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Is That a Good Idea?

Lesson Plan

Decision-Making Dilemmas Plan

Students will be able to analyze real-life dilemmas, identify potential pros and cons of different actions, and articulate a reasoned decision based on critical thinking and group discussion.

Effective decision-making is a crucial life skill. This lesson empowers students to approach challenging situations thoughtfully, considering various outcomes before acting, which is essential for personal growth and responsible behavior.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through interactive discussion and scenario analysis.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What's the Big Deal?

5 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that we all do every single day: making decisions! From what to wear to what to say, our lives are full of choices. But what happens when a decision feels really big or tricky? That's what we're going to explore.

"Think about a time you had to make a tough decision. Did you just guess? Or did you think it through carefully? Today, we'll learn how to approach those tricky situations in a smart way. We'll be using our Thinking Through Consequences Slide Deck to guide us."

Step 2

Exploring Dilemmas

15 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Let's open our Thinking Through Consequences Slide Deck to the first slide. We're going to look at some common dilemmas. As we go through each one, I want you to start thinking about the different paths someone could take. What are the immediate choices? What might happen if you choose one path over another?"

* Display slides 2-4 of the Thinking Through Consequences Slide Deck, which present various real-life dilemmas. Encourage initial reactions and brief class discussion on each scenario. Focus on identifying the core problem and brainstorming initial reactions, without delving too deep into pros/cons just yet.

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Slide Deck

Is That a Good Idea?

Making Smart Choices

Welcome students to the lesson. Briefly introduce the concept of decision-making and why it's an important skill to develop. Engage them by asking if they've ever had to make a tough choice.

Dilemma 1: The Group Project

You're working on a group project for science, and it's due tomorrow. One of your group members hasn't done any work, and now they're asking you to do their part so the whole group doesn't get a bad grade.

What should you do?

Present the first dilemma. Encourage students to read it silently, then open a brief discussion about what choices the character faces. Avoid immediately jumping to solutions; focus on understanding the situation.

Dilemma 2: The Secret

Your best friend tells you a secret about another friend, and they make you promise not to tell anyone. Later, you realize this secret could really hurt the other friend if it's not addressed.

What should you do?

Present the second dilemma. Ask students to consider different perspectives and the potential impact of their choices on themselves and others.

Dilemma 3: Found Money

You find a wallet full of cash on the ground in a busy public place. There's no identification inside, but you can see a large sum of money.

What should you do?

Present the third dilemma. Prompt students to think about short-term vs. long-term consequences and ethical considerations.

Thinking Through Consequences

Every choice has a consequence. Big or small, positive or negative.

Before you act, it's smart to think:

  • What could happen if I do this?
  • Who might be affected?
  • What are the good outcomes?
  • What are the bad outcomes?

Review the importance of thinking through choices and considering different outcomes. Introduce the idea of 'consequence carousel' as a way to brainstorm possibilities, leading into the discussion activity.

Ready to Discuss!

Now that we've thought about some dilemmas and consequences, let's put our thinking caps on and share our ideas!

Conclude the slide deck and transition to the next activity, the 'Consequence Carousel' discussion.

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Discussion

Consequence Carousel: Weighing Our Options

Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher Script: "Alright, everyone! We've just looked at some tricky situations. Now it's time to put on our thinking hats and really dig into the consequences of our choices. This activity is called the 'Consequence Carousel' because we'll be spinning around different ideas and seeing where they lead.

"The goal isn't necessarily to find the right answer, but to explore all the possible answers and understand why each choice might be good or bad. We want to practice thinking ahead and considering how our actions affect ourselves and others.

"Let's remember our discussion norms: listen respectfully, allow everyone a chance to speak, and challenge ideas, not people."

Dilemma 1: The Group Project (15 minutes)

Teacher Script: "Let's revisit our first dilemma: Your group member hasn't done their work for the science project due tomorrow, and they want you to do it."

  • Prompt 1: Initial Reactions & Choices

    • "What are the immediate choices you could make in this situation? Who wants to share their first thought?"


  • Prompt 2: Exploring 'Do Their Work'

    • "If you do their work, what are the potential pros (good things that could happen)? What are the potential cons (bad things that could happen)? Think about yourself, your group member, and the project outcome."
    • Guide students to consider short-term relief vs. long-term learning, fairness, and enabling behavior.




  • Prompt 3: Exploring 'Don't Do Their Work'

    • "Now, what if you don't do their work? What are the potential pros and cons of that choice? Consider the same factors: yourself, your group member, and the project."
    • Guide students to consider standing up for themselves vs. potential conflict, the impact on the grade, and accountability.




Dilemma 2: The Secret (15 minutes)

Teacher Script: "Next up: Your best friend tells you a secret about another friend, but you realize it could really hurt the other friend if it's not addressed."

  • Prompt 1: Initial Reactions & Choices

    • "What are the choices here? What's your gut reaction?"


  • Prompt 2: Exploring 'Keep the Secret'

    • "If you keep the secret, what are the pros? What are the cons? Think about your friendship, the other friend, and your own feelings."
    • Guide students to consider loyalty vs. harm, trust, and guilt.




  • Prompt 3: Exploring 'Tell Someone'

    • "What if you decide to tell someone (e.g., the other friend, an adult)? What are the pros and cons of that action?"
    • Guide students to consider protecting a friend vs. breaking trust, potential drama, and finding solutions.




Dilemma 3: Found Money (15 minutes)

Teacher Script: "Finally, the wallet full of cash with no identification. What to do?"

  • Prompt 1: Initial Reactions & Choices

    • "What are the main options you see? What are you thinking?"


  • Prompt 2: Exploring 'Keep the Money'

    • "If you keep the money, what are the pros? What are the cons?"
    • Guide students to consider personal gain vs. ethical implications, guilt, and the feeling of the owner.




  • Prompt 3: Exploring 'Turn It In'

    • "What if you turn in the money (e.g., to a lost and found, police)? What are the pros and cons?"
    • Guide students to consider honesty vs. missing out on money, potential reward, and doing the right thing.




Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher Script: "Excellent discussion, everyone! You've shown incredible thoughtfulness in weighing these tough situations. What's one big takeaway you have from today about making decisions?"

  • Summarize key points about considering consequences, empathy, and seeking advice when needed. Reiterate that responsible decision-making is a skill that improves with practice.
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Quiz

What Would You Do? Quiz

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