Making Smart Choices

Subject: SEL (Social-Emotional Learning)

Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins

Topic: Decision-Making Skills

Grade Level: 4, 5, 6

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will use reflection questions to learn how to make good decisions at home and in school.

Know Before You Start: Students should know the differences between good choices and challenging choices.

Hook:

Read and discuss the sample comic.
- What are some goals you have for this week?
- How will you complete those goals?
- Are there any challenges that you might face when trying to complete them?
Remind students that it’s easy to hope that things are accomplished without a plan. But making a plan helps those goals actually become a reality.

Activity:

Print or display the sample comic.
Have students use the captions to reflect on three choices they are going to make to meet a small goal for the week.
On a piece of paper or premade template, students will list one situation or goal they are focusing on for the week. Goals may relate to social situations that are overwhelming them, academic concerns, personal goals or health needs.
Next, have students list three choices they will need to make in order to accomplish their goal, and any possible challenges they may face in making the right decisions to be successful.
Have students create a three-to-six-panel comic illustrating how they will achieve their goal for the week.

Closure:

Have students share their comics with a partner.
These peers can serve as accountability partners that will check in with them daily to ensure they are making the best choices to meet their goal.

Differentiation:

Resources:

Comic to print or display: Comic.
Suggested Readings:
- What Should Danny Do? By Adir Levy. (Grades 4-5)
- When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. (Grades 4-7)

Suggested Content Packs:

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