Lesson 6: Work Ethic
This lesson focuses on defining work ethics and work habits necessary for success.
Objectives
- Identify behaviors that define work ethics.
- Identify why work ethics are important.
- Practice habits that reflect a positive work ethic.
Materials
- Instructor Presentation: Lesson 6 Work Ethic (Powerpoint)
- Student Workbook: Workplace Readiness Skills Workbook Lesson 6 (Powerpoint)
- Knowledge Check: Lesson 6 Pre-Check and Post-Check (PDF)
Expanding Your Knowledge
These optional activities and resources can reinforce lesson objectives in the home, engage families, or supplement classroom instruction.
Learning From Experience
Instruct students to share their completed Page 4 (Work Ethic Survey) from their WRS Lesson 6 Workbook with a family member. Have students ask that person if they agree with the rating of their work ethic skills.
Work Ethic: Related Definitions Quizlet
Use these online flashcards to familiarize students with terms that define qualities of work ethic.
The “Job Task Challenge” Game
Goal: Teach students that demonstrating effort, being responsible, and completing tasks are all essential components of developing a good work ethic.
Materials
- Simple job-like tasks, such as sorting objects, stacking cups, wiping a table, matching picture cards, delivering items around the room
- Visual checklist or picture schedule for each task
- Timer or music for time limits
- Stickers or tokens for positive feedback
Steps
- Divide students into Team or Individual “Job Tasks.”
- Give students 2-3 minutes each to work on their simple job tasks.
- Provide visual supports as needed (step cards or picture cues).
- Encourage them to start on time, stay focused, and finish the task.
- Rotate roles so students experience different “jobs.”
- Connect to real life: “Finishing this task is like finishing a job at work. Employers like workers who do their best and don’t give up.”
Reflection Round
- After each round, ask students to share: “How did it feel to finish your job?” or “What helped you keep going?”
- Use sentence starters, communication boards, or yes/no choices for accessibility.
Celebrate Good Work Ethic
- Highlight positive behaviors: “I saw you keep trying even when it was tricky—that’s good work ethic!”
- Give tokens, stickers, or high-fives for effort and completion.
Additional Resources
These additional resources support the content in the Pre-ETS Toolkit and provide even more ways to help students plan for the future.
Work Ethic Student Activity: Do’s and Don’ts
This supplemental activity was taken from the lesson presentation and reformatted into a game for students to complete on their own. The activity covers a range of school and work-related scenarios and asks students to determine what is considered a good work ethic.
Workplace Readiness Toolkit: Work Ethic
This document offers 3 activities that can be conducted in school or at home with family members to reinforce the skill of work ethic. It is one of the lessons found in the Workplace Readiness Toolkit, a publication from the VCU Center on Transition Innovations.