What Are Consequences?

Every single day, we make choices. From deciding what to wear to choosing how to respond to a friend, our lives are a series of decisions. And guess what? Every decision, big or small, has a consequence. A consequence is simply the result or effect of an action or condition. It's what happens after you do something.

Think about it like this: if you push a domino, what's the consequence? It falls over! If you study for a test, what's the consequence? You might get a good grade. If you don't wear a coat on a cold day, what's the consequence? You might feel chilly.

Positive Consequences

Not all consequences are bad! In fact, many are quite good. Positive consequences are the favorable or beneficial results that happen when we make good choices or take positive actions. These are the outcomes that make us feel good, help us achieve our goals, or benefit others.

Examples of Positive Consequences:

• Action: You complete your homework diligently and on time.
  • Consequence: Your teacher praises your effort, you understand the material better, and your grades improve.
• Action: You help a classmate who is struggling with a task.
  • Consequence: Your classmate feels grateful, you strengthen your friendship, and you feel good about being helpful.
• Action: You practice a new skill, like playing an instrument or a sport, consistently.
  • Consequence: You become better at the skill, gain confidence, and might even perform well in a competition.

Negative Consequences

On the flip side, negative consequences are the unfavorable or undesirable results that happen when we make poor choices, act impulsively, or break rules. These are the outcomes that can be unpleasant, set us back, or harm ourselves or others.

Examples of Negative Consequences:

• Action: You stay up very late playing video games instead of sleeping.
  • Consequence: You feel tired and unfocused the next day at school, making it hard to learn.
• Action: You speak unkindly to a friend because you're angry.
  • Consequence: Your friend feels hurt, your friendship might be strained, and you might feel regret.
• Action: You don't follow the classroom rules.
  • Consequence: You might receive a warning, a detention, or miss out on a fun activity.

The Ripple Effect

It's important to remember that consequences often have a "ripple effect." This means that one consequence can lead to another, and another, spreading out like ripples in a pond. A small action can sometimes have a much larger impact than we initially imagine, affecting not just ourselves but also those around us. Understanding this helps us consider the bigger picture when making decisions.

Consequence Connection Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Every action has a consequence! For each situation below, identify the action taken and then brainstorm at least two possible consequences. Think about whether the consequence is positive or negative, and consider both immediate and potential long-term effects.

Situation 1: You finish all your chores without being asked.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Situation 2: You yell at your sibling because you're angry.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Situation 3: You stay up all night playing video games instead of studying for a big test tomorrow.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Situation 4: You notice a new student eating alone in the cafeteria and invite them to join your table.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Situation 5: You repeatedly interrupt your teacher while they are explaining a new concept.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Situation 6: You practice your presentation for class several times until you feel confident.

• Action:
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 1 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  
• Consequence 2 (Positive/Negative?):
  
  
  
  

Consequence Scenarios Activity Cards

Instructions: Cut out each scenario card. In your small groups, pick a card, read the situation, and discuss the following:

1. What is the main action taken in this scenario?
2. What are the immediate consequences (both positive and negative, if any)?
3. What are the potential long-term consequences (both positive and negative, if any)?
4. How might this one action create a "ripple effect" that impacts others?

Card 1

Scenario: Sarah was assigned a group project due next week. She decided to do all her parts of the project early, even helping her group members get started on their sections.

Card 2

Scenario: During class, Alex frequently calls out answers without raising his hand and makes jokes when the teacher is trying to explain something important.

Card 3

Scenario: David found a wallet full of money on the playground. He immediately took it to the front office.

Card 4

Scenario: Emily promised her mom she would clean her room before her friends came over, but she spent the afternoon watching TV instead.

Card 5

Scenario: A new student, Maria, seems shy and sits alone at lunch. Jake, seeing this, invites her to join his group of friends.

Card 6

Scenario: Liam constantly procrastinates on his schoolwork, waiting until the last minute to start essays and study for tests.

Card 7

Scenario: Chloe accidentally spilled water on a classmate's artwork. Instead of ignoring it, she immediately apologized and offered to help clean up and fix it if possible.

Card 8

Scenario: During a disagreement with a friend, Noah started spreading rumors about them to other classmates.

Class Discussion on Consequences

Objective: To deepen understanding of consequences, explore different perspectives, and recognize the impact of choices on oneself and others.

Discussion Prompts:

1. Opening Question: Based on our reading and worksheet, how would you define a "consequence" in your own words? Can you give an example of a consequence you've experienced recently (positive or negative)?
   
   
   
   

2. Positive vs. Negative: Why is it important to understand that not all consequences are negative? Can you think of a time when a positive consequence motivated you to make a good choice?
   
   
   
   

3. Immediate vs. Long-Term: We talked about immediate and long-term consequences. Why is it important to think about both when making a decision? Can a small immediate action have a very big long-term consequence?
   
   
   
   

4. The Ripple Effect: Think about the "ripple effect." How can one person's actions, and their consequences, impact others around them (friends, family, classmates, community)? Share an example.
   
   
   
   

5. Taking Responsibility: When we face a negative consequence, what does it mean to take responsibility for our actions? Why is this an important skill to develop?
   
   
   
   

6. Learning from Consequences: How can experiencing consequences, especially negative ones, help us learn and grow? What's one lesson you've learned from a past consequence?
   
   
   
   

7. Making Better Choices: Knowing what we now know about consequences, how can this understanding help us make better choices in the future?
   
   
   
   

Consequence Check-in Quiz Answer Key

Question 1: What is the best definition of a consequence?

• Correct Answer: A result or effect of an action or condition.
• Explanation: A consequence is the outcome that follows an action. It's simply what happens next because of something you did or didn't do.

Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a positive consequence?

• Correct Answer: Receiving praise for helping a classmate.
• Explanation: Positive consequences are good results. Helping a classmate is a positive action, and receiving praise is a favorable outcome.

Question 3: Which of the following is an example of a negative consequence?

• Correct Answer: Feeling regret after saying something unkind.
• Explanation: Negative consequences are undesirable results. Saying something unkind is a negative action, and feeling regret is an unpleasant emotional outcome.

Question 4: Explain in your own words what the "ripple effect" of consequences means.

• Example Answer: The ripple effect means that one consequence can lead to other consequences, spreading out and impacting more people or situations over time, similar to how a pebble dropped in water creates expanding ripples.
• Key points for evaluation: Students should mention that consequences can extend beyond the immediate action, affecting others or leading to further outcomes.

Question 5: Describe a time when you (or someone you know) experienced a consequence that taught you an important lesson. Was it positive or negative? What did you learn?

• Example Answer (Positive): One time, I spent many hours practicing a difficult song on my guitar. The consequence was that I was able to play it perfectly at the school talent show, and everyone cheered. I learned that hard work and perseverance pay off.
• Example Answer (Negative): I once forgot to charge my tablet before a long road trip. The consequence was that I couldn't watch movies or play games, and I was very bored. I learned the importance of planning ahead and being responsible for my belongings.
• Key points for evaluation: Students should describe a specific experience, clearly state whether the consequence was positive or negative, and articulate a lesson learned from that experience.