Decision Maze Activity Sheet

Instructions:
In each scenario below, decide whether the boy should “Let the Ant Go” or “Squish the Ant.” Write your choice in the My Decision column and explain your reasoning in the My Reason column. When you finish, pick one scenario to share with the class.

Once everyone has completed the sheet, select one scenario and be prepared to share your decision and justify why it shows responsibility.

What Is Responsibility? Discussion Guide

Objectives

• Help students articulate what responsibility means in their own words
• Explore how characters in Hey Little Ant Picture Book show (or don’t show) responsibility
• Build empathy by considering the impact of our choices on others

Materials

• Chart paper or whiteboard titled "What Is Responsibility?"
• Markers
• Hey Little Ant Picture Book (for quick reference)
• Optional: Responsibility Scenario Cards (to illustrate everyday choices)

Discussion Guidelines

• Listen carefully when others speak; wait your turn.
• Speak loudly and clearly so everyone can hear.
• Use “I think…” or “I feel…” statements when sharing.
• Be respectful: it’s okay to disagree, but explain your thoughts kindly.

Discussion Questions & Follow-Up Prompts

1. Warm-up: What Words Come to Mind?
   • Invite volunteers to share one word they wrote on the chart at the start of the lesson.
   • Follow-up: “Why did you choose that word?”
   • Chart: Record any new words.
2. Define Responsibility
   • Ask: “In your own words, what does responsibility mean?”
   • Prompt: “Can you give an example of someone being responsible at home or at school?”
   • Follow-up: “What happens if we don’t take responsibility for our belongings, our actions, or living things?”
3. Story Connection
   • Ask: “Who was responsible in Hey Little Ant? Was it the boy, the ant, or both?”
   • Follow-up: “How did the boy’s decision show (or not show) responsibility?”
   • Prompt: “How do you think the ant felt when the boy hesitated?”
4. Perspective-Taking
   • Pose: “If you were the ant, what would you want the boy to do?”
   • Follow-up: “How would you explain responsibility from the ant’s point of view?”
5. Real-Life Scenarios
   • Use a few Responsibility Scenario Cards (e.g., a pet fish, a borrowed pencil, a garden plant).
   • For each card, ask: “What is a responsible choice here? Why?”
   • Prompt: “What could happen if someone made an irresponsible choice?”

Closing & Definition

• Review the words and ideas on the chart.
• Craft a class definition: “Responsibility means ___.”
• Ask volunteers to finish the sentence: “I show responsibility when I ___.”
• Encourage students to look for chances to be responsible today and share tomorrow.

Ant Up Responsibility: Teacher Script

Introduction (2 minutes)

Teacher: “Good morning, friends! Today we are going to talk about a very important word: responsibility. When I say ‘responsibility,’ what words come to mind? Think about it for a moment.”
(Wait 5 seconds.)
Teacher: “Who would like to share one word?”
(Call on 2–3 volunteers and write their words on the chart under “What Is Responsibility?”.)
Teacher: “Great ideas! You might have heard words like ‘caring,’ ‘helping,’ or ‘doing the right thing.’ Keep those ideas in mind as we read our story.”

Read Aloud (4 minutes)

Teacher: “Now I’m going to read Hey Little Ant Picture Book. Listen carefully and think about the choices the boy makes in the story.”
(Begin reading. Pause at key moments.)
– When the boy spots the ant on the sidewalk: “Pause. What do you think the boy is feeling right now?”
– When the boy holds the ant on his finger and hesitates: “Hold on—what choice is he trying to make? Turn to your partner and whisper one sentence about what you think might happen next.”
(After 10 seconds, resume reading to the end.)

Discussion (4 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s talk about what we just heard.”

1. Teacher: “Who was responsible in this story? Was it the boy, the ant, or both? Why?”
   – (Call on 2–3 students.)
   – Follow-up: “Can you point to a part of the story that shows responsibility?”
2. Teacher: “How did the boy’s decision show responsibility—or show a lack of responsibility?”
   – (If needed: “Tell me more about that choice.”)
3. Teacher: “How do you think the ant felt when the boy hesitated? If you were the ant, what would you want the boy to do?”
   – (Invite 2–3 quick responses.)
   Teacher: “Based on our ideas, responsibility means ___. Let’s fill in our chart: ‘Responsibility means ___.’ Who wants to finish that sentence?”
   (Write student suggestions on the chart.)

Activity: Decision Maze (4 minutes)

Teacher: “Now it’s time to practice making responsible choices. Find a partner and pick up one Decision Maze Activity Sheet and a set of Responsibility Scenario Cards.”
Teacher: “Here’s what you’ll do:
• Read each scenario on your sheet.
• Circle ‘Let the Ant Go’ or ‘Squish the Ant.’
• In the My Reason column, write one or two sentences explaining why your choice shows responsibility.

You have 3 minutes—go!”
(Circulate, prompt pairs: “What evidence from the story could help your reason?” “Are you both in agreement? Tell each other why.”)
(After 3 minutes, say:)
Teacher: “Time’s up! Please choose one scenario you’d like to share with the class.”
(Invite 2–3 pairs to stand and share their decision and reason.)

Assessment & Closing (1 minute)

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing! I’m collecting your Decision Maze sheets now.”
(Collect sheets.)
Teacher: “Today we learned that responsibility means thinking about how our choices affect others—like the boy thought about the ant. Remember, you can show responsibility today by looking out for living things and making kind choices. Great job, everyone!”

Responsibility Scenario Cards

Print and cut these cards. Each card contains a scenario. Use them in pairs to discuss and decide the most responsible action.

1. Pet Fish in Class
   It’s your turn to feed the classroom pet fish before you leave school, but you’re late for recess. What will you do to show responsibility?

1. Broken Borrowed Pencil
   You borrowed a friend’s favorite pencil for a test and it snaps in half. How will you handle this? What responsible choice can you make?

1. Wilted Garden Plant
   A small plant on the windowsill looks wilted. You notice it needs water. What can you do to take responsibility for its care?

1. Playground Trash
   You see trash lying on the playground and no one is around to pick it up. What responsible action will you choose?

1. Lost Library Book
   You find a library book at home that belongs to the school. It’s due tomorrow. What will you do to show responsibility?

1. Forgotten Homework
   You realize on the morning it’s due that you left your homework at home. How can you still show responsibility in this situation?

Responsibility Role-Play Cards

Print and cut these cards. Each card contains a scenario for a short skit. In small groups, assign roles, decide on a responsible choice, and then act out your scene.

Card 1: The Forgotten Permission Slip

Scenario: It’s the morning of the field trip and you realize you left your signed permission slip on the kitchen counter. Your teacher is calling students onto the bus.

Roles: Student who forgot the slip, friend, teacher.

Responsible Choice: How will you handle the situation so you still do the right thing?

Card 2: The Classroom Plant

Scenario: A classroom plant is wilting because it hasn’t been watered for days. It’s your group’s turn to care for it, but you’re busy packing up.

Roles: Two students in your care group, teacher.

Responsible Choice: What will you do to make sure the plant gets water?

Card 3: The Spilled Paint

Scenario: During art time, you accidentally knock over a cup of paint and it spills on the table and floor.

Roles: Student who knocked it over, classmate, teacher or art helper.

Responsible Choice: How will you clean up and make things right?

Card 4: The Lost Library Book

Scenario: You find a library book on the floor in the hallway. It’s overdue and you know your friend lost it last week.

Roles: Finder, friend who lost the book, librarian.

Responsible Choice: What steps will you take to return the book and tell the truth?

Card 5: The Playground Trash

Scenario: You see a piece of trash under the slide and no one else seems to notice or care.

Roles: Student who picks it up, student who dropped it (optional), teacher on duty.

Responsible Choice: How do you show responsibility and encourage others?

Card 6: The Broken Pencil

Scenario: You borrowed a friend’s favorite pencil during a test and it snaps in half.

Roles: Borrower, owner of the pencil, teacher.

Responsible Choice: How will you handle fixing or replacing the pencil and apologizing?

Responsibility Reflection Journal

Use this journal to think deeply about what responsibility means and how you practice it in your life. Write complete sentences and be as detailed as you can.

1. Define Responsibility

In your own words, what does responsibility mean? Why is it important for people to be responsible?

2. A Time I Was Responsible

Think of a time you had a responsibility—at home, at school, or caring for something (like a pet or plant). Describe:

• What was your responsibility?
• What steps did you take to fulfill it?
• How did you feel when you completed it?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. A Challenge with Responsibility

Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing. Describe a situation when you struggled to be responsible:

• What made it difficult?
• What happened as a result?
• What did you learn, and what would you do differently next time?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Looking Ahead: My Plan

How can you show responsibility in our classroom or at home this week? Write two specific actions you will take and explain why each one matters.

1. Action One: ________________________________________
   Why it matters: ________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Action Two: ________________________________________
   Why it matters: ________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Create Your Own Scenario

Imagine a new situation where someone must make a responsible choice (it can be about classmates, family, pets, or the environment). Describe:

• The scenario in detail.
• The responsible choice you (or someone) would make.
• The positive outcome that would follow.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Remember to review your responses and make sure each answer is clear and complete. Keep this journal to look back on how you’ve grown as a responsible person!

Responsibility Exit Ticket

Name: ___________ Date: ___________

1. One responsible action I will take this week:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Why this action is important: