Responsibility Builders: Owning Our Choices

Debbie Felix

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Responsibility Builders

Students will define personal responsibility, analyze the impact of their choices through case studies, and set personal goals to demonstrate ownership of their actions in school and at home.

Understanding personal responsibility is crucial for developing self-reliance, building strong relationships, and achieving success. This lesson will help students become more accountable for their actions, leading to positive academic and social outcomes.

Audience

K-12 Students

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, case study analysis, and individual goal setting.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Responsibility Builders Slide Deck, Impact Web Activity Handout, My Responsibility Pledge Worksheet, and My Responsibility Project Guide

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Review the Responsibility Builders Lesson Plan, Responsibility Builders Slide Deck, Impact Web Activity Handout, My Responsibility Pledge Worksheet, and My Responsibility Project Guide.
Prepare the whiteboard or projector for the slide deck presentation.
Print copies of the Impact Web Activity Handout and My Responsibility Pledge Worksheet for each student.
Have blank paper or journals available for the project guide if students choose that format.

Step 1

Introduction: What is Responsibility?

10 minutes

Begin by asking students:

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Slide Deck

Responsibility Builders: Owning Our Choices

What does it mean to be responsible?

Why is it important to own our choices?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of responsibility. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear the word 'responsibility'. Facilitate a brief discussion.

What is Responsibility?

Responsibility is about:

Owning your actions: What you do and say.
Owning your choices: The decisions you make.
Owning the impact: How your actions affect others.

Guide students to understand that responsibility means taking ownership of actions, choices, and their consequences. Emphasize that it's about making good choices and being accountable when we don't. Use simple, age-appropriate language.

Case Study: The Missing Homework

Scenario: Maya promised her mom she would finish her homework right after school. Instead, she played video games. The next morning, she couldn't find her math homework.

Discuss:

What was Maya's choice?
What was the impact of her choice?
What could Maya do to be responsible now?

Present a simple case study relevant to students' lives (e.g., forgetting homework, breaking a rule). Ask students to discuss in pairs or small groups: What was the choice? What was the impact? What could the person do to be responsible? (K-2 might focus on a simpler scenario like sharing toys).

The Ripple Effect: Your Choices Have Impact

Every choice you make sends out ripples.

Like a stone dropped in water, your actions affect:

Yourself
Your family
Your friends
Your school
Your community

Let's explore this with an Impact Web Activity!

Introduce the idea of an 'Impact Web' where one action can have many effects. Explain that their choices ripple out and affect different people or situations. Distribute the Impact Web Activity Handout and guide them through it.

Building Responsibility: Setting Goals

Being responsible is a skill we build!

One way to get better is to set goals.

What is one way you want to be more responsible?

Let's make a Responsibility Pledge!

Explain that setting goals helps us practice responsibility. Encourage students to think about one area where they want to improve their responsibility (e.g., chores, homework, kindness). Distribute the My Responsibility Pledge Worksheet.

Show What You Know: Responsibility Project

Now it's your turn to be a 'Responsibility Builder'!

Choose one of the following ways to show what you've learned:

Create a poster about responsibility.
Write a story about a responsible character.
Design a short presentation.

Check out the Project Guide for details!

Introduce the project as a way to demonstrate their understanding and commitment to responsibility. Explain the options for the project (e.g., presentation, poster, story). Distribute the My Responsibility Project Guide.

You Are a Responsibility Builder!

Remember:

Your choices matter.
You have the power to be responsible.
Every day is a chance to build your responsibility muscles!

Keep owning your choices and making a positive impact!

Conclude the lesson by reiterating the importance of responsibility and encouraging students to practice it daily. Remind them that it's okay to make mistakes, as long as they take responsibility and learn from them.

Activity

Impact Web Activity

Instructions: Think about a choice you or someone in a story made. Write that choice in the center circle. Then, in the surrounding circles, write down all the different impacts or effects that choice had on others or on the situation.

My Choice:

Impacts:

Impact on Myself:
Impact on Family/Friends:
Impact on School/Community:
Other Impacts:

Worksheet

My Responsibility Pledge

Instructions: Think about one way you want to be more responsible. It could be at school, at home, or with your friends. Write it down, and then think about why it's important and how you will achieve your goal.

My Responsibility Goal:

I will be responsible by:

Why is this goal important to me?

How will I achieve my responsibility goal? (What steps will I take?)

My Signature:

Date: _______________ Student Signature: __________________________

Project Guide

My Responsibility Project Guide

Objective: To demonstrate your understanding of personal responsibility and its impact through a creative project.

Instructions: Choose ONE of the following project options to showcase what you've learned about personal responsibility. Be creative and make it your own!

Project Options:

Option 1: Responsibility Poster

Create: Design a poster that illustrates what personal responsibility means to you.
Include: At least three examples of responsible actions at school or home, and show the positive impact of those actions.
Materials: You can use drawing paper, markers, colored pencils, or digital tools.

Option 2: Responsible Character Story

Write: Create a short story (at least two paragraphs) about a character who demonstrates personal responsibility.
Include: Describe a situation where your character has to make a responsible choice, what that choice is, and the positive outcome of their decision.
Characters: Your story can feature humans, animals, or even imaginary creatures!

Option 3: Responsibility Presentation

Prepare: Give a short (2-3 minute) presentation to the class about personal responsibility.
Include: Define responsibility in your own words, share at least two examples of how you can be responsible, and explain why it's important.
Visuals (Optional): You can use a few pictures, drawings, or bullet points on a separate sheet of paper to help you with your presentation.

Project Checklist:

I have chosen one project option.
My project clearly shows an understanding of personal responsibility.
My project includes examples of responsible actions and their positive impacts.
My project is neat and easy to understand.

Rubric (How You Will Be Graded):

Criteria	Exceeds Expectations (4 pts)	Meets Expectations (3 pts)	Approaches Expectations (2 pts)	Needs Improvement (1 pt)
Understanding	Demonstrates deep understanding with insightful examples.	Clearly demonstrates understanding with relevant examples.	Shows some understanding but examples are limited or unclear.	Lacks clear understanding of responsibility.
Content/Examples	Provides numerous, specific, and creative examples.	Provides sufficient and relevant examples.	Provides a few general examples.	Provides few or no examples.
Clarity/Effort	Project is exceptionally clear, well-organized, and shows great effort.	Project is clear, organized, and shows good effort.	Project is somewhat clear and organized, shows some effort.	Project is unclear, disorganized, and shows minimal effort.
Impact/Creativity	Project is highly engaging, impactful, and very creative.	Project is engaging, impactful, and creative.	Project is somewhat engaging or creative.	Project lacks engagement or creativity.

Due Date: