As a teacher, you are responsible for safeguarding the values that define our nation and forging the heroes of tomorrow. However, instilling these values in students can feel impossible, especially with abounding distractions and limited time and resources. If you are looking for engaging character development activities that will truly catalyze growth in your students, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Path to Honor student portal is your answer.

Learn how these self-guided, FREE, and engaging teacher-designed character-building lessons can seamlessly supplement your curriculum for up to 18 weeks and spark rich discussions that will empower them to reach their full potential.

Path to Honor: 18 FREE Ways to Build Character

Path to Honor is FREE and easy to use. It provides character development activities and video lessons about Medal of Honor Recipients. 

Through these tales of valor from some of our nation’s most decorated heroes, students learn about the character values that define our country and empower people to overcome imaginable odds.

The Path to Honor student portal comprises 6 engaging teacher-designed modules that spark self-exploration and ensure true growth. The modules expound upon the character traits that drive our country forward to catalyze character development in students:

• Courage 
• Sacrifice
• Patriotism
• Citizenship
• Integrity 
• Commitment

Each module consists of 3 video lessons, which means you will have 18 activities that could last over a semester.

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What Do These Character Development Activities Encompass?

When your students start these character development activities, they will watch an introductory video that sets the stage for the theater of war and acts of courage, bravery, and selflessness that have safeguarded our freedoms and propelled our country forward. 

Then, they will begin diving deeper into the stories of these heroes. During these video lessons where real-life examples of Medal of Honor Recipients demonstrating Medal of Honor values take center stage, students will be asked how they would respond under similar circumstances and compare their answers to those of Medal of honor Recipients, sparking self-discovery. 

After the video, students begin a self-guided, reflective exercise and write a longer answer that will spark classroom conversation. Learn how these lessons can create classroom discussions about history and the importance of these values in their everyday lives:

Related Article: Unleash the Heroes Within: Path to Honor Provides Free, Self-Guided Video Assignments for Students

Courage

Through three compelling character development activities and videos, students learn that courage is not a lack of fear; it’s a willingness to persevere in the face of it. These video lessons revolve around:

• Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a World War II veteran who had chosen to continue to fight the war overseas instead of returning to the safety of his home.
• Corporal Jason Dunham, a veteran of the War on Terrorism (Iraq) who one day found himself standing between his team and a live grenade.
• Captain James Fleming, a Vietnam War veteran who received orders to withdraw when he had not completed his job yet.

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Sacrifice

Three video lessons will teach students that sacrifice is a choice and about the cost of that choice while learning the value of sacrificing for a cause greater than oneself, inspiring them to uphold this same value in their daily lives. These lessons revolve around:

• Staff Sergeant Henry Eugene “Red” Erwin, a World War II veteran who was facing a burning bomb in a crashing plane and had to make a choice. 
• Lieutenant Thomas Hudner, a Korean War veteran who was in a situation where the only way to save his friends was by risking his own life. 
• Sergeant Alwyn Cashe, a War on Terrorism (Iraq) veteran who saw his team trapped in a vehicle and had to make an unbelievable decision. 

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Patriotism

These character development activities and videos show that patriotism is more than stars, stripes, red, white, and blue. Students will step into the shoes of patriots’ who made tough decisions against overwhelming odds. These lessons revolve around:

• Sergeant William Carney, a Civil War veteran who was watching the flag fall amid enemy fire and demonstrated patriotic bravery. 
• Private George Sakato, a World War II veteran who was loyal to his country despite it betraying him.
• Lieutenant Edouard Victor Michel Izac, a World War I veteran who was held prisoner on a submarine where the enemy pushed his patriotism to its limits. 

Citizenship

Through three video lessons that will spark conversations, students will learn that they are citizens everywhere they go and understand the importance of practicing active citizenship within their communities. These lessons revolve around:

• Private Henry Johnson, a World War I veteran who exhibited citizenship facing uncertainty and imminent danger during an overnight enemy surprise attack.
• Sergeant Gary Beikrich, a Vietnam War veteran who, upon returning from war and facing an angry, divided nation, continued being an active citizen.
• Sergeant Joseph Rodriguez, a Korean War veteran who was trapped and facing brutal enemy fire and still demonstrated remarkable citizenship. 

“If this medal and what it represents could be conveyed to everyone, it would be a much different world.” 

– Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient

Integrity

While defining integrity is simple, it is much more complicated in practice. During these lessons, students will understand the dilemma of doing the right thing even when you can’t tell what it is or it seems impossible. These lessons revolve around:

• Lieutenant Colonel Joe Jackson, a Vietnam War veteran who showed integrity and poise in a plane too big for the runway it needed to land on.
• Captain Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, a Vietnam War veteran who was faced with impossible choices as a prisoner of war. 
• Staff Sergeant Edward Carter, a World War II veteran who, seriously wounded, faced several enemy fighters and made difficult decisions to do the right thing. 

Commitment

Through three character development activities and video lessons, students will learn that life is all about commitment, to self and others. These stories will inspire them never to give up. The lessons in this module revolve around:

• Commander Ernest Evans, a World War II veteran who was responsible for the ship and its crew, and showed unwavering resolve in facing insurmountable odds.
• Captain Florent Groberg, a War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) veteran who had to demonstrate commitment after seeing something out of place while being responsible for others. 
• Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War veteran devoted to her country despite being repeatedly denied employment as a military doctor. 

Do You Need Character Development Activities that Can Transform Your Students into Tomorrow’s Leaders? Register for Path to Honor Today! 

By introducing Path to Honor into your classroom, you are doing more than teaching history–you are inspiring the next generation of leaders. These FREE, intuitive, and self-guided character development activities will captivate your students, enrich their lives, and ignite a passion and deep understanding of the values that define our nation. 

Visit our Path to Honor page to learn more about this innovative and inspiring program and forge the heroes our country and communities deserve.