Responsible Decision-Making
Family Resources on Decision Making – Responsibility
Lesson Topic
In groups, students will brainstorm difficult decisions that students their age might have to make. They will work together through a decision-making process.
Essential Question
What is the process for making decisions?
Decision Making – Responsibility
If this lesson was used in the classroom: Students learned about a decision-making process. In class students discussed their responsibility in making decisions and the stress that can come from difficult decisions. In small groups students discussed the stories of the featured students and worked through a six-step decision making process to problem solve and assess the choices made. The six steps are:
Identify the problem
Consider alternatives
Evaluate options
Choose an option
Make a plan
Evaluate the results
Getting Ready for the Conversation
The video for this module features three students, Chandler, John and Brandon. Each of these youths faced difficult decisions and how these decisions affected themselves and their families.
Conversation Starters and Practice at Home
The first item is for follow-up after viewing the lesson video and participating in class activities.
Tell about the decision your group considered. Why do you think your group’s solution was the best option?
What is an important decision that you might have to make in the near future? Let’s walk through the decision-making process (it is a good idea to write this out on paper). Is this the best decision to make in this case? Why or why not?
Do you think you do a good job of making important decisions? Why or why not? Who are the people you can rely on to help you make good decisions?
Schools to Home Resources on Decision Making – Responsibility
Lesson Plan
Interactive Reflection > Open/Download Complete PDF Lesson
Important questions to ask yourself
In the video Chandler says, “I lost the passion to do it. I wasn’t getting anything out of it.” Chandler spent a lot of time learning to play basketball, but lost interest in the game. Write down several questions you think it is important to ask yourself before deciding to quit an activity that you have invested a lot of time in. Choose the question you think is the most important of those you wrote down. Why is this question the most important to consider?
Deciding it’s time to stop doing something
In the video John says, “In my eighth-grade year I guess I sort of fell flat and my coach was like, ‘maybe he just peaked,’ but that really wasn’t it. I just didn’t care.” What is the difference between having a bad day practicing and deciding to quit? How would you decide when it is time to stop doing something? Why? When John quit football, he started participating in performing arts. Do you think it was important to find something else to do? Why or why not?
Making your own decisions
In the video Brandon says, “Up to now, my mom has made most of my decisions…now it’s time to step up and make my own decisions and I just don’t want to…fail at it.” What do you think Brandon means by this? Why do you think Brandon worries about failing? Do you worry about making mistakes when you make your own decisions? Why or why not?
Decision making in middle school
Consider this quote from Michelle Obama posted online: “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.” What do you think that means? Do you agree? If you had to be quoted about decision-making in middle school, what would you say?
Additional Reflection Questions > Open/Download PDF
