objectives: materials · 2020-05-07 · total of 5 squeezes that you start yourself. if you receive...

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Responsible Decision MakingGRADE 8, LESSON 16

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CharacterDare(5-7 minutes)

Exit Intentionally(1 minute)

Objectives:• Students will reflect on their own

character and identify ways they could improve it.

• Students will understand how their actions influence each other and the world.

• Students will talk about the difference between probabilities and possibilities.

Materials:• Image: CharacterDare Image Set• Supplies: Paper and writing

utensil for each student

CharacterDare (5-7 minutes):• *Project Image: Previous CharacterDare.*

• Review the previous CharacterDare. In partnerships or small groups, have students discuss the previous Dare using the Truth or Dare format.

• *Project Image: Truth or Dare.* Є Truth: “What do you think about our most recent Dare?”

Є Do you like or dislike the Dare? Why? Є What was most difficult when considering this Dare? Є What do you think would happen if more people did

this CharacterDare? Є Dare: “Reflect on your experience with our most recent

Activity(7-10 minutes)

Activity(10-12 minutes)

Dare.” Є What did you learn about yourself

in attempting this CharacterDare? Є What did you learn about others in

attempting this CharacterDare?

• Ask for volunteers or randomly select some students to share their Truth or Dare reflections. Encourage them when appropriate and take advantage of any teachable moments, especially when a student shares a struggle. Remind your students that it is not about being perfect or completing every Dare. This process is about striving to improve our character with intentional practice. For some people, the challenge is simply in thinking about the CharacterDare and discussing it.



• *Project Image: Current CharacterDare.*

• Introduce the current CharacterDare. Answer and clarify any questions about the Dare. Encourage students to modify the CharacterDare if it does not seem to specifically fit your school situation. If necessary, talk about ways you could increase or decrease the challenge of the CharacterDare.

Activity - The Butterfly Squeeze (7-10 minutes):• Have the group stand in a circle with their hands on each other’s shoulders or holding

hands if they are comfortable with that.

• Explain, “At any point over the next few minutes, anyone in this circle is allowed to squeeze the hand or shoulder of the person next to them. For this activity, you get a total of 5 squeezes that YOU start yourself. If you RECEIVE a squeeze, you have two options. Option One: You do nothing. Option Two: You continue to pass the squeeze on to the next person in the same direction the squeeze was traveling. Passing a squeeze on does not count as using 1 of your 5 squeezes that YOU start yourself. Of course, when you squeeze, be kind and respectful to the person next to you. It is a gentle squeeze, not a wrestling move. Ready, GO!”

• Let them begin. Participate with them if you’d like. Let them play for 2-3 minutes.

• Use any or all of the following questions to debrief the activity. Make sure to emphasize the last question:

Є What did you notice happening? Why? Є What does this activity tell us about our ability to influence others? Є Is it possible that your squeeze traveled all away around the circle? Do we

always get to know where our influence goes? Є Why is it important to remember this when making everyday choices? Є Even if you don’t know how or when your words of kindness could impact

someone else, is it still worth it to speak them? Є What is more likely: Your squeeze traveled all the way around the circle OR

Your squeeze was stopped and someone started their own squeeze that you felt?



Activity - Probable vs. Possible (10-12 minutes):• Have students take out a piece of paper and something to write with.

Є Teacher Note: This activity is also possible with partners, with one piece of paper per partnership. Do whatever is best for your group.

• Have them fold their piece of paper in half long ways (hot dog fold) and, at the top of each half, write the word ‘Probable’ on one side and ‘Possible’ on the other.

• Explain, “In your own words, write a short definition of ‘Probable’ and ‘Possible’ just below the words themselves.”

Є Ask a few students to share out loud how they defined them.

• Say, “Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we expect to happen (because that’s what is ‘probably’ going to happen) that we don’t think about what’s possible! As we proved in the activity a minute ago, it is possible that because of ONE THING we did (squeezing even just once), we could have been the cause of the whole group squeezing.”

• Explain, “I am going to give you a few scenarios and, on your paper, I want you to write down what is a Probable and what is a Possible outcome for each one.”

Є Teacher Note: Once they’ve had a chance to write, ask for 1 or 2 examples of Probable vs. Possible after each scenario.

Є Scenario One: You give a stranger in your school a compliment on an outfit they are wearing.

Є Scenario Two: You take time to intentionally thank a teacher who seems to be really tired or more sad than usual.

Є Scenario Three: You make fun of someone online that you don’t know that well.

Є Scenario Four: You start sitting next to someone new at lunch each day for a month.

Є Scenario Five: You apologize to someone who you know maybe you said something hurtful to in the past.

• Ask, “Why is it important to think about what is Possible and not just what is Probable?”

• Ask, “Do you believe that, every day, you have the Possibility to change someone’s day? Life? Change the school? The world?”

• Ask, “What is one way you can remind yourself to think of the Possible instead of focusing always on the Probable?”



Exit Intentionally (1 minute):• Say, “As author Marianne Williamson says, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are

inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?’ Go be all that is possible today!”

objectives: materials · 2020-05-07 · total of 5 squeezes that you start yourself. if you receive...

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