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Ethics in Action

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Lesson Plan

Context Exploration Plan

Students will apply CASEL’s Responsible Decision-Making steps to everyday scenarios at school, home, and in their community, strengthening their ethical reasoning and decision-making skills.

This lesson builds students’ moral awareness by having them practice ethical reasoning in relatable contexts, promoting responsible choices and positive community impact.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive quiz with guided debriefing.

Materials

Ethics in Action Slides, Ethics in Action Quiz, and Action Rationale

Prep

Material Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

2 minutes

  • Display Slide 1 from Ethics in Action Slides
  • Ask: "What does ethics mean to you?" Invite 2–3 examples of ethical or unethical choices at school or home

Step 2

CASEL Framework Overview

2 minutes

  • Show Slides 2–3: Responsible Decision-Making steps
  • Briefly explain each step with one real-life example

Step 3

Quiz Activity

8 minutes

  • Project Scenario 1 from Ethics in Action Quiz
  • Students decide silently which action aligns with ethical reasoning
  • Call on volunteers to explain their choice and identify the CASEL step used
  • Repeat for Scenarios 2 and 3

Step 4

Debrief and Rationale

2 minutes

  • Reveal correct answers and explanations from Action Rationale
  • Discuss how applying the framework led to each decision

Step 5

Closure

1 minute

  • Summarize key takeaways: ethics guide everyday choices
  • Encourage students to use these steps when faced with tough decisions
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Slide Deck

Ethics in Action

What does ethics mean to you?

• Share one example of an ethical choice
• Share one example of an unethical choice

Be ready to explain why your example fits.

Welcome students to today’s session. Read the slide: “What does ethics mean to you?” Invite 2–3 volunteers to share an example of an ethical or unethical choice they’ve seen at school or at home. Emphasize that ethics is about making responsible decisions.

Step 1 & 2: Identify & Impact

  1. Identify the problem or decision you face
  2. Consider who is affected and why it matters

Example: You notice a friend sitting alone at lunch.

Introduce the first two steps of the CASEL Responsible Decision-Making framework. Briefly define each and give a quick real-life example (e.g., noticing someone is upset).

Steps 3–5: Options to Reflect

  1. Brainstorm possible actions or choices
  2. Evaluate the potential outcomes for each option
  3. Choose the best option and reflect on the results

Example continued: You invite your friend to join you and your group.

Present the remaining three steps. Use the example from the previous slide to illustrate exploring options, weighing consequences, and choosing the best action.

Scenario 1: Academic Integrity

During a quiz, you notice a classmate copying answers from their neighbor. You could:
A. Ignore it and focus on your own work
B. Tell the teacher after class
C. Confront them in front of everyone

What do you do?

Read aloud Scenario 1 and give students 30 seconds to decide silently. Then ask for volunteers to share which option they chose, why it’s ethical, and which CASEL step guided them.

Scenario 2: At Home

You find your sibling’s brand-new video game left out. You could:
A. Play it without asking
B. Ask your sibling for permission
C. Wait until they offer to let you play

What’s the most responsible choice?

Present Scenario 2. Encourage students to identify which steps they used to reach their decision and to explain their reasoning.

Scenario 3: Community Care

At the park, you see someone drop trash on the ground. You could:
A. Walk away and mind your own business
B. Pick it up and dispose of it properly
C. Point it out to the person and ask them to pick it up

Which action aligns with ethical reasoning?

Show Scenario 3. Prompt students to link their choice back to the framework and discuss potential impacts on everyone involved.

Key Takeaways

• Ethics guide our everyday choices
• Follow the 5 Responsible Decision-Making steps:

  1. Identify the problem
  2. Consider who’s affected
  3. Explore options
  4. Weigh consequences
  5. Choose and reflect

Use this process at school, at home, and in your community!

Review the main points: ethics matter in all areas of life, and the CASEL steps help us make responsible decisions. Encourage students to use this framework whenever they face a tough choice.

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Quiz

Ethics in Action Quiz

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Answer Key

Action Rationale

Below are the correct answers for each scenario along with a step-by-step connection to the CASEL Responsible Decision-Making framework.

Scenario 1: Academic Integrity

Correct Answer: B. Tell the teacher after class
CASEL Steps Used:

  1. Identify the problem – You notice a classmate copying answers.
  2. Consider who’s affected – Cheating undermines fairness for everyone taking the quiz honestly.
  3. Explore options –
    • Ignore it and focus on your own work
    • Tell the teacher after class
    • Confront them in front of everyone
  4. Weigh consequences –
    • Ignoring allows dishonesty to continue and compromises class integrity.
    • Public confrontation could embarrass your classmate and create conflict.
    • Telling the teacher privately upholds academic standards without shaming.
  5. Choose and reflect – By reporting after class, you protect fairness and privacy.

Scenario 2: At Home

Correct Answer: B. Ask your sibling for permission
CASEL Steps Used:

  1. Identify the decision – You see your sibling’s new video game left out.
  2. Consider who’s affected – Your sibling’s ownership and trust in you matter.
  3. Explore options –
    • Play without asking
    • Ask for permission
    • Wait until they offer
  4. Weigh consequences –
    • Playing without asking could damage trust and feel disrespectful.
    • Waiting passively may lead to frustration or lost opportunity.
    • Asking permission shows respect and maintains a positive relationship.
  5. Choose and reflect – Requesting permission balances respect and responsibility.

Scenario 3: Community Care

Correct Answer: B. Pick it up and dispose of it properly
CASEL Steps Used:

  1. Identify the problem – Someone drops trash in the park.
  2. Consider who’s affected – Litter harms the environment and community appearance.
  3. Explore options –
    • Walk away
    • Pick up the trash yourself
    • Point it out and ask the person to pick it up
  4. Weigh consequences –
    • Walking away ignores community responsibility.
    • Asking someone to pick it up may embarrass them and delay cleanup.
    • Picking it up yourself immediately improves the environment and models good behavior.
  5. Choose and reflect – By disposing of the trash, you take positive action and encourage a cleaner community.
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Ethics in Action • Lenny Learning