Overcoming Obstacles
Setting Priorities
One step at a time! High schoolers learn how to set priorities by creating a list of tasks they must complete that week, adding the consequences of not completing each task, and identifying the conflicts that will arise. They then...
Overcoming Obstacles
Making and Evaluating Decisions
It's time to decide. Class members review the decision-making process (define the issue, gather information, develop alternative, and analyze the consequences). Groups then decide which of the six characters they have chosen for the...
Overcoming Obstacles
Exploring Alternatives and Considering Consequences
Before making important decisions, it's imperative to consider alternatives and the possible consequences of choices. The third lesson in the fallout shelter activity begins by asking participants to consider the possible positive and...
Overcoming Obstacles
Being Responsible
Responsible-decision making is the focus of the social-emotional learning lessons. After reading, The Ant and the Grasshopper: An Aesop Fable, scholars come up with six steps to take responsibility for their actions and then practice the...
Overcoming Obstacles
Gathering Information
What facts are essential, and what facts are irrelevant when making a decision? As class members continue with the Fallout Shelter exercise, groups develop questions and interview the 10 volunteers acting as candidates for the bomb...
Overcoming Obstacles
Starting the Decision Making Process
The takeaway from a lesson plan on decision-making is that the more significant the consequences, the more complex the decision. Class members brainstorm a list of factors they consider when making decisions and then create a flow chart...
Overcoming Obstacles
Communicating Constructively
Some conversations are easy and enjoyable, while others are horrific! To begin a activity on communicating constructively, class members list examples of conversations that are easy, average, and those that are difficult and identify...
Overcoming Obstacles
Listening Responsibly
Responsible speaker + critical listener = effective communication is the equation at the heart of a responsible listening instructional activity about the power of words. Class members view the clip of the courtroom scene from the...
Overcoming Obstacles
Listening Critically
Eschew obfuscation!! High schoolers learn techniques that permit them to listen critically, sort through verbiage used to hide meaning or mislead listeners, and determine the message's validity.
Overcoming Obstacles
Becoming a Good Friend
A activity focuses on the qualities of a good friend. Scholars discuss how to be a good friend and decorate a hand cutout to represent a high five of friendship. Small groups offer encouragement and give compliments to each other.
Overcoming Obstacles
Being Responsible
A lesson all about responsibility details the importance of building trust. Scholars discuss and create posters about responsibility and explore strategies to become more responsible. Peers work collaboratively to craft a rainbow of...
Overcoming Obstacles
Having a Positive Attitude
Through discussion and reflection, scholars discover what it means to have a positive attitude, that an individual can choose to stay positive, and discuss the benefits of a positive attitude. Learners listen to negative scenarios to...
Overcoming Obstacles
Integrity
A instructional activity showcases the character trait of integrity. Scholars define the term, discuss how having integrity means being trustworthy, that one can choose to have integrity, and the significance of looking at...
Overcoming Obstacles
Respect
A social-emotional lesson focuses on respect. Scholars define the term and puzzle out the word. Pupils give examples of respect they observe at home, at school, and in the community. Cards showcase scenarios in that...
Overcoming Obstacles
Resolving Conflicts
A lesson about resolving conflicts guides young scholars through the process of identifying emotions and reflecting on the situation, all before taking action. The lesson encourages class members to stay open-minded and listen to...
Overcoming Obstacles
Cooperation
Young scholars practice cooperation by working together for a common cause. After a short demonstration, learners fill in a T-Chart describing how cooperation looks and sounds. Small groups work together to pick up tiny beads and put...
Overcoming Obstacles
Kindness
Encourage kindness with a lesson that defines kindness, asks scholars how to show kindness, and share how others have shown them kindness. Multiple activities prove that kindness is easy to give through coloring, storytelling,...
Overcoming Obstacles
Self-Control
A lesson uses a stop light to assist young scholars in using self-control. After the class defines self-control and how it boosts responsibility and independence, they practice a breathing exercise to reflect on their behavior....
Overcoming Obstacles
Coping Skills
A lesson brings awareness to a variety of emotions. After discussing the many types of emotions, scholars create a list sorting emotions as easy and hard and then brainstorm coping skills. Pupils draw a picture depicting a scenario that...
Overcoming Obstacles
Fairness
Fairness is the subject of a lesson designed to boost relationship skills and social awareness. Class members discuss that fairness is getting what you need when needed, differences are okay, and review classroom rules to...
Overcoming Obstacles
Listening
Young scholars boost communication skills with a lesson that explores what it looks like to listen with the whole body. Through modeling and practice, pupils observe what it looks like and then practice. A friendly game of "Simon...
Overcoming Obstacles
Listening
The big idea in this resource is that listening and hearing are not the same things. A activity on active listening has class members generate a list of listening techniques that focus on the speaker, confirm what they say, and respond...
Overcoming Obstacles
Understanding Nonverbal Communication
People communicate in all sorts of ways. As part of a study of nonverbal communication, teams of three must complete a puzzle without speaking to one another. After debriefing the activity and analyzing the messages nonverbal cues...
Health Smart Virginia
How the Namuhs Learned to Be Content with Who They Are
Ninth graders consider how perceived standards of beauty influence body image as well as the relationship between body image and eating disorders. The class brainstorms traits the media presents as beauty standards for males and females,...