Responsibility Story

Every morning, Mia wakes up and stretches her arms wide. She walks to the kitchen and says, “Good morning, Mom! How can I help today?”

Mom smiles and hands Mia a small broom. “Please sweep the floor,” she says. Mia carefully pushes the broom back and forth. She sings a little song while she works.

In the living room, Dad waters the plants. He shows Mia how to pour just a little water so the leaves stay green and happy. Mia pats the pots and says, “I love helping our plants grow!”

Next, Mia’s little brother, Leo, feeds their dog, Rusty. He measures the dog food and pours it into Rusty’s bowl. Rusty wags his tail and barks softly to say “Thank you!”

After breakfast, Grandma reads a story to Leo and Mia. Then she asks them to help pick up the toys. Mia and Leo put blocks in the box and stack books on the shelf.

Later, Mia sets the table for lunch. She places forks, spoons, and napkins neatly beside each plate. Dad says, “Thank you, Mia! You did a great job.”

Mia looks around her home and feels proud. Everyone in her family helps in their own way. Mia knows that when she does her small jobs, she is responsible and caring.

At bedtime, Mia hugs her family and whispers, “I love helping you. Tomorrow I will help again!”

Role Card Creation

Objective: Students will create a personal role card illustrating a family responsibility to add to our class Family Responsibility Book.

Time: 5 minutes

Materials:

• Pre-cut colored paper role-card templates
• Markers or crayons
• Stickers
• Pencils

Prep (5 minutes):

• Pre-cut colored paper into card-sized templates (one per student)
• Gather markers, crayons, stickers, and pencils in a supply bin

Instructions:

1. Distribute Materials (1 minute)
   • Give each student one role-card template and a pencil.
   • Explain they will draw themselves doing a helping job at home.
2. Drawing & Labeling (3 minutes)
   • Ask students to draw their family responsibility (e.g., feeding a pet, setting the table).
   • Have them write their name and a short label for the job (for example, “I feed Rusty” or “I help set the table”).
3. Decorating (1 minute)
   • Encourage students to make their card bright and fun by adding stickers or extra colors around the edges.
4. Collect Cards (30 seconds)
   • Gather all finished role cards to compile into our Class Family Responsibility Book.
   • Remind students you’ll read and use them in Session 2’s matching game.

Family Roles Discussion

Discussion Guidelines

• Raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking.
• Listen respectfully when others share.
• Use kind words and ideas.

1. Warm-Up: What Is Responsibility?

Ask: What does the word “responsibility” mean?
Prompt students to use their own words.

Follow-Up:

• Can you name a time when you were responsible for something small?

2. Reflecting on the Story

Read or recall the Responsibility Story together.

Questions:

• Who helped sweep the floor?
• Who watered the plants?
• Who fed Rusty the dog?

Follow-Up Prompts:

• What did each helper feel or say when they finished their job?
• How did the family say “thank you”?

3. Connecting to Our Families

Ask: What jobs do you help with at home?
Encourage volunteers to share one responsibility they do daily or weekly.

Extension:

• Show your card from Role Card Creation.
• Tell us how you chose the picture and label on your card.

4. Exploring New Roles

Ask: Is there a new job you’d like to try to help your family?
Invite students to draw or act out the new role.

Follow-Up:

• How will you remember to do this new job each day?
• Who could remind you if you forget?

5. Wrap-Up and Share

Go around the circle and ask each student to finish the sentence:
“Today I learned that I can be responsible by ____.”

Celebrate everyone’s ideas and remind the class:

“When we help each other, we all grow and feel proud!”

Responsibility Match Game

Objective: Reinforce understanding of family responsibilities by matching student-created role cards with description cards.

Time: 25 minutes

Materials:

• Student Role Cards (from Session 1)
• Definition Cards (one per responsibility)
• Pocket chart or chart paper
• Timer (optional)

Prep (10 minutes)

• Create definition cards by writing a short description for each role pictured on the students’ role cards (e.g., “I sweep the floor to keep my home clean.”).
• Laminate or glue each definition onto cardstock for durability.
• Shuffle definition cards and place in a pile.
• Set up a pocket chart or clear space on chart paper for matching pairs.

Instructions

1. Warm-Up Review (3 minutes)

• Gather students in a circle and ask: “What does responsibility mean?”
• Invite 2–3 volunteers to show their role cards and explain their picture.

2. Explain Matching Game (2 minutes)

• Display a sample role card and a definition card.
• Explain: “We’re going to match each picture of someone helping in their family with the sentence that tells what they do.”

3. Matching Activity (15 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups of 3–4.
• Give each group a set of their role cards and the shuffled definition cards.
• Students work together to find which definition card matches each role card.
• Encourage them to read labels and talk through why they match.
• Circulate and ask guiding questions: “How do you know this goes together?”

4. Group Share (3 minutes)

• Invite each group to stick one matched pair into the pocket chart or onto the chart paper.
• Ask the group: “Why does this description match this picture?”

5. Reflection & Wrap-Up (2 minutes)

• Ask: “Which job from our matching game would you like to do to help your family this week?”
• Have students point to their card and share one plan with a partner or the class.

When we match the pictures and descriptions, we see how small jobs help our families—and how responsible we can be when we help every day!