Independence-6th Grade

 

  

What: Students will examine attributes and issues related to family life and the skills needed to enhance independent living.
Why: To enhance independent living.
How: Through decision making scenarios and making consumer choices exercises.

Appetizer: What does being independent mean?



Situation 1

Suzy is a very pretty girl. She has a beautiful face and beautiful hair.  She is not very happy with her body size.  She weighs about fifteen pounds more than her friends.  Suzy says, “My friends are so much prettier than I am. I am so fat.  I wish I could be as skinny as they are.”  She also says, “It’s not fair that you guys are so skinny and I am fat.”

When Suzy comes home from school she is starved to death.  She is a picky eater.  She doesn’t like the things they serve at lunch, so she spends her lunch money in the candy and Coke machine at school.  When she gets home from school, she makes herself an extra-large milkshake because she is so hungry.

What choices does Suzy have about weighing more than she wants?  Are there different choices that she could make about her diet to enable her to be the way she wants to be?

1.      Identify the problem.

2.      What are the person’s choices?

3.      Gather information: What information should the person gather that would be helpful to know before making a decision?

4.      Consider the outcome.  What would be the results of the decision?

5.      Make the decision.  What should the person do?

6.      Evaluate your decision.  Why do you think this is the best decision possible?

 

Names:__________________________________________________________

SITUATION 2

Fred loves clothes.  His favorite activity is to go shopping at the mall and try on new clothes.  He looks forward to the day when he has a job so he can buy all the clothes he wants.

Next week is Fred’s birthday and he will receive $75.00 for his present.  He saw a pair of jeans at the mall that were $72.00; however, he also needs new shirts, new shorts, and some swim trunks for the summer.  His $75.00 could purchase all of these things or it could purchase the one pair of designer jeans.

All the kids at school wear these jeans.  Fred states, “If only I had a pair of these jeans, I would be popular.”  How could Fred make a wise decision?  What would you do?

1.      Identify the problem.

2.      What are the person’s choices?

3.      Gather information: What information should the person gather that would be helpful to know before making a decision?

4.      Consider the outcome.  What would be the results of the decision?

5.      Make the decision.  What should the person do?

6.      Evaluate your decision.  Why do you think this is the best decision possible?

Names:________________________________________________________

 

SITUATION 3

Katie loves clothes.  She wishes she could have all the designer clothes she wants.  Unfortunately, she can’t; she has two brothers and three sisters, and her parents cannot afford to buy all their children designer clothes.

Katie has a few friends that have some designer jeans.  Her friends let her borrow the jeans, even though this is against her parents’ wishes.  Her parents felt that Katie should not borrow them in case something was to happen to them.   In that case, they would need to purchase an outfit to replace the damaged one.

One day on the way home from school, Katie tripped and fell on her knees.  She tore holes in both knees of the designer jeans she had borrowed from her friend, Julie.  Katie was crying, not only because she had injured her knees, but because the new jeans were ruined and they weren’t even hers. What is Katie going to do?  Should she tell her parents? Should she tell Julie?  What decisions should Katie have made prior to borrowing the jeans?  Does Katie have an obligation to Julie?

1.      Identify the problem.

2.      What are the person’s choices?

3.      Gather information: What information should the person gather that would be helpful to know before making a decision?

4.      Consider the outcome.  What would be the results of the decision?

5.      Make the decision.  What should the person do?

6.      Evaluate your decision.  Why do you think this is the best decision possible?

Names:________________________________________________________

 

SITUATION 4

Steve is fourteen and has taken piano lessons since he was five.  He feels that he misses out on many fun activities because he has to practice every day after school.  He wants to quit piano lessons, but his mother will not allow him to; she says, “If you quit the piano now you’ll be sorry when you get older.”  Steve wants to quit anyway. 

Steve would much rather play basketball in a city recreation league that all of his friends play in. They tell him all about the fun practices and games they participate in and Steve really wants to be a part of their team.

What other options could Steve and his mother find?  Is there a compromise that they can make to satisfy both of them?

1.      Identify the problem.

2.      What are the person’s choices?

3.      Gather information: What information should the person gather that would be helpful to know before making a decision?

4.      Consider the outcome.  What would be the results of the decision?

5.      Make the decision.  What should the person do?

6.      Evaluate your decision.  Why do you think this is the best decision possible?

SCORE                 CLASSIFICATION          

0 to 8                      Snap decision—a choice is made instantly

9 to 13                   Quick—some hesitation, but very little

14 to 23                 Deliberate—some decisions are made fast, but most are solved systematically

24 to 38                 Indecisive—having a hard time making choices

Dessert: How will knowing and using decision making skills help you become independent?