Responsible Decision Making – Grade 7 – Lesson 2
Objectives:
- Students will differentiate between situations where saying ‘no’ is important and those where they might want to say ‘no’ but feel uncomfortable doing so.
- Students will build confidence in saying ‘no’ in various situations, especially when dealing with peer pressure.
- Students will practice assisting friends in decision-making scenarios.
Getting started
Introduction:
Engage students in a discussion about why it can be challenging for both adults and students to say ‘no.’ Explore reasons such as the need for acceptance and fear of conflict or rejection. Transition into discussing when saying ‘no’ is crucial and times when they may want to say ‘no’ but find it difficult due to peer pressure.
Activity 1: Practice Scenarios
Explain that becoming comfortable with saying ‘no’ requires practice. Present role-playing scenarios where individuals might want to say ‘no’ but feel pressured not to.
Display the following scenarios and model the first situation with a student:
Situation:
The student wants to be excused from homework because the family is going on vacation.
Situation:
One student wants the other’s answers to last night’s homework assignment. Both students are friends, and the refusal must preserve their friendship.
Situation:
Two students are walking home from school when one offers the other a cigarette or vape.
Situation:
One student is at their best friend’s house after school while their parents are still at work, and the friend opens a beer and offers some to the student.
Activity 2: Helping a Friend Decide
Divide the class into small groups to discuss the scenarios and collaboratively determine the best ways to support their friends.
You have the opportunity to help three friends, Seth, Maggie and Grace decide what to do in several important decision-making situations by telling what YOU would do in each situation.
Closing
Have groups share their responses to one of the scenarios.
- Engage in a class discussion on which situation was the most challenging to make a decision.
- Explore the factors that made the decision difficult, and reinforce the importance of empowering oneself and others to make responsible decisions, including confidently saying ‘no’ when necessary.
Lesson adapted from: Missouri Department of Education