Lesson 2.

1 Notes – Responsible Decision Making

Quick Start
What is one difficult decision I have had to make in my life?

How did I decide what action to take?

Reflecting back on my decision, do I wish I would have made a different choice? Why or why not?

Notes
 ____________________________________________ – steps that enable you to make a healthful
decision

o What are they designed to help you do?

 The DECIDE Process (6 Steps)

1.
 What _________________ needs to be made?

2.
 What are all the possible ___________________?
 Seek _______________ from others.

3.
 What are the consequences of each ________________?

4.
 Ideas, _______________, and attitudes about what is important that help _____________
the way you live.
 A _____________________ decision will reflect your values.

5.
 Should be an ________________ and responsible decision.

6.
 How did the decision ________________?
 How did it ________________ your life? The life of _________________?
 What did you __________________?
 Would you do anything _______________________?
 “What Did They Do?”
DECIDE Partner Practice

Think of a well-known book or movie in which the main character had to make
an important decision. Then, fill in the steps of the DECIDE process based on
how the character made their decision.

Name of book or movie_________________________________________________________________

Name of main character_______________________________________________________________

Now, let’s go through the steps of the DECIDE process.

Define the Problem:____________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
Consider the Consequences:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________
Identify his/her Values:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________
Decide and Act:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluate the Results:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________

Would your group have made the same decision as the character above? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
 Decision Making Scenarios Worksheet
Group Work

Directions: In your groups, pick TWO scenarios below to complete. Then, follow the steps in the DECIDE process
to see what you would do if you were placed in each of the situations.

Scenario 1: Your friends are bullying a freshman boy named Jon at school. Because you used to be really good
friends with Jon in middle school you want to stand up for him, but you also realize your friends will probably not
take that very well and may turn on you.

Define the
Problem:___________________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
Consider the Consequences:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Identify your Values:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Decide and Act:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluate the Results: Only after actually making this decision can actually you evaluate the outcome. Ask yourself –
How did my decision work out? How did it affect me? How did it affect others? What did I learn? Would I do
anything differently?

Scenario 2: You have been working really hard at your part-time job and putting in more hours because you are
saving up to buy a car. Your best friend approaches you and asks if you want to go to Cancun with three other of
your best friends over spring break. Your parents tell you that you can go but you will have to pay for the trip out
of your own pocket which would put a significant dent in your car fund and probably make it not possible to buy the
car for another year.

Define the
Problem:___________________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
Consider the Consequences:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Identify your Values:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Decide and Act:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluate the Results: Only after actually making this decision can you actually evaluate the outcome. Ask yourself –
How did my decision work out? How did it affect me? How did it affect others? What did I learn? Would I do
anything differently?
Scenario 3: You have a major English paper due tomorrow and you have not even started on it yet. You planned on
devoting all your time to the paper tonight after you got home from practice. However, during practice your friend
tells you he won two front row seats to see your favorite band in concert tonight and wants you to go with him! You
need to do a good job on the paper because you have a D in English class but you also know this concert is probably
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Define the
Problem:___________________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
Consider the Consequences:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Identify your Values:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Decide and Act:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluate the Results: Only after actually making this decision can you actually evaluate the outcome. Ask yourself –
How did my decision work out? How did it affect me? How did it affect others? What did I learn? Would I do
anything differently?

Scenario 4: You are a senior in high school and hosting one of the biggest parties of the year. Your parents will
be out-of-town all weekend, your brother bought more than enough alcohol for you, and your best friend invited all
of your closest friends. Everything is going well at first, but eventually, you become aware of a few problems:
 Your friends invited more friends, and now there are close to 100 people in your house.
 Some of the guests are getting sick in inconvenient places.
 Some of the guests are starting to get “too friendly” with each other.
 The neighbors are threatening to call the police if the noise continues.
 Your parents call and tell you their plans have changed and they are now coming home early tomorrow
morning.

Define the
Problem:___________________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________________________
Consider the Consequences:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Identify your Values:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Decide and Act:
 ________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluate the Results: Only after actually making this decision can you actually evaluate the outcome. Ask yourself –
How did my decision work out? How did it affect me? How did it affect others? What did I learn? Would I do
anything differently?
 2.1 – Responsible Decision Making Worksheet
Directions: Answer the questions in the space provided.

1. Define the term “decision making skills.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think it is important to know how to make responsible decisions?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think it is helpful to seek advice from those with more life experience such as
parents, older siblings, and teachers?__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Fill in the flow chart using the steps of the DECIDE process. Then, next to each box, include a
brief explanation of the thought process involved in each stage.
5. Think of a difficult or important decision you recently had to make. For each step of the
DECIDE process, fill in the appropriate information for how you came to a final decision.

Define the Problem:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explore the Alternatives:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Consider the Consequences:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify your Values:

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Decide and Act:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evaluate the Results:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. If you had been aware of this thought process before making this decision, do you think it would
have changed your decision in any way? Why or why not? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Lesson 2.2 Notes – Goal Setting
Quick Start
Have you ever set a goal for yourself? What was it?

What steps did you take to reach your goal?

Why do you think it is important to set goals for yourself?

Notes
Goal –

 An effective way to:

o
o

Two types of Goals

1. Short Term –

 Examples include

2. Long Term –

 Examples include

Action Plan –

1. S

2. L

3. I

4. D

5. E

6. R
 2.2 – Goal Setting Worksheet
1. Define the term goal. _________________________________________________________________________________

2. Define the term short-term goal. ____________________________________________________________________

3. Define the term long-term goal. _____________________________________________________________________

4. What is the relationship between short- and long-term goals?______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like for you to think about one long-term goal you want to accomplish and three short-
term goals that will help you reach the long-term goal. Remember to keep your goals realistic
and make sure your short-term goals support your long-term goal.

Example (you cannot use this example!):

Long-Term Goal – Graduate high school in four years with a 3.8 GPA.
Short-Term Goals – Pay attention in class and take good notes.
Complete and turn in all homework on time.
Study and do well on tests.

Alrighty, now it’s your turn. Once you decide on your l0ng-term goal, write it down and then
complete the rest of the action plan.

Long-Term Goal

1. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Short-Term Goals

1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify sources of support.____________________________________________________________________________

Decide on a time frame for achieving your long-term goal._____________________________________________

Establish checkpoints to make sure you are staying on track._________________________________________

Reward yourself after you achieve your goal._________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think it is important to set personal goals?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Explain and defend this statement: Decision making and goal setting are interrelated.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 2.2 – Goal Setting Partner Activity
 You and your partner need to discuss and decide on one
long-term goal you both share.
 Then, using the action plan you just learned, set one
long-term goal (Step 1) and list three short-term
supporting goals (Step 2).
 Make sure to:
 Identify sources of support
 Decide on a reasonable time frame
 Establish checkpoints
 Reward yourself
Name___________________________________________________ Date___________ Hour__________

Lesson 2.3 – Effective Communication

What is interpersonal communication?

Communication involves three things:

1.
2.
3.

Two types of communication:

1.

2.

What does it mean to communicate effectively?

1.

A.

2.

A.

B.

3.

A.

B.

C.

D.
Partner Activity:
Using the communication strategies you just learned (“I” messages, feedback,
eye contact, nodding, using respectful tone, etc.) write a short skit (minimum
of four lines of dialogue for each person) that uses as many strategies of
effective communication as possible.
Name_________________________________________________ Date__________ Hour________

Communication Worksheet
1. What does the term “interpersonal communication” mean?

2. What three things are needed for any form of communication?

3. Explain two reasons why an intended message could get misunderstood.

4. In your opinion, is communication better or worse in today’s society than 100

years ago? Why or why not? Explain.

5. After watching/taking part in the block building activity, explain why feedback
is so important in effective communication.

6. Do you consider yourself an effective communicator? Explain your answer by

including three specific things you either do well or need to improve on.

7. What is the number one thing that frustrates you about today’s methods of
communicating? Explain why.

8. If you were having an argument with a friend, would you rather deal with the
situation in person or by texting? Explain your answer.