Interactive Video Transcripts

Below is the transcript for our case study video. As you read, watch for both visible impacts (what you can see immediately) and hidden impacts (unseen consequences). Respond to the embedded questions with your thoughts.

Transcript Part 1 (0:00 – 1:00)

Narrator: It’s a busy lunchtime at Washington Middle School. Four friends—Alex, Maya, Jordan, and Sam—gather at a table when Alex spots something on the floor.

Alex: Hey, look! Is that a wallet?

Maya (picking it up): Yeah, it looks full of cash and ID cards. Who do you think it belongs to?

Jordan: Probably someone in Mrs. Lee’s class. I saw Tim carrying a big wallet this morning.

Sam: We could just sell the cash and throw away the rest. No one would ever know.

Maya (shaking her head): That’s wrong. We should turn it in to the office.

Jordan: But think of what we could do with the money…

Alex (thinking): What should we do?

Comprehension Prompt 1:

1. Who are the main characters in this scene?
2. What choice are they facing?
   
   
   

Transcript Part 2 (1:01 – 2:15)

Sam (quietly): Everyone’s talking about money. I say we split it four ways—each get a share.

Maya (firmly): No way. We’re going to the office now.

Jordan (hesitant): Fine, but if it’s returned, we might get a reward.

Narrator: The friends walk to the main office. Mrs. Lee thanks them and places the wallet in the lost-and-found bin. No reward is given—just a polite “thank you.” The group walks back.

Alex (softly): That was anticlimactic.

Sam (shrugs): Guess we did the right thing.

Comprehension Prompt 2:

1. What decision did the friends make?
2. What visible impact occurred immediately?
   
   
   

Transcript Part 3 (2:16 – 3:30)

Narrator: The next day, Tim discovers his wallet missing. Word spreads that students found it—but didn’t ask for a reward.

Tim (to Mrs. Lee): Thank you for keeping my wallet safe. I almost lost everything.

Mrs. Lee (to students): I’m proud of those who returned it. But to prevent future issues, from now on, any found items will be locked away for two weeks before release.

Maya (to Alex): That new policy is going to make it hard for honest kids when they lose things.

Jordan (quietly): And some students who really needed their lost items might give up looking.

Alex (to group): I feel good we did the right thing, but now I see how our choice changed things for others.

Comprehension Prompt 3:

1. Identify two hidden impacts that resulted from returning the wallet.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflection Question

Based on the video transcript, think about a time you faced a decision where the right choice wasn’t the easiest. Describe your decision, the hidden impacts that followed, and an action you’ll take next time to consider those hidden impacts before deciding.

Hidden Impact Forum Guidelines

Use these guidelines during your small-group analysis to dig deeper into the unseen ripple effects of choices.

Purpose

• Collaboratively identify and examine hidden impacts of the case study scenario
• Practice evidence-based reasoning by citing transcript/video details
• Prepare a clear, concise report of your findings to share with the class

Group Roles (assign one per member)

• Facilitator: Keeps discussion on track and ensures everyone contributes
• Recorder: Writes down hidden impacts, evidence, and key insights
• Reporter: Presents your group’s findings during the whole-class debrief
• Timekeeper: Monitors time and helps the group meet the task deadlines

Discussion Steps

1. Review Observations (2 minutes)
   • Each member shares their sticky-note observations: visible vs. hidden impacts.
2. Identify Top Hidden Impacts (5 minutes)
   • As a group, select 2–3 hidden impacts you found most significant.
3. Analyze Cause & Effect (5 minutes)
   • For each hidden impact, discuss:
     • How did the characters’ choice trigger this impact?
     • Who or what is affected downstream?
     • What evidence from the transcript/video supports your inference?
4. Prepare Your Report (3 minutes)
   • Recorder organizes notes into a clear summary.
   • Reporter rehearses a brief (1-minute) presentation of your group’s insights.

Prompts & Probing Questions

• What unexpected outcomes arose that weren’t immediately visible?
• How might these hidden impacts influence other people or future events at school?
• Could any of these hidden impacts be positive as well as negative?
• What alternatives could have minimized negative hidden impacts?

Tips for Success

• Always link your point back to specific lines or moments in the transcript/video.
• Encourage quieter group members to share their ideas—diverse perspectives reveal more impacts.
• Keep sentence frames in mind: “I notice… because…,” “This matters because…,” “Another effect could be…”

When time is up, your reporter will share your group’s hidden impacts and reasoning with the class!

Personal Takeaway Reflection Worksheet

Take a moment to reflect on a choice you made, its hidden impacts, and how you will approach future decisions more responsibly.

1. Personal Decision

Describe a time you faced a decision where doing the right thing wasn’t the easiest option.

2. Hidden Impacts

Identify at least two hidden impacts that followed from your choice.

1. Impact One:

1. Impact Two:

3. Action Plan

What specific steps will you take in the future to consider hidden impacts before making a decision?

4. Why It Matters

Explain why thinking about hidden impacts is important for responsible decision-making.