Fun with Character: Sweet Words

This demonstration will show how we speak and act will invite respect to be directed to us. Fill a large shallow bowl or pan with water and sprinkle pepper onto the surface of the water. The pepper represents the people around us. Explain that our words and actions will either draw people toward us to be our friends or push people away. Imagine the bowl or pan divided in half. Pick a point in the center of one of the halves and touch a bar of soap to the surface of the water. The pepper will be repelled away from the soap just as others are repelled when we are rude. Now, pick the point in the center of the other half of the bowl and sprinkle some sugar. The pepper will be attracted to the sugar just as people are attracted to our sweet words and kind actions.

To process the activity, ask these or similar questions:

• Were you surprised when the pepper moved away from the soap?

• Were you surprised when the pepper moved toward the sugar?

• Do you like being around rude people?

• Do you like being around respectful people?

• Will you remember the pepper the next time you consider being rude?