Decision Lab

Carri Russell

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Lab Setup Protocol

Ensure that the classroom and all materials are ready for a smooth 10-minute Decision Lab focused on cause & effect—so students can dive straight into exploring their choices.

A clear setup protocol helps maximize student engagement in a brief lab, minimizes downtime, and ensures everyone has what they need to practice responsible decision-making.

Audience

3rd Grade Class

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Step-by-step classroom prep guide

Materials

Experiment Steps Slides, Role Play Stations, Outcome Log, Timer or Stopwatch, Name Tags or Role Cards, and Chart Paper & Markers

Prep

Arrange Classroom & Materials

5 minutes

Print and cut all Role Play Stations cards in advance.
Print enough Outcome Log worksheets for each student.
Load the Experiment Steps Slides and test the projector/screen.
Set up 3–4 stations around the room, placing station props and role cards at each.
Place chart paper and markers at a central debrief area.
Review the Decision Lab lesson plan and experiment steps slides as needed.

Step 1

Welcome & Launch

1 minute

Gather students on the carpet or at their tables.
Briefly introduce: "Today, you’ll role-play different choices and track the outcomes on your logs."

Step 2

Station Assignments

1 minute

Assign small groups (3–4 students) to each station.
Hand out name tags or role cards so each student knows their part.
Distribute one Outcome Log per student.

Step 3

Conduct Experiments

6 minutes

Advance the Experiment Steps Slides to Step 1.
Start the timer for each step (1–2 minutes per step).
As groups make choices, students record observed outcomes on their logs.
Circulate to prompt thinking: “What do you notice? How did that choice affect the result?”

Step 4

Clean-Up & Transition

1 minute

Signal the end of the lab.
Have students leave station props neatly and return logs to you.
Move to the debrief area.

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Slide Deck

Decision Lab: Experiment Steps

In this lab, you will explore how different choices lead to different outcomes. Follow each step and use your Outcome Log worksheet to track your observations.

Welcome students to the Decision Lab. Explain: “Today we’ll role-play choices and track outcomes step by step. Follow each slide’s instructions and use your Outcome Log to record what you notice.”

Step 1: Read Your Scenario

Each group finds a Role Play Stations card and reads the scenario. Identify the key decision point.

Distribute one Role Play Station card to each group. Start a 1-minute timer.

Step 2: Choose Your Action

Discuss as a group and decide which action you will role-play for your scenario.

Prompt groups to discuss possible actions. Start a 2-minute timer and circulate to listen for cause-and-effect thinking.

Step 3: Role-Play & Observe

Act out your chosen action. Watch closely! Notice what happens as a result of your decision.

Encourage students to act out their chosen scenario. Start a 2-minute timer. Observe and note what happens as a result of their decision.

Step 4: Record Your Outcome

On your Outcome Log, write down the choice you made and the outcome you observed.

Have students fill out their Outcome Logs. Start a 1-minute timer. Ensure they write down both choice and observed outcome.

Transition to Debrief

Clean up your station props and head to the debrief area. We’ll share what we learned on the chart paper.

Signal the end of the lab. Ask students to leave props neatly and bring logs to the debrief area.

Activity

Role Play Stations

Welcome to the heart of our Decision Lab! At each station, a small group of 3–4 students will role-play a scenario, make a choice, and observe its outcome.

Each card below describes:

The situation you’ll act out
The key decision point
Suggested roles and simple props (optional)

Station 1: The Lost Lunch Item

Scenario: Sam accidentally drops an apple from their lunch tray. You find the apple on the floor.
Decision Point: Do you pick it up and give it back to Sam or keep it for yourself?
Roles:

Sam (the student who dropped the apple)
Finder (the student who found it)
Bystander(s) (observe and comment)
Props (optional): Plastic apple or paper cut-out apple; lunch tray.

Station 2: The Last Paintbrush

Scenario: Only one blue paintbrush remains, but two students want to paint with it for their art project.
Decision Point: Do you share the brush, take turns, or insist it’s yours?
Roles:

Student A (wants the brush first)
Student B (also needs the brush)
Helper/Observer (offers solutions or watches)
Props (optional): Paintbrush, small paint cups.

Station 3: Swing Set Wait

Scenario: The swing set is empty, but a group of friends is waiting.
Decision Point: Do you let someone else go first, take a short turn, or swing as long as you like?
Roles:

Swayer (student using the swing)
Friend 1 (waiting patiently)
Friend 2 (growing impatient)
Observer
Props (optional): Toy swing or paper swing cut-out.

Station 4: Glue Stick for Group Project

Scenario: Your group has one glue stick left to finish the poster.
Decision Point: Do you let each person use a bit, give it all to one friend, or ask for another stick from the teacher?
Roles:

Group Member 1
Group Member 2
Group Member 3
Teacher (optional observer)
Props (optional): Glue stick, poster board.

At each station, read your scenario, assign roles, decide which action to try, and then act it out! Record what happens next on your Outcome Log. Good luck exploring cause and effect through your choices!

Worksheet

Outcome Log

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________ Station #: ________
Scenario: ____________________________________________

Record Your Decision & Outcome

Choice I Made	Observed Outcome

Reflection Questions

What did you notice about how your choice affected the outcome?

If you tried a different choice, what would it be and why?