Orderliness

Orderliness is “keeping things clean and neat.”

Orderliness is not a natural tendency or event. Even the second law of thermodynamics states that without intervention, all things move toward greater entropy and disorder. You can see this every day as your desk, purse, book bag, bedroom, closet, and vehicle become less organized and more dirty without someone making an effort to keep them clean and neat.

You can be orderly by keeping your school supplies clean and organized, hanging up your jacket instead of throwing it on the floor, picking up trash, straightening your chair, staying in line, and waiting your turn. At home, you can be orderly by folding your clothes, cleaning your room, and putting toys back where they belong.

The key to an orderly lifestyle is making it a habit—putting things away and keeping things clean one day at a time.

I WILL:

Clean up after myself.
Put things where they belong.
Avoid clutter.
Not litter.
Do things in the right order.

DISCUSSION STARTERS:

Why is it important to keep your schoolwork, assignments, and papers in order?
Why should you clean up after yourself instead of expecting others to do it for you?
Why is it a good idea to put your toys away instead of leaving them on the floor?
These are related words and concepts you can discuss: organization, efficiency, productivity, method, cleanliness, and hygiene.

(Permission granted to reproduce this lesson for educational use. Credit: CharacterFirstEd.com)

Free downloads:

Collage of activity sheets and free downloads Supplement the curriculum with these reproducible sheets. (Click a link to open or save PDF.)

Videos

Learn hand motions for the poem and song. Taught by Robert Greenlaw.

Get lyrics to the poem in the Orderliness Curriculum.

Read the full nature story in the Orderliness Curriculum.

Get music for “Let's Get Orderly!” in the Songbook & CD set.