Lesson Plan
Navigating Moral Mazes
Students will be able to identify ethical dilemmas, apply a responsible decision-making framework, and analyze the potential impact of different choices.
This lesson helps students develop critical thinking and moral reasoning skills, which are essential for navigating complex situations in their lives and understanding their impact on others.
Audience
9th Grade Class
Time
75 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and group discussion.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas, Ethical Dilemma Scenarios, Moral Compass Debate, and Ethical Reasoning Rubric
Prep
Teacher Preparation
20 minutes
- Review all generated materials: Navigating Moral Mazes, Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas, Ethical Dilemma Scenarios, Moral Compass Debate, and Ethical Reasoning Rubric.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready.
- Print or prepare to display Ethical Dilemma Scenarios.
- Consider how to group students for the Moral Compass Debate.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up: What's a Dilemma?
10 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "When have you had to make a tough choice where there wasn't a clear 'right' answer?" Allow for a few student shares.
- Introduce the concept of an ethical dilemma using Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas (Slide 1-2).
- Explain that today's lesson will help them navigate these "moral mazes."
Step 2
Understanding Ethical Dilemmas
15 minutes
- Present the definition of an ethical dilemma and key characteristics using Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas (Slide 3-4).
- Discuss common ethical frameworks (e.g., consequences, duties, virtues) briefly, as appropriate for the class level, using Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas (Slide 5-6).
- Facilitate a short whole-class discussion on why ethical decision-making is important in daily life and in larger societal contexts.
Step 3
Introducing the Decision-Making Framework
15 minutes
- Introduce a simple 4-step decision-making framework: Identify the dilemma, brainstorm solutions, evaluate solutions (pros/cons, stakeholders, impact), choose and justify (using Choosing Wisely Ethical Dilemmas (Slide 7-8)).
- Walk through a simple, hypothetical example as a class, demonstrating how to apply each step of the framework.
Step 4
Applying the Framework: Scenario Practice
20 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Distribute or display the Ethical Dilemma Scenarios.
- Instruct each group to choose one scenario and apply the decision-making framework.
- Students should be prepared to discuss their chosen scenario, their decision-making process, and their justified solution.
Step 5
Moral Compass Debate & Wrap-Up
15 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Facilitate the Moral Compass Debate, inviting each group to share their scenario and solution.
- Encourage respectful discussion and questioning among groups.
- Briefly review the importance of responsible decision-making and ethical thinking.
- Assign the Ethical Reasoning Rubric for evaluating their participation and understanding.
Slide Deck
Ethical Dilemmas: Choosing Wisely
Navigating moral mazes with confidence and clarity.
Welcome students and introduce the topic of ethical dilemmas. Ask a warm-up question to get them thinking about tough choices.
What's a Dilemma?
Have you ever faced a tough choice where there was no clear "right" answer? What made it difficult?
Engage students by posing a relatable question. Allow a few moments for them to think or share briefly.
What IS an Ethical Dilemma?
An ethical dilemma is a situation where you have to choose between two or more possible actions, each of which has ethical implications.
- No clear "good" or "bad" option.
- Often involves a conflict of values or principles.
- The decision will affect others.
Introduce the formal definition of an ethical dilemma. Emphasize that it's more than just a difficult choice.
Key Characteristics of Ethical Dilemmas
- Conflicting Values: Two or more moral principles clash.
- Multiple Stakeholders: Different people or groups are affected.
- Significant Impact: Choices have important consequences.
- No Easy Answers: Requires careful thought and justification.
Further clarify the nature of ethical dilemmas by outlining their key characteristics.
How Do We Make Ethical Choices?
Throughout history, people have developed different ways to think about "right" and "wrong."
Some common ethical approaches focus on:
- Consequences: What will be the outcome of my actions?
- Duties/Rules: What are my responsibilities or the rules I should follow?
- Virtues: What kind of person do I want to be?
Briefly introduce different ethical lenses without going into too much academic depth. The goal is to show there are different ways to think about ethics.
Why Does This Matter to YOU?
- Real-Life Skills: You'll face ethical dilemmas in school, with friends, and in your future career.
- Impact on Others: Your choices affect the people around you and your community.
- Personal Growth: Developing strong ethical reasoning helps you become a responsible and thoughtful individual.
Transition to the practical decision-making framework students will use.
Our Decision-Making Framework
Here's a simple process to help you navigate ethical dilemmas:
Step 1: Identify the Dilemma
- What is the core conflict? What values are clashing?
- Who are the stakeholders (people affected)?
- What are the possible choices?
Introduce the first step of the framework.
Our Decision-Making Framework (Continued)
Step 2: Brainstorm Solutions
- What are ALL the possible actions you could take? Think broadly!
Step 3: Evaluate Solutions
- For each solution, consider:
- What are the pros and cons?
- How will it affect each stakeholder?
- Does it align with your values or important rules?
Step 4: Choose & Justify
- Make your decision. Be prepared to explain why you chose it, referencing the potential impacts and values.
Introduce the remaining steps of the framework.
Time to Practice!
You will now work in small groups to tackle real-world ethical scenarios. Apply the 4-step framework to one of the scenarios provided.
Be ready to share your dilemma, your process, and your justified solution with the class!
Prepare students for the activity where they will apply the framework.
Choosing Wisely, Living Ethically
Responsible decision-making is a lifelong skill. Keep practicing, keep questioning, and always consider the impact of your choices!
Conclude the presentation, reinforcing the main idea and encouraging critical thinking.
Reading
Ethical Dilemma Scenarios
Read through the following scenarios with your group. Choose ONE scenario to analyze using the 4-step decision-making framework.
Scenario 1: The Group Project Conundrum
You are working on a major group project for your English class. The project is worth a significant portion of your final grade. One of your group members, who is also a good friend, has not contributed much at all. They've missed meetings, haven't completed their assigned parts, and now the deadline is tomorrow. You and the other group members have picked up their slack, but it's clear their part of the project is still very weak and will bring down the entire group's grade. Your friend asks you to tell the teacher they did their fair share, so they don't get a bad grade.
What should you do?
Scenario 2: The Online Secret
Your best friend confides in you that they've been secretly bullying another student online. They show you screenshots of mean comments and messages they've sent from an anonymous account. Your friend makes you promise not to tell anyone, saying it was just a joke and they've stopped now. However, you know the student who was bullied has been visibly upset and withdrawn at school recently.
What should you do?
Scenario 3: The Found Wallet
While walking home, you find a wallet on the sidewalk. You open it to look for identification and find a driver's license with an address, about $200 in cash, and a concert ticket for an event happening that night. You've been saving up for weeks to buy a similar ticket, but it's been sold out. You're pretty sure no one saw you pick up the wallet, and you really want to go to the concert.
What should you do?
Scenario 4: The Environmental Shortcut
You are part of a school club that is organizing a large community clean-up event. You've been put in charge of ordering supplies. You find a supplier that offers significantly cheaper, but less environmentally friendly, cleaning products and trash bags. Using these cheaper products would save the club a lot of money, which could then be used for more impactful projects in the future. However, you know the club's mission emphasizes sustainability and protecting the environment, and many members are passionate about using eco-friendly options.
What should you do?
Discussion
Moral Compass Debate: Sharing Our Ethical Journeys
After working through your chosen ethical dilemma scenario in your groups, we will now come together as a class to share our insights and engage in a respectful debate.
Discussion Guidelines:
- Listen Actively: Pay attention when others are speaking.
- Respectful Disagreement: It's okay to have different opinions, but express them kindly and thoughtfully.
- Support Your Stance: Back up your decisions and reasoning with evidence and logical arguments from the framework we discussed.
- One Speaker at a Time: Raise your hand and wait to be called on.
Group Sharing & Debate Prompts:
-
Group Presentation (5 minutes per group):
- Briefly describe the ethical dilemma your group chose from the Ethical Dilemma Scenarios.
- Explain the core conflict and the values involved.
- Walk us through your group's decision-making process using the 4-step framework.
- State your group's chosen solution and justify it based on your evaluation.
-
Class Discussion Questions:
- Did any other groups consider the same scenario? Did you arrive at a different solution? Why or why not?
- What were the most challenging aspects of applying the decision-making framework to your scenario?
- Were there any solutions you considered that initially seemed good but, upon evaluation, proved to have negative consequences?
- How did considering the different stakeholders impact your final decision?
- Can you see how this framework might be useful in real-life situations outside of school?
- What is one new insight you gained about ethical decision-making today?
- Did any other groups consider the same scenario? Did you arrive at a different solution? Why or why not?
Rubric
Ethical Reasoning Rubric
This rubric will be used to assess your ability to identify, analyze, and respond to ethical dilemmas using the responsible decision-making framework.
| Criteria | 4 - Exceeds Expectations | 3 - Meets Expectations | 2 - Developing | 1 - Needs Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifies Dilemma & Values | Clearly identifies the core ethical dilemma, conflicting values, and all relevant stakeholders. | Identifies the ethical dilemma, most conflicting values, and most stakeholders. | Identifies the dilemma, but misses some conflicting values or stakeholders. | Struggles to identify the core dilemma, values, or stakeholders. |
| Applies Framework Steps | Thoroughly applies all 4 steps of the decision-making framework with clear evidence. | Applies all 4 steps of the decision-making framework with minor gaps. | Applies some steps of the framework, but with significant omissions or misunderstandings. | Attempts to apply the framework, but is largely incomplete or incorrect. |
| Evaluates Solutions | Critically evaluates multiple solutions, detailing pros/cons, stakeholder impact, and alignment with ethical considerations. | Evaluates solutions, considering pros/cons and stakeholder impact, but may lack depth in ethical considerations. | Briefly evaluates solutions, but with limited consideration of consequences or stakeholders. | Does not effectively evaluate potential solutions. |
| Justifies Decision | Presents a well-reasoned, logical, and ethically sound justification for the chosen solution. | Justifies the chosen solution with clear reasoning, though may lack some depth. | Provides a justification, but it is somewhat unclear or lacks strong ethical reasoning. | Offers little to no justification for a chosen solution. |
| Participation in Debate | Actively participates, offering insightful contributions and respectfully challenging others' ideas. | Participates in the debate, sharing ideas and listening to others. | Participates minimally or needs prompting to engage in discussion. | Does not participate in the debate. |