Lesson Plan
Decision Superpower Quest
Students will understand responsible decision-making as a personal superpower and identify how their choices impact themselves and others, fostering positive self-impact and community contribution.
Understanding responsible decision-making empowers students to make positive choices, improving their lives and the community around them by considering various outcomes.
Audience
4th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, scenario-based activities, and personal reflection.
Materials
Smartboard or projector, Unleash Your Inner Decision-Maker Slide Deck, Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards Warm-Up, My Decision Tree Challenge Activity, Reflecting on My Best Choice Journal, and Markers or pencils
Prep
Review Materials and Prepare
15 minutes
- Review the Decision Superpower Quest Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Unleash Your Inner Decision-Maker Slide Deck, Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards Warm-Up, My Decision Tree Challenge Activity, and Reflecting on My Best Choice Journal.
- Print and cut out the Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards Warm-Up.
- Make copies of the My Decision Tree Challenge Activity and Reflecting on My Best Choice Journal for each student.
- Ensure projector/Smartboard is ready for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: What's Your Superpower?
5 minutes
- Begin with the Unleash Your Inner Decision-Maker Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
- Ask students: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?" Allow a few students to share.
- Introduce the idea of responsible decision-making as a real-life superpower that everyone has. "Today, we're going to discover your decision superpower!"
Step 2
Warm-Up: Good Choice, Bad Choice
10 minutes
- Distribute Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards Warm-Up to small groups or display scenarios on the board using the Unleash Your Inner Decision-Maker Slide Deck (Slide 3).
- Instruct groups to read each scenario and discuss whether it represents a "good choice" or "bad choice" and why.
- Facilitate a brief class discussion on a few scenarios, emphasizing the impact of choices on self and others.
Step 3
Exploring Decision Superpowers
10 minutes
- Use the Unleash Your Inner Decision-Maker Slide Deck (Slide 4-6) to explain the steps of responsible decision-making (e.g., Stop, Think, Act, Review).
- Discuss how these steps help us use our "decision superpower" to make positive choices.
- Provide simple examples and ask students for their own experiences.
Step 4
Activity: My Decision Tree Challenge
15 minutes
- Hand out the My Decision Tree Challenge Activity.
- Explain that students will choose a simple problem and map out different possible decisions and their potential outcomes, just like branches on a tree.
- Circulate to assist students and encourage them to think about the consequences of each branch.
- Ask a few volunteers to share their decision trees.
Step 5
Reflection: My Best Choice
5 minutes
- Distribute the Reflecting on My Best Choice Journal.
- Instruct students to write about a time they made a responsible decision and how it positively impacted themselves or others.
- Emphasize that every day is a chance to use their decision superpower.
- Collect journals or allow students to share if time permits.
Slide Deck
What's Your Decision Superpower?
Unlock your amazing ability to make great choices!
Welcome students and introduce the lesson's exciting topic. Ask them to think about their favorite superpowers.
Your Secret Superpower: Good Choices!
Imagine having a superpower that helps you every day.
It helps you:
- Do well in school
- Be a great friend
- Stay safe
- Feel proud!
You already have this superpower: Responsible Decision-Making!
Engage students by asking what superpowers they wish they had. Transition to explaining that they already possess a powerful one: the ability to make responsible decisions.
Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenarios
Let's look at some situations.
Decide if the choice is a Good Choice or a Bad Choice.
Be ready to explain WHY you think so!
(Teacher will present scenarios from Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards Warm-Up or display them here.)
Introduce the "Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenarios" warm-up. Explain that students will evaluate different situations and decide if the choices made are good or bad, and why. Facilitate group discussion or whole-class sharing.
Steps to Your Decision Superpower: Step 1 - STOP!
Stop: Don't just react!
Take a deep breath.
Pause and think before you do anything.
Like a superhero, you need to assess the situation first!
Introduce the first step: STOP. Explain the importance of pausing before acting impulsively.
Steps to Your Decision Superpower: Step 2 - THINK!
Think: What are your choices?
- What are all the different things you could do?
- What might happen if you choose each one? (Think about good and bad outcomes for yourself and others!)
Introduce the second step: THINK. Emphasize considering options and consequences.
Steps to Your Decision Superpower: Step 3 - ACT!
Act: Make your best choice!
Choose the option you think is most responsible and has the best outcomes for everyone.
Put your plan into action!
Introduce the third step: ACT. Explain choosing the best option and putting it into action responsibly.
Steps to Your Decision Superpower: Step 4 - REVIEW!
Review: How did it go?
- Did your choice work out the way you hoped?
- What did you learn?
- What would you do differently next time?
This helps you become an even better decision-maker!
Introduce the fourth step: REVIEW. Explain the importance of reflecting on the outcome and learning from experiences.
Activity: My Decision Tree Challenge
It's time to use your Decision Superpower!
You will create a Decision Tree to help you think through a choice you might face.
Follow the steps: STOP, THINK, ACT (on paper!), REVIEW.
Introduce the "My Decision Tree Challenge" activity. Explain that they will apply the decision-making steps to a personal problem.
Your Decision Superpower: Use It Wisely!
Every day you make choices. Every day you get to use your superpower!
- Practice your STOP, THINK, ACT, REVIEW steps.
- Feel proud of your responsible decisions.
- You have the power to make a positive difference!
Conclude by reminding students that their decision-making superpower grows stronger with practice. Encourage them to use it daily and reflect on their choices.
Warm Up
Good Choice, Bad Choice Scenario Cards
Instructions: Read each scenario. Discuss with your group if the choice described is a "Good Choice" or a "Bad Choice." Explain why it's a good or bad choice and what the consequences might be.
Scenario 1
Your friend wants you to play a game during class, even though the teacher is talking. You really want to play.
Choice: You tell your friend, "Let's pay attention now and play at recess."
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Scenario 2
You see a classmate drop their lunch money, and they don't notice. You are hungry.
Choice: You pick it up and give it back to them.
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Scenario 3
You promised your mom you would clean your room after school. Your friends ask you to play outside right away.
Choice: You go play with your friends and decide to clean your room later (maybe).
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Scenario 4
Someone in your class is being teased. You feel a little scared to say anything.
Choice: You tell the teacher or another adult what is happening.
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Scenario 5
You accidentally broke a crayon that belonged to a classmate. No one saw you.
Choice: You quietly put the broken crayon back and don't say anything.
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Scenario 6
You finished your classwork early and see that a classmate is struggling with theirs.
Choice: You offer to help your classmate understand the instructions.
Good Choice or Bad Choice?
Why?
Activity
My Decision Tree Challenge
Instructions: Think of a small problem or choice you might face at school or home. Use the Decision Tree below to map out your choices and their possible outcomes. Remember your Decision Superpower steps: STOP, THINK, ACT, REVIEW!
The Problem/Choice I Need to Make:
My Decision Tree
STOP! (What is the problem?)
THINK! (What are my choices and what might happen?)
Choice 1:
Possible Outcomes for Choice 1 (Good & Bad):
Choice 2:
Possible Outcomes for Choice 2 (Good & Bad):
Choice 3 (Optional):
Possible Outcomes for Choice 3 (Good & Bad):
ACT! (Which choice is the most responsible?)
My Best Choice Is:
Why I think this is the best choice:
REVIEW! (What did I learn from planning this decision?)
Journal
Reflecting on My Best Choice Journal
Instructions: Think about a time when you used your "Decision Superpower" to make a really good choice. It could be a choice that helped you, helped a friend, or helped your family. Write about that experience below.
My Responsible Decision Story
What was the situation or problem you faced?
What were the choices you thought about?
What choice did you make, and why did you think it was the best choice?
What happened after you made that choice? How did it positively impact you or others?
What did you learn from this experience about being a good decision-maker?