Lab Instructor Script: Choices & Consequences Lab

Warm-Up: Lab Goggles Metaphor (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, aspiring scientists! Welcome to the Choices & Consequences Lab. When you think of a science lab, what comes to mind? Shout out some words!"

"Great answers! I heard things like 'careful observation,' 'following steps,' and 'safety.' Today, we're going to put on our imaginary 'lab goggles' to carefully examine something incredibly important: our choices and their potential outcomes. Just like a scientist meticulously plans an experiment, we need to carefully think about the choices we make every day."

"To start, think about a choice you've made recently – maybe what you had for breakfast, what you wore, or how you spent your time yesterday. Did you think much about it, or did you just... do it? Don't share yet, just hold that thought."

Introducing the 4-Step Decision-Making Model (10 minutes)

"Often, we make choices without much thought, especially when things happen fast. But what if we had a clear, systematic way to approach our decisions? Today, we're going to learn a 4-step decision-making model. Think of it as our 'lab procedure' for making good choices."

"(Advance to Slide 2: Step 1: STOP!)"

"Step 1: STOP! Before you do anything, just pause. Take a breath. Don't react immediately. Give yourself time to think. Why do you think this 'stop' step is so important? What could happen if you don't stop and just react?"

"Exactly! It helps us avoid making choices based on strong emotions like anger or frustration, or without enough information. It gives us a moment to calm down and clear our heads."

"(Advance to Slide 3: Step 2: THINK!)"

"Step 2: THINK! This is where the real investigation happens. Now that you've stopped, you need to consider your options and, most importantly, the consequences of each option. What are your choices? If you choose option A, what could happen? If you choose option B, what might be the result?"

"When you're thinking about consequences, I want you to consider two types: short-term consequences – what happens right away? And long-term consequences – what happens later? Tomorrow? Next month? Next year? Who else might be affected by your choice, positively or negatively?"

"(Advance to Slide 4: Step 3: DECIDE!)"

"Step 3: DECIDE! After you've carefully thought through your options and their consequences, it's time to make your choice. Which option seems like the best choice, based on your 'thinking'? Which option aligns with your personal values or what you know is right? Which option has the most positive and fewest negative consequences? Once you've made your decision, commit to it!"

"(Advance to Slide 5: Step 4: REFLECT!)"

"Step 4: REFLECT! The experiment isn't over until you analyze your results! After you've made your choice and seen the outcome, take time to look back. How did your decision turn out? Were the consequences what you expected? What did you learn from this experience? Reflection is super important because it helps you grow and make even better choices next time!"

Group Application: Scenario Analysis (10 minutes)

"Alright, lab teams, it's time to put on your active thinking caps!"

"(Advance to Slide 6: Your Turn: Scenario Lab!)"

"You will each receive a Decision Flowchart worksheet and your group will get one scenario card. Your task is to work together, applying the 4-step decision-making model we just learned to the dilemma on your card. Use the Decision Flowchart to guide your discussion and record your thoughts. Make sure to discuss both the short-term and long-term consequences of the potential choices."

"I'll be circulating to answer any questions. You have about 7 minutes to work through your scenario. Then we'll come back together to share!"

(Circulate, provide support, and monitor time.)

"Okay, scientists, bring it back together! Let's hear some of your findings. Each group, please share your scenario, and then tell us one short-term consequence and one long-term consequence you identified from your chosen path. Who wants to go first?"

(Facilitate brief sharing from each group, encouraging discussion.)

Cool-Down: Personal Reflection (5 minutes)

"Excellent work everyone! It's clear that thinking through our choices carefully can lead to much better outcomes. To wrap up our lab session today, I want each of you to do a quick, private reflection."

"(Advance to Slide 7: Personal Reflection)"

"Think about a recent choice you made – it could be big or small. How did you make that decision? And, now that you know the 'Stop, Think, Decide, Reflect' model, how could it have applied to your situation? What did you learn from the outcome of your choice, whether it was good or bad? You don't need to share the details with anyone, just spend a moment thinking quietly to yourself."

"Thank you all for your active participation today! Remember, every choice is an experiment, and with careful thought, you can become a master decision-maker."

Decision Flowchart: Your Choices, Your Consequences!

Name: _____________________________

Group Members: _____________________________

Scenario Card: (Briefly write down the dilemma from your card)

Step 1: STOP! ⏸️

Before reacting, what is the situation you need to pause and think about? Why is it important not to make an immediate decision?

Step 2: THINK! 🤔

Carefully consider your options and the potential consequences.

Option 1:

What is one possible choice you could make?

Short-Term Consequences (What happens right away?):

Long-Term Consequences (What happens later? Who else is affected?):

Option 2:

What is another possible choice you could make?

Short-Term Consequences (What happens right away?):

Long-Term Consequences (What happens later? Who else is affected?):

Step 3: DECIDE! ✅

Based on your "THINK"ing, which option do you choose? Why do you think this is the best decision for this scenario?

Step 4: REFLECT! 🧠

If you were to see the outcome of your decision, what might you have learned? What might be one challenge you face after making this decision, and how could you handle it?