The Virtue Lane Community is a biblically based character education program based on the virtues presented by Paul in Colossians 3:12: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Each of these virtues are represented by a plush character and story book designed to bring the scriptures alive for children at a young age.
While they look like toys, they are also powerful educational tools. Each character helps children navigate Relationships, Identity and Sexuality content in the Australian Curriculum including Personal Identity, Consent, Managing Emotions, and Respectful Relationships.
Through the Virtue Lane Community children will learn how to:
- handle challenging situations with a Christian heart
- recognise and manage emotions
- demonstrate caring and concern for others
- establish positive relationships
- make responsible decisions
- approach relationships, identity and sexuality topics with a Christian worldview
Join Virtue Community to learn how to use these resources in your primary school classrooms as part of a whole school approach to Relationships, Identity, and Sexuality Education.
Characters
RUTH – CAT
Ruth represents Compassion. She is a good friend who lives with her mother-in-law in their house on Virtue Lane near the wheat fields. Her favourite number is 2 and her favourite colour is Lilac. She takes her backpack everywhere she goes filled with things to help her care for others such as water, a blanket, snacks, bandaids and treats.
ABRAHAM – DEER
Abraham represents Kindness. He lives on Virtue Lane in a mud hut with a large courtyard for playing and gathering his friends. His favourite number is 3 and his favourite colour is Green. He likes to volunteer and is always putting his hand up to help. He is known for saying kind things to others and prays regularly.
JOHN – DONKEY
John represents Humility. He lives in the house connected to the Virtue Lane church. His favourite number is 10 and his favourite colour is Blue. He depends on God as he recognises he is a sinner and needs God’s mercy. he likes to use his strengths to serve others and puts their needs before his own. He has memorised God’s commandments and tries to be obedient to them.
ESTHER – DOG
Esther represents Gentleness. She shows God’s love by being gentle. She lives in a kennel in the Virtue Lane church yard. Her kennel has a huge soft bed in it for snuggling. Her favourite number is 5 and her favourite colour is White. She seeks peace and tries to help others resolve conflict. She gently speaks the truth even when it is hard and cares about the feelings of others.
JOSEPH – DOVE
Joseph represents Patience. He lives in a nest high in the Oak Tree in the Virtue Lane Church yard. His favourite number is 7 and his favourite colour is Gold. He shares the branches of the Oak Tree with hi many brothers and his sister. He loves to practice mindfulness and uses breathing exercises to self-regulate his emotions. He is always asking a lot of questions as he seeks to understand, he is slow to anger and practices self-control. He practices gratitude everyday as he joyfully waits and lives with hope.
References
Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2009). A mandate for playful learning in preschool: Applying the scientific evidence.
Fleer, M. (2021). Play in the early years. Cambridge University Press.
Zosh, J. M., Gaudreau, C., Golinkoff, R. M., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2022). The Power of Playful Learning in the Early Childhood Setting. YC Young Children, 77(2), 6–13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27185909