ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK

Learning Goals

In Visit 3, students will:

Understand how to make a good decision
Understand that the decisions they make influence their life path
Identify the consequences and risks that go into making a decision

Introduction and Icebreaker

You are probably at the point in your visits where you are comfortable with the students and may not need to do an icebreaker. When you arrive, set the tone again and go over rules and expectations.

Use the Student Learning Goals of Unit 3 to formulate the summary of your discussion.
Share the good and bad decisions you’ve made in your life and the consequences of each.
Discuss how you learned to make good decisions.

Exercise #1: Decisions and Decision Making

Exercise Objectives: Students will be able to define a decision and recognize the role of decisions in their everyday life.

Preparation: Create a list of all of the decisions you make before you go to work to share with the class.

Presentation Suggestions:

Lead a discussion about the decisions people make every day. Share with them some of the simple decisions you make every day like getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, or deciding which route to take to work. Instruct the students to take a few minutes to write down all the decisions they make in a day.
Brainstorm ideas and list them on the board. You can use headings like health, education, future, relationship, etc. to get them started.
Encourage students to fill in their answers while you are brainstorming

Tip: The more senses you use while you teach, the better chance students will absorb your message. For example, when brainstorming for the above exercises, students are listening, watching and writing at the same time; thus, they are increasing their chance of retention.

Exercise #2: Decision Making Skills

Exercise Objectives: Students will be able to define what the word "consequence" means in terms of decision-making. Students will be able to identify consequences of specific activities.

Preparation: Identify examples of significant decisions you have made, the consequences and risks involved, and the outcome of your decision to share with the class.

Presentation Suggestions: Ask students: "Why we should care about making good decisions?", "Why are decisions important?", and "What are consequences and risks?" Ask for similes to help define consequences and risks to reinforce the meaning of the words.

Read scenario #1 and determine the consequences and risks as a group. Have the students fill in their answers as you brainstorm.

Allow the students to work independently to complete scenario #2 and #3; then make time for them to share their answers. Encourage students to continue writing if they think of new ideas.

Visit Summary

Recap the third unit by asking the students a few questions that reflect their understanding of the visit goals. For example: "Why are decisions important?”, and “How can decision making help you achieve your dreams?"

End the visit by thanking students for their time, collect the books and let them know when you will see them again.