Decision-Making Script

Warm-Up: Decision Dilemma (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something you do every single day, often without even realizing it: making decisions. Let's start with a quick thought.

What's a small decision you had to make today? It could be something like what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, or even which pen to use. Take a moment to think, and then I'd love to hear from a few of you."

(Allow 2-3 students to share their small decisions. Validate their responses.)

Teacher: "Great examples! You see, decisions are everywhere. While some are small, like choosing a snack, others can have a much bigger impact on our day, our week, or even our future. Today, we're going to learn how to make really good, responsible decisions."

Introducing Responsible Decision-Making (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's look at our first slide to kick things off. (Transition to Your Choices, Your Path Slide Deck - Slide 1)

As you can see, our lesson today is all about 'Your Choices, Your Path.' Every choice you make helps to build the path you're on.

(Transition to Your Choices, Your Path Slide Deck - Slide 2)

So, what exactly is responsible decision-making? It's not just about picking something randomly; it's about making thoughtful choices that are good for you and good for others. It means we stop and think before we act, we understand what might happen because of our choices, and we take control of our own path.

(Transition to Your Choices, Your Path Slide Deck - Slide 3)

Lucky for us, there's a super helpful framework we can use – 6 steps to make smart choices! Let's go through them together. Read along with me as I explain each one."

Teacher:

• "1. STOP & THINK: This is probably the most important first step. When you face a decision, big or small, don't just react immediately. Pause. Take a breath. Give yourself a moment to think."
• "2. GATHER INFORMATION: Before you decide, what do you need to know? Who can you talk to? What facts can you find? Having more information helps you make a better choice."
• "3. CONSIDER OPTIONS: Brainstorm all the possible choices you have. Don't judge them yet, just list them out. Even silly ideas can sometimes lead to good ones!"
• "4. EVALUATE CONSEQUENCES: This step is about predicting. For each option you brainstormed, think about what might happen if you choose that option. What are the good consequences? What are the not-so-good ones? How might it affect you? How might it affect others?"
• "5. MAKE A CHOICE: After thinking through everything, pick the option that seems best. The one that aligns with your values and leads to the most positive outcomes."
• "6. REFLECT: Once you've made your decision and things have played out, take a moment to reflect. How did it go? What did you learn? Would you do anything differently next time? This helps you learn and grow for future decisions."

Scenario Practice: Group Activity (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to put these steps into action! I have some Decision-Making Scenario Cards here. I'm going to give each pair (or the whole group if it's a very small group) a card with a common situation a 6th grader might face.

Your task is to work together, using the 6 steps we just learned, to decide what the main character in your scenario should do. Don't just give an answer, but explain how you used each step to get there. I'll be walking around to help if you get stuck."

(Distribute Decision-Making Scenario Cards. Circulate and provide support, prompting students with questions like: "What information would be helpful here?" or "What are two different paths they could take?")

Share and Discuss (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share their scenario and how they worked through it using our 6 steps? Don't forget to tell us what choice you ultimately made and why it was the responsible one."

(Call on each pair/group to share. After each sharing, facilitate a brief discussion using prompts like:)
* "Did anyone else think of a different option for that scenario?"

• "What was the hardest part about applying the steps to your scenario?"
• "Which step felt the most helpful?"

Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

Teacher: "You all did a fantastic job thinking through those tough decisions! Remember, responsible decision-making is a skill, and like any skill, it gets better with practice. The more you use these 6 steps, the more natural it will become.

To wrap up, I'm going to give you a Responsible Decision Worksheet. On this worksheet, I want you to write down one key takeaway from today's lesson, or one way you plan to use responsible decision-making in the coming week.

(Transition to Your Choices, Your Path Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Remember, you've got this! Every decision is a chance to learn and grow. Keep practicing these steps, and you'll become a master decision-maker! Thank you, everyone!"

Decision-Making Scenario Cards

(Cut out these cards and distribute them to small groups or pairs.)

Scenario 1: The Group Project Dilemma

You are working on a group project for history class. One of your group members, who is usually very smart, hasn't done any work. The project is due tomorrow, and if their part isn't done, your whole group will get a bad grade. They ask you to quickly do their part for them. What should you do?

Scenario 2: The Lost Wallet

On your way home from school, you find a wallet on the sidewalk. You open it and see a school ID card with a picture of a student from your school, along with about $20. There's also a phone number written on a small piece of paper inside. What should you do?

Scenario 3: Rumors Online

You see a post on social media from a classmate spreading untrue rumors about another student in your grade. Several other students are commenting and laughing. You know the rumors aren't true and feel bad for the person being targeted. What should you do?

Scenario 4: Weekend Choice

It's Friday afternoon, and you have a big science test on Monday. You also got an invitation to a fun birthday party on Saturday that all your friends are going to. You haven't started studying for the test yet. What decision should you make about your weekend?

Responsible Decision Worksheet: My Smart Choices

Name: ___________________________ Date: _____________

The 6 Steps to Smart Choices Recap:

1. STOP & THINK: Pause before you react.
2. GATHER INFORMATION: What do you need to know?
3. CONSIDER OPTIONS: What are all the possibilities?
4. EVALUATE CONSEQUENCES: What could happen with each option?
5. MAKE A CHOICE: Pick the best option.
6. REFLECT: How did it go? What did you learn?

Your Reflection:

What is one key takeaway from today's lesson about responsible decision-making? Or, what is one way you plan to use these steps in your life this week?

Quick Decision Challenge:

Imagine you promised to help your family with chores after school, but then a friend calls and invites you to play video games right away. What would you do? Use the 6 steps to explain your thinking.

1. STOP & THINK:

2. GATHER INFORMATION:

3. CONSIDER OPTIONS:

4. EVALUATE CONSEQUENCES:

5. MAKE A CHOICE:

6. REFLECT (What might you learn from this?):

Responsible Decision Worksheet Answer Key

Your Reflection:

(Answers will vary based on individual student reflection. Look for evidence that students have grasped the core concept of responsible decision-making or have a plan to apply the steps. Examples of good answers include:)

• "I learned that it's important to stop and think before I do something, so I don't make a bad choice."
  
• "I will try to use the 6 steps when I have to decide what to do with my friends this weekend."
  
• "Thinking about consequences for myself and others is a key takeaway for me."

Quick Decision Challenge: Chores vs. Video Games

*(Answers will vary, but should demonstrate an understanding and application of the 6 decision-making steps. The focus is on the process, not necessarily a single