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A group of Heritage High School students think character counts, and they're bringing a program to two Blount County schools.

Heritage High School seniors Haley Taylor, Megan Thomas and Kat Pentecost developed a character education program for elementary school students. Taylor and Thomas are also working 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day in the after-school Friends program.

Taylor works at Montvale Elementary School while Thomas works at Union Grove Elementary School. They teach lessons and activities from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays about the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

The program will last six weeks.

Group members approached their project with a desire to create fun, interactive lessons for elementary students, Taylor said. "We wanted to do a lot of games because kids sit around all day," she said.

Taylor and Thomas, for example, placed cones in hallways to create an obstacle course and split students into two groups for the trustworthiness activity. They handed one group a plastic egg filled with candy and told them to close their eyes. The duo then instructed students in the other group to lead their peers around the obstacle course. The groups then switched roles.

For the group's respect activity, elementary students will squirt toothpaste on plates and then try to scrape the toothpaste back into its tubes with toothpicks. "We want them to see if they say something, they can't take it back," Taylor said.

Group members love working with students, but they've noticed the elementary students occasionally exhibit behaviors that aren't conducive to the character education program's lessons. Some students don't want to share toys and work cooperatively with their peers, Taylor said.

"All kids need character education. I think it's good to start them off young so they can develop into good adult citizens," Taylor said.

Group members plan to compile data from parent evaluations so they can determine the program's success, Taylor said. Students will also be documenting whether students perform actions tied to the Six Pillars of Character, Thomas said.

"I hope by doing this character program we can influence these students in the future. I think it will be good for them," Thomas said.

Chicago bound?

The high-schoolers, who are in Linda Goins' Teaching as a Profession class, will enter their service project into a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition. Students participate in competitive events -- which the FCCLA refers to as STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events -- in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in nearly 20 divisions. Students are recognized with a gold, silver or bronze medal.

Taylor last year won gold medals in the regional, state and national competition. She hopes to go "6 for 6" in her junior and senior years by winning gold medals in all three competitions again this year.

"We're going to Chicago," Thomas said, referring to the 2010 National Leadership Conference. They are currently planning their presentation for the regional competition in February, she said.

Group members are also already saving money for the trip, Thomas said.