lenny

Decision Detective

Lesson Plan

Decision Detective Pretest Plan

Assess 5th graders’ baseline skills in identifying problems, generating options, and evaluating consequences through short scenarios.

Understanding students’ current decision-making abilities helps tailor future SEL lessons to build stronger responsible decision-making skills and meet individual needs.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Students complete scenario-based questions independently.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Tell students they will become Decision Detectives and work on scenarios requiring responsible choices.
  • Explain they’ll read each scenario, identify the problem, list two possible actions, and predict one consequence for each action.
  • Emphasize honest answers—this is a pretest, not graded for correctness.

Step 2

Individual Assessment

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Decision Detective Student Sheet and a pencil to each student.
  • Hand out 3–4 Decision Scenario Cards to each student randomly.
  • Instruct students to work silently and complete all sections for each scenario:
    • State the problem in their own words.
    • List two distinct options.
    • Predict one potential consequence for each option.
  • Circulate to ensure understanding but avoid giving solutions.

Step 3

Wrap-Up and Collection

3 minutes

  • Ask students to review their answers for completeness.
  • Collect all student sheets and scenario cards.
  • Quickly note any students who finished unusually fast or slowly for follow-up.
  • Thank students for their thoughtful participation.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Decision Detective Pretest

• CASEL Standard: Responsible Decision Making
• Audience: 5th Grade (Tier 1 Classroom)
• Time: 15 minutes

Welcome students. Introduce the session: "Today you are going to be Decision Detectives! We will work on short scenarios to see how you make responsible choices. This is a pretest—not graded—so answer honestly to help me plan future lessons."

How to Complete This Pretest

  1. Read each scenario on your cards.
  2. Identify and write the problem in your own words.
  3. List two distinct options for what you could do.
  4. Predict one possible consequence for each option.

Explain each step clearly. Emphasize silent work and honest responses.

Materials You’ll Use

• Decision Detective Student Sheet
• Decision Scenario Cards
• Pencil
• Clipboard or flat writing surface

Show students the materials on their desks.

Example Scenario

Scenario: Jamie realizes they forgot their science project at home just before class.

  1. Problem: Jamie can’t turn in the project on time.
  2. Option A: Call home and ask a family member to bring it to school.
    – Consequence A: They get the project but arrive late to class.
  3. Option B: Explain to the teacher and ask for an extension.
    – Consequence B: Teacher grants extra time but Jamie loses practice speaking in class.

Walk through this example slowly. Encourage questions.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

• Review your answers for completeness.
• When finished, place your sheet and scenario cards on the collection pile.
• Return quietly to your seat.
• Thank you for your thoughtful participation!

Give final reminders and begin distribution.

lenny

Worksheet

Decision Detective Student Sheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________

Instructions:
Read each scenario on your cards. For each scenario, do the following:

  1. Write the problem in your own words.
  2. List two different options you could choose.
  3. Predict one possible consequence for each option.

Scenario 1 (Card #____)

  1. What is the problem?






  2. Option 1:





    • Consequence of Option 1:




  3. Option 2:





    • Consequence of Option 2:




Scenario 2 (Card #____)

  1. What is the problem?






  2. Option 1:





    • Consequence of Option 1:




  3. Option 2:





    • Consequence of Option 2:




Scenario 3 (Card #____)

  1. What is the problem?






  2. Option 1:





    • Consequence of Option 1:




  3. Option 2:





    • Consequence of Option 2:




When you finish all your scenarios, double-check that you’ve filled in every part. Thank you for being a Decision Detective!

lenny
lenny

Activity

Decision Scenario Cards

Use these scenarios to help students practice responsible decision making. Distribute 3–4 cards to each student during the pretest.

  1. Card 1
    Scenario: You realize you lost your lunch money right before the cafeteria line starts.






  2. Card 2
    Scenario: Maya was invited to two birthday parties that happen at the same time after school.






  3. Card 3
    Scenario: You see Alex teasing a younger student on the playground during recess.






  4. Card 4
    Scenario: Kian finds a $5 bill on the ground near the school entrance.






  5. Card 5
    Scenario: Your homework spilled coffee all over, and it’s almost unreadable.






  6. Card 6
    Scenario: A group of friends invites you to skip the next class and hang out outside.






  7. Card 7
    Scenario: In a group project, one partner isn’t sharing the work and you’re behind schedule.






  8. Card 8
    Scenario: You were assigned a book that you find too hard to read on your own.






lenny
lenny