• Students research character traits of famous women in history. These women can be related to required curriculum or whatever the teacher desires. The student needs to compare those traits to those of his/her mother or a woman responsible for the student. Review the character trait lists below and decide which traits the student should look for. I recommend compiling your own list or having the student decide which traits are most favorable.
  
  Character Traits
  
  MCPS Character Traits
  
  
• Next, the student makes a card out of any paper stock on hand. On the front, they place the names of five famous women who share the most character traits with their mother. They can locate women in history at this site:
  
  REC Women's History
  
  
• On the inside cover, the students write the character traits. It should be at least five, but the final number can be left up to the student.
  
  
• On the facing page the student writes, "Happy Mother's Day. You have the same great traits as these famous women in history." They next add whatever personal message they wish. On the back page of the card, they write a brief one-paragraph summary of what the women did with emphasis on the trait mentioned.

This card becomes a learning experience for parent and student, and it makes history come alive. It also requires very little expense or teacher time after initial guidance and direction are given; however, the teacher does need to check the finished cards.

Some character traits: