Lesson Plan
Quest Game Outline
Students will practice responsible decision-making by navigating life scenarios in a board-game format and reflecting on the consequences of their choices.
This lesson builds critical CASEL skills by engaging 8th graders in realistic scenarios, fostering teamwork, thoughtful choices, and structured reflection on outcomes.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Board-game play with guided discussion and reflection.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and assemble Scenario Cards Deck
- Print and laminate Life Path Board Game
- Print copies of Team Reflection Rubric and Game Debrief Prompts
- Arrange classroom into four team stations with space to spread the game board
- Review game rules and sample scenarios to anticipate student questions
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Explain the lesson objective: practicing responsible decision-making and reflection
- Define CASEL’s Responsible Decision-Making competency
- Model one sample scenario: read the card, discuss options, choose a path, and reflect briefly
Step 2
Team Setup and Roles
5 minutes
- Divide class into teams of 4 students each
- Assign roles: Reader (draws cards), Mover (advances piece), Recorder (notes rationale), Speaker (presents debrief)
- Distribute each team’s board, scenario deck, and rubric sheet
Step 3
Gameplay Rounds
30 minutes
- Teams take turns drawing one scenario card at a time
- Reader reads the scenario aloud; group discusses possible choices
- Team agrees on a decision, Mover advances piece accordingly
- Recorder jots down the decision rationale for later reflection
- Repeat for 4–5 cards, ensuring all teams progress toward the finish line
Step 4
Team Reflection
5 minutes
- Distribute Team Reflection Rubric
- Teams rate their discussion quality, decision thoughtfulness, and listening skills
- Recorder summarizes key learning points based on rubric criteria
Step 5
Whole-Class Debrief
5 minutes
- Reconvene as a class and use Game Debrief Prompts
- Invite teams to share one challenging scenario and what they learned
- Highlight examples of strong decision-making and reflections
Activity
Life Path Board Game
Overview:
A winding-path board game that guides teams from Start to Finish, with varied spaces prompting scenario challenges, decision points, reflection breaks, and chance events. Students move their token, draw cards, make group choices, and pause to reflect, practicing CASEL’s Responsible Decision-Making competency.
Board Layout:
- 30 numbered spaces laid out in a zig-zag path across the page
- Start on space 1 (bottom left), Finish on space 30 (top right)
- Two branch points at spaces 10 and 20 allowing teams to choose one of two divergent path segments
Space Types & Distribution:
- Scenario Spaces (⚡): Draw a card from Scenario Cards Deck. 20 spaces total.
- Reflection Spaces (✏️): Pause and use your rubric to reflect. Occur on every 5th space (5, 15, 25).
- Choice Points (↔️): At spaces 10 and 20, choose Path A or Path B—each leads to different subsequent scenario cards.
- Chance Spaces (🎲): On spaces 7 and 17, roll one extra turn or skip ahead two spaces.
- Start (🏁): Space 1 — “Freshman Year Kick-Off.”
- Finish (🎓): Space 30 — “Graduation Day: Responsible Decision-Making Champion.”
Legend:
| Icon | Space Type | Action |
|---|---|---|
| ⚡ | Scenario Space | Draw one Scenario Card; discuss options; decide. |
| ✏️ | Reflection Space | Stop, refer to Team Reflection Rubric, rate your discussion. |
| ↔️ | Choice Point | Team picks one of two paths (A or B). |
| 🎲 | Chance Space | Roll die: outcome on card (extra move or setback). |
| 🏁 | Start Space | Place all tokens here; first move draws card. |
| 🎓 | Finish Space | First team to arrive wins; debrief follows. |
How to Use:
- Lay the board flat in the center of your team station.
- Place tokens at 🏁 Start.
- On your turn, roll a die and advance that many spaces.
- Follow the icon’s instructions on the space you land on.
- At Choice Points, select Path A or B and follow that branch of the board.
- Upon reaching 🎓 Finish, pause gameplay and prepare for the Whole-Class Debrief.
Visual Notes:
- Each space is color-coded by type (Scenario: light purple; Reflection: pastel pink; Chance: lavender).
- Branching paths are marked with bold arrows and labeled A/B.
- Icons are placed at the center of each space for quick recognition.
This board game design encourages movement, discussion, teamwork, and periodic reflection, reinforcing the habit of responsible decision-making through experiential play.
Slide Deck
Scenario 1: The Unexpected Party Invite
You receive a text from a friend inviting you to a party at someone’s house while parents are away. You haven’t done your homework yet.
What do you do?
A) Go to the party and plan to finish homework later.
B) Decline the invitation and complete your homework.
C) Ask a parent for permission and invite them to supervise.
Introduce the scenario to the class. Invite students to silently read the card, then discuss in their teams before selecting an option.
Scenario 2: The Dropped Wallet
You find a wallet on the sidewalk outside school. No one saw you pick it up. It contains cash and an ID card.
What do you do?
A) Keep the money and throw away the wallet.
B) Turn it in to the school office.
C) Try to contact the owner directly using the ID.
Highlight peer pressure as a factor. Encourage students to consider both immediate and long-term consequences.
Scenario 3: The Group Chat Gossip
In your team chat, someone starts spreading a rumor about a classmate that might not be true.
What do you do?
A) Forward the rumor to more friends for fun.
B) Ignore it and don’t engage.
C) Privately message the rumor source to verify facts.
Point out digital vs. real life consequences. Guide students to consider the impact on relationships.
Scenario 4: The Test Cheat
During a pop quiz, you notice the student next to you is looking at your answers.
What do you do?
A) Let them copy so they don’t get in trouble.
B) Politely ask them to stop.
C) Alert the teacher quietly.
Discuss academic integrity. Emphasize that cheating may solve a short-term problem but harm learning.
Scenario 5: The Deadline Dilemma
You realize a major project is due tomorrow but you haven’t started because of other commitments.
What do you do?
A) Pull an all-nighter tonight and skip dinner.
B) Email your teacher now to explain and ask for an extension.
C) Turn in a rough draft and accept the lower grade.
Prompt students to think through scheduling and self-advocacy. Offer them examples of how to ask for an extension.
Scenario 6: The Social Media Post
You see a funny meme about a student who got embarrassed in class. Sharing it would get you many likes.
What do you do?
A) Share it immediately to get attention.
B) Keep it private and delete it later.
C) Decide not to share and talk to the student instead.
Encourage discussion of digital footprints and reputation. Ask how a post can be misinterpreted.
Scenario 7: The Teammate Conflict
During a group assignment, one teammate is not contributing and blames others for low grades.
What do you do?
A) Confront them angrily in front of everyone.
B) Talk privately to your teammate about splitting tasks differently.
C) Report them to the teacher without discussion.
Focus on teamwork and conflict resolution. Highlight respectful communication skills.
Scenario 8: The Favor Request
A friend asks you to lie to your parents so they can borrow your car for the evening.
What do you do?
A) Agree and cover for them.
B) Refuse and explain you can’t lie.
C) Offer to help them find another solution.
Model how to say “no” respectfully. Discuss boundaries and kindness.
Scenario 9: The Shortcut Home
You’re walking home and see a locked gate around your usual path. A small gap in the fence looks easy to slip through.
What do you do?
A) Climb through the gap to save time.
B) Walk the longer, official route.
C) Call home for a ride instead.
Discuss safety vs. convenience. Ask students to weigh risk vs. benefit.
Scenario 10: The Spend or Save
You have $20 birthday money. You can buy a new game now or save for a more expensive item your family needs.
What do you do?
A) Spend all $20 on the game.
B) Save the entire $20 for the family item.
C) Split it: buy half a game and save half.
Introduce budgeting concepts. Encourage thinking about short-term desire vs. long-term goal.
Rubric
Team Reflection Rubric
Scale: 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning
| Criterion | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion Quality | Team engages thoughtfully, builds on each other’s ideas, and explores multiple perspectives respectfully. | Team holds a focused, respectful discussion, considers at least one alternative viewpoint. | Discussion is somewhat focused but superficial, with few perspectives considered. | Little or off-topic discussion; few or no ideas exchanged. |
| Rationale Depth | Provides clear, well-supported rationale that weighs both short- and long-term consequences. | Provides a logical rationale with mention of consequences. | Rationale is stated but lacks clear support or consideration of outcomes. | No or irrelevant reasoning; fails to explain the decision. |
| Collaboration & Listening | All team members actively contribute, listen attentively, and encourage peers to share ideas. | Most members participate and listen; occasional prompting fosters input. | Only some members participate; listening is inconsistent or passive. | Collaboration is minimal; team members interrupt, dominate, or disengage. |
Instructions:
After your gameplay rounds, use this rubric to rate your team’s performance. Discuss as a group to agree on a single score per criterion.
Recorder: note one example of strength and one area for growth next to each criterion.
Example:
Discussion Quality – 3: Good focus, but we missed exploring one alternate choice.
Rationale Depth – 4: We linked our choice to both immediate and future impacts.
Collaboration & Listening – 2: Only two members led most decisions; quieter members had few chances to speak.
Cool Down
Game Debrief Prompts
Use these prompts to guide a whole-class reflection at the end of Choice Quest. Invite each team’s Speaker to share succinct responses.
- Which scenario did your team find the most challenging, and why?
- How did your team’s discussion process demonstrate responsible decision-making? What steps did you take to weigh consequences?
- What insight did you gain about thinking through both short-term and long-term outcomes of your choices?
- How can you apply today’s lessons about reflection and collaboration to decisions you’ll face in school or life?
- Bonus: Share one example of when a team member’s perspective helped the group make a better decision.