Attention Matters Worksheet

Part 1: Personal Reflections on Attention

1. Think about a time when you received positive attention (such as praise, recognition, or encouragement). Describe the situation and explain how it made you feel.
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Now, reflect on a moment when you experienced negative attention (such as criticism, gossip, or a negative remark). What happened and how did it impact your mood or behavior?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Identifying Attention in Daily Life

3. List three examples of positive attention that you see in your everyday life (at school, home, or with friends).
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Identify and describe two situations where negative attention might occur. What are some potential consequences?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Strategy Brainstorming

5. Think about ways to encourage positive attention both for yourself and others. Write down at least two strategies that you could use to make sure that interactions are uplifting.
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Consider situations where negative attention might be used to manipulate or control behavior. What are some strategies to effectively address or avoid these challenges?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 4: Future Goals

7. Based on your reflections, set one personal goal for seeking or encouraging positive attention in your future interactions. How will you work towards this goal?
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Write one question you still have about the effects of attention or ideas you’d like to explore further during our class discussions.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Keep your responses clear so you can easily refer back to them in class discussions!

Attention Matters Discussion Guide

This discussion guide is designed to facilitate engaging conversations about positive and negative attention. Use these prompts in both sessions to help students share personal insights, reflect on their experiences, and develop strategies for fostering positive relationships and minimizing negative influences.

Opening Questions

1. What does the word "attention" mean to you? How do you think it influences our behavior and relationships?
   
   
   
2. Can you share an example (from personal experience or observation) where attention played a significant role in someone's behavior?
   
   
   

Exploring Positive Attention

1. What are some examples of positive attention in your daily life (at school, at home, with friends)?
   
   
   
2. How does positive attention make you feel? In what ways does it influence your actions or decisions?
   
   
   
3. What are some ways we can intentionally give or seek positive attention for ourselves and others?
   
   
   

Exploring Negative Attention

1. Think of instances where negative attention might surface (for instance, through criticism, gossip, or other discouraging behaviors). What impact does negative attention have on individuals and groups?
   
   
   
2. How can negative attention affect someone’s self-esteem or behavior?
   
   
   
3. What strategies can you think of to minimize or counteract the effects of negative attention in your environment?
   
   
   

Connecting to Personal Experience

1. Reflect on a time when you received positive attention. How did that experience influence your confidence or mood?
   
   
   
2. Share a moment when negative attention affected you or someone you know. What did you learn from that experience?
   
   
   

Strategy Brainstorming and Action Steps

1. Based on our conversation, what are some steps you can take to seek positive attention in challenging situations?
   
   
   
2. What strategies could help deflect or transform negative attention into a more positive outcome?
   
   
   
3. Think about your personal goals. What is one concrete action you can take to foster positive interactions in your daily life?
   
   
   

Reflective Closing

1. What is one new insight you gained today about how attention—both positive and negative—affects human behavior?
   
   
   
2. Is there a lingering question you have or an area you’d like to explore further regarding the impact of attention?
   
   
   

Feel free to refer back to these questions as you complete your Attention Matters Worksheet and during our role-playing activity. Your shared experiences and ideas are a valuable part of our learning journey!

Attention-Boost Activity

Overview

In this activity, you'll work with your classmates to act out simple scenes. These scenes will show how positive attention (like compliments and kind words) can make us feel good, and how negative attention (like teasing or unkind comments) can hurt our feelings. We will also practice how to change a negative situation into a positive one.

Activity Structure

1. Preparation (5 minutes)

• The teacher will set up groups of 3-4 students.
• Each group will get a scenario card with a simple situation that you might see at school or home.

2. Role-Playing (15 minutes)

• Instructions:
  • Each group chooses roles (for example: one person might start the scene, one or two people react, and one could help solve the situation).
  • Read the scenario card and act it out. For example, the card might show someone not feeling good because of a mean comment, and then a friend helps by saying something kind.
  • After acting the scenario, talk in your group about how to change the situation if it starts off as negative.

3. Discussion and Reflection (10 minutes)

• After the role-playing, each group will discuss the following questions:

  1. What did you do to make the situation better?
  2. How did it feel when someone helped turn a negative moment into a positive one?
  3. What are some ways you can use these ideas at school or at home?

• Each group will share one idea with the class.

Follow-Up Questions

• How did using positive words change the way you felt?
• Can you remember a time when you used a kind word and it made a big difference?
• What might you do differently next time if a situation starts negatively?

Remember: The goal is to learn how to use our words and actions to create a positive environment for everyone. Enjoy the role-play and have fun sharing your ideas!

Attention Matters Worksheet

Part 1: Think About It

1. Think of a time when someone said something kind to you or praised you. What happened and how did it make you feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Now, think of a time when someone said something that hurt your feelings. What happened and how did it make you feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Recognizing Attention

3. List two examples of positive attention you see at school or home (like a friend giving a compliment or a teacher saying, "Great job!").
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Write down one example of negative attention you might see (like teasing or unkind comments). Why do you think it makes people feel bad?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Making a Change

5. What are two things you can do to help create more positive attention for you or your friends?
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. How might you change a situation if someone is giving negative attention? Write down one idea you have.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Remember: Positive attention makes everyone feel good and helps us do better! Use these ideas to think about how you can bring more kindness into your day.

Attention Matters Discussion Guide

This guide will help us talk about how attention can be good or not-so-good. Let's share our thoughts and learn from each other!

Getting Started

1. What does "attention" mean to you?
   
   
   
2. Can you think of a time when someone paid attention to you in a nice way? What happened?
   
   
   

Positive Attention

1. What are some examples of positive attention you notice at school or home?
   
   
   
2. How does it feel when someone says something kind or gives you a compliment?
   
   
   
3. What can you do to show positive attention to others?
   
   
   

Negative Attention

1. Can you share an example of when someone said something that hurt your feelings?
   
   
   
2. How did that situation make you feel?
   
   
   
3. What could be done to change the situation into something positive?
   
   
   

Moving Forward

1. What is one thing you will try to do to bring more positive attention in your day?
   
   
   
2. Is there a question or something you want to learn more about regarding attention?
   
   
   

Remember: Your ideas matter and sharing can help everyone feel better! Let's work together to create a kind and supportive classroom.