EarlyAct FirstKnight is a revolutionary character and ethics education program for K-8 schoolchildren that, for the first time, puts Rotary into mainstream public education.

Teaching the Rotary tradition of "service above self" through the visually captivating theme of knightly heroes, EarlyAct FirstKnight supplements Rotarian-led bimonthly campus service clubs with a comprehensive, year-round, curriculum-based character education program. More than just a service club, however, EAFK permeates the entire student population with daily Rotary-centered academics which dramatically enhance individual student character and service club participation.

Sponsored by local Rotary clubs and chartered by Rotary Districts, EarlyAct FirstKnight was developed by Knights of The Guild and Rotarians of District 5840 for the benefit of all Rotary clubs and their communities.

 

Daily Instruction

Daily award-winning academic character instruction taught by educators in their classrooms, starting each day with a recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test while integrating Rotary history and ideals into each character virtue.

Service Clubs

Rotarian advisors lead EarlyAct FirstKnight service clubs. These clubs make a substantive difference through local and international service projects, reporting progress to their Rotary sponsors.

Monthly Awards

School-wide knighting ceremonies honor children for achievements, and are emceed by sponsoring Rotarians. Students achieve rankings of Page, Squire and Knight.

Parenting Skills Training

Seminars teach young parents how to become better role models and build stronger family relationships through Rotary.

Rotary Outreach

EarlyAct FirstKnight introduces parents, faculty, and students to the benefits of Rotary and encourages Rotary club membership.

Enhancement Options

Optional campus appearances by real knights and costumed warhorses can make EarlyAct FirstKnight come alive.

EarlyAct FirstKnight provides children with daily academic character instruction during a child’s most formative years.

Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, our curriculum is integrated and teachable in daily 10-minute lessons by educators in their classrooms. Comprehensive, prepared lesson plans examine one character virtue per month and include self-assessments, definitions, case studies, profiles of historic individuals, quotations, challenge puzzles, discussion questions, bibliographies, learning logs, and highlights of Rotarian ideals, traditions and history.

The power of EarlyAct FirstKnight lies in the combination of daily classroom academics and monthly knighting ceremonies that reinforce why we serve others, coupled with Rotarian-led student clubs that teach how we serve every other week.

Curriculum Lessons Teaching Why We Serve

Grades K-5: Tolerance, Responsibility, Confidence, Perseverance, Discipline, Respect, Honesty, Compassion, Friendliness, and Service.

Grades 6-8: Prowess, Justice, Loyalty, Defense, Courage, Faith, Humility, Nobility, and Franchise.

Service Clubs Teaching How We Serve

Sponsoring Rotarian advisors lead bimonthly 30-minute service clubs on campus that provide mentoring and practical community avenues of application that show kids how to use and experience their newfound character virtues in a real-world environment.