroes include students of all ages. Through the ripple effect, these small actions can end up making a big difference. Often the people who benefit most are people the Hidden Hero has never and will never meet. Our program motivates students to begin to realize that Hidden Heroes are there to be found in their families, their communities and their schools. Students will also be given an opportunity to experience the joy, self-confidence and self-esteem that comes from becoming Hidden Heroes themselves.
Teaching Resources
As well as meeting a variety of cross-curricular learning outcomes, our program is of particular interest to BC teachers because it gives them a well-designed and exciting new way to meet the performance standards for Social Responsibility. Until now, there has been little in the way of fully packaged support materials available to help them reach these learning outcomes. Our teacher support materials include easy to use lesson plans, black line masters for student exercises and a collection of Bill Robinson's 600-word stories and three-minute video features about real life Hidden Heroes.
Lesson plans are available for grades 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8. For more information about the lesson plans, including free samples and video testimonials, see the teachers section.
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