Lesson Plan
Understanding My Impact
Students will be able to identify how their impulsive actions can affect themselves and others, and practice thinking before acting.
Understanding the 'ripple effect' of their actions helps students develop empathy, make more thoughtful choices, and improve their self-management skills. This lesson is tailored for individual support to address specific behavioral needs.
Audience
2nd Grade Student
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, visual aids, and a reflective worksheet.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, My Actions Create Waves Slide Deck, Markers or pens, What Happens Next? Discussion Guide, and My Ripple Effect Chart Worksheet
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
- Review the My Actions Create Waves Slide Deck and practice the accompanying script.
* Print copies of the My Ripple Effect Chart Worksheet for the student.
* Familiarize yourself with the What Happens Next? Discussion Guide.
Step 1
Introduction: What's a Ripple Effect?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking the student if they know what a 'ripple effect' is. Explain it using the example of dropping a pebble in water.
* Teacher Script: "Today, we're going to talk about something really important called 'The Ripple Effect.' Has anyone ever dropped a pebble into a still pond or a puddle? What happens? You see those circles, those 'ripples,' spreading out, right? Those ripples are like the way our actions affect things around us. Even a small action can create big ripples! Let's explore how our actions create waves!"
* Transition to the My Actions Create Waves Slide Deck to visually reinforce the concept. (Slides 1-2)
Step 2
Exploring Actions and Consequences
10 minutes
- Use the My Actions Create Waves Slide Deck to present scenarios where impulsive actions lead to various outcomes. (Slides 3-5)
* Facilitate a discussion using the What Happens Next? Discussion Guide, encouraging the student to consider immediate and extended consequences of different actions.
* Teacher Script: "Now, let's look at some examples of actions and think about the ripples they create. We'll use our slides to help us visualize this. Remember, there's no right or wrong answer here, just thoughtful thinking!"
* Guide the student to connect impulsive actions to potential feelings and reactions in themselves and others.
Step 3
My Ripple Effect Chart
8 minutes
- Introduce the My Ripple Effect Chart Worksheet.
* Explain that the student will think about a time they acted impulsively and map out the 'ripples' it created.
* Teacher Script: "Now it's your turn to think about a ripple effect you've experienced. I want you to think about a time when you acted quickly without much thought. We're going to use this 'My Ripple Effect Chart' to help us see all the different ways that one action can spread out and affect things. We'll fill this out together."
* Provide support as the student fills out their chart, asking guiding questions from the What Happens Next? Discussion Guide to deepen their reflection.
Step 4
Wrap-Up: Thinking Before Acting
2 minutes
- Summarize the key learning points about the ripple effect and the importance of impulse control.
* Teacher Script: "You've done a great job today thinking about how our actions create ripples. Remember, when you feel like you're about to act impulsively, take a moment to pause and think: 'What kind of ripple will this create?' You have the power to create positive ripples!"
* Encourage the student to practice pausing and thinking before acting in the future.
Slide Deck
My Actions Create Waves
Understanding The Ripple Effect - How Our Choices Affect Everything Around Us!
Welcome the student and introduce the concept of 'The Ripple Effect' using the pebble in water analogy. Ask them what they think it means.
What Is a Ripple Effect?
Imagine dropping a pebble into water.
- Small Action: The pebble hitting the water.
- Big Ripples: The circles that spread out across the water.
Our actions are like that pebble! They create ripples that spread out and affect others.
Explain the visual: a small action (pebble) can create bigger, spreading effects (ripples). Emphasize that actions, both big and small, have consequences.
Scenario 1: Grabbing a Toy
You want a toy your friend is playing with, so you quickly grab it without asking.
What happens right away?
How might your friend feel?
What might happen next?
Present the first scenario. Ask the student to consider what might happen immediately after the impulsive action and then how it might affect others and even themselves later.
Scenario 2: Rushing a Game
It's your turn in a board game, but you don't want to wait for your friend to finish their turn. You quickly move your piece anyway.
What happens right away?
How might your friend feel?
What might happen next?
Present the second scenario. Discuss how impatience can lead to quick, unplanned actions and their wider effects.
Scenario 3: Saying Something Quickly
Your friend shows you a drawing they are proud of. You quickly say, "That's silly!" without thinking.
What happens right away?
How might your friend feel?
What might happen next?
Present the third scenario. Talk about how words can also create ripples, both good and not-so-good.
Your Actions Create Waves!
Just like a pebble, your actions create ripples.
- Think before you act!
- Consider how your actions make others feel.
- You can choose to make positive ripples!
Reiterate the main message: even small actions have consequences that spread. Encourage them to think before acting.
Discussion
What Happens Next? - Discussion Guide
This guide is designed to help facilitate a one-on-one discussion with a student about the ripple effect of their actions. Use open-ended questions to encourage reflection and empathy.
Introduction to Scenarios:
- "We just saw some examples of actions. For each one, let's think a bit more deeply about what happens next, and how people might feel."
For Each Scenario (from My Actions Create Waves Slide Deck):
1. Immediate Impact:
- What happens right after this action?
- How do you think the person who did the action feels right away?
- How do you think the person who experienced the action feels right away?
2. Spreading Ripples (Short-term):
- What might happen next, even a little while later?
- How might this action affect other people who saw it?
- Does this action make the situation better or worse?
3. Long-term Ripples (Thinking Deeper):
- If this kind of action happened many times, how might it change how people feel about each other?
- What could the person have done instead of acting impulsively?
- How would that different action have changed the ripples?
Connecting to Personal Experience:
- "Can you think of a time when you saw someone act quickly without thinking, and it created a ripple effect? What happened?"
- "Can you think of a time when you acted quickly without thinking? What was the ripple effect of your action?"
- "How can thinking about 'the ripple effect' help you make choices in the future?"
Worksheet
My Ripple Effect Chart
Name:
Date:
Think about a time you acted quickly without really thinking. This is called an impulsive action. Let's map out the ripples it created!
My Impulsive Action:
What was the quick action you took without thinking?
Immediate Ripple (What happened right away?):
How did you feel right after you did it?
How did the person (or people) involved feel right after?
What was the very first thing that happened as a result?
Spreading Ripples (What happened next?):
Did your action affect anyone else? If so, who and how?
Did it change anything about what you were doing or planning to do?
Far-Reaching Ripples (Thinking about the bigger picture):
If you could go back, what would you do instead of your impulsive action?
How would that different action have changed the ripples?