Lesson 1

Making the Right Decision for Me.

Instructional Objectives

In this lesson, students will learn that the decision-making process is complex, and there is a relationship between action and consequences. Students will practice the steps in a decision-making model which will help them understand how responsible people make positive choices.

Time Required

One fifty-minute lesson.

Procedures/Activities

Connecting to Prior Knowledge/Experience/Learning

Teacher is to demonstrate to students how decisions are made when we are children (parents make them). Teacher will then contrast how decisions are made as an adult. Explain that adolescence is the time when we learn to make decisions for ourselves.

Guided Practice

Teacher, together with students, will demonstrate how to complete the Decision-Making Outline on the outline model overhead, using the following situation.

"You have just started in Junior High. A student you met in Science class asks you to join their table at lunch. He/she tells you not to bring your best friend from elementary school because their friends do not like him/her."

Teacher completes the worksheet (using Averkey attached to computer, computer projection device or overhead projector) with student input.

Individual Practice/Homework

In cooperative groups, have students complete the second Decision-Making Outline about the following situation.

Using the Teenshealth website student cooperative groups self-select situations and work through the decision-making process.

If student internet access is limited or unavailable, the teacher may wish to download copies of the situations to be used as student reference pages.

Extensions

As an individual, or in cooperative groups, students may create their own situation and complete an additional outline.

Vocabulary

Decision: The act of making a choice or judgment.

Advantage: A benefit resulting from some course of action.

Disadvantage: A loss or damage, especially to reputation, credit or finances.

Assessment

You may assign points for this assignment which meet your needs.

When I use this assignment, it is worth a total of 50 points. Section A = 10 points

Section B = 2 points per answer

Section C = 5 points

Section D = 5 points

For the extension activity, students may earn an additional 50 points.

Advance Preparation/Prerequisite Knowledge/Skills/Illustrative Materials

Decision-Making Outline (2 per student) to be distributed by teacher and teacher guide outline on computer/Averkey for demonstration purposes.