How to Teach the Cardinal Virtues to Children
The Cardinal Virtues can be traced back to early Christian writers such as St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, who attempted to codify a standard of moral law for humans based on God's law revealed in the Bible. Over time, this standard became encapsulated by cardinal virtues within Roman Catholic doctrine, of which four are identified as cardinal because they are the ones upon which all other virtues depend for execution: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.
Instructions
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Explain the concept of "cardinal" to your children by using the example of a door hinge. Take the child or children you are instructing to a nearby door and show them the hinge. Ask for volunteers to open and shut the door. Explain that the hinge supports the weight of the door and allows it to move and be useful. Explain that cardinal virtues are like the door hinge -- they support the proper and consistent execution of all other moral virtues.
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2
Explain the concept of virtue by contrasting it with vice. Help children understand the difference between good and evil by asking for examples of "good" actions (for example, helping a neighbor, picking up toys, obeying parents, befriending other children) and "bad" actions (e.g., hitting others, hurting others, disobeying). Explain that a virtue is something good and a cardinal virtue is the most good.
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3
Write the numbers 1 through 4 as a list on sheet of paper. Next to each number, write the words Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude. Introduce these as the four cardinal virtues and dedicate the rest of your lesson time that day to the history behind their development (such as who coined the terms and how long they've been established).
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4
Create four lesson plans that address the four virtues one at a time. Explain what each virtue means and demonstrate what it looks like by identifying and discussing people who display that virtue. For example, select a ruler or king who was particularly known for justice to help children understand what it is. Provide examples of behavior that demonstrate each virtue, such as fair pricing and not showing partiality for justice.
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5
Plan a review at the end of each lesson and at the end of the complete lesson time to review the history and content of each virtue. Challenge children to execute, or act out, each virtue that week, focusing on one specific virtue each day. Use class time to discuss how hard or easy it was to display that virtue and discuss together ways you can show that virtue to parents and friends.
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References
- Photo Credit bi-fold door image by Scrivener from Fotolia.com
