Personal Responsibility
Guidance Lesson for PreK - 1st Grade
Personal Responsibility Goal
Question Before We Begin
Do you know what the word responsible means?
Building Background
Today we are going to talk about Personal Responsibility? Those are two big words. Does anyone know what Responsibility is?
Responsibility or responsible is just another word for doing something that you should. When you are responsible it means you are taking care of things that you should, like keeping your room or desk clean or following the rules at school and at home. Now, what does the word personal mean?
Personal is just another word for a person. It’s talking about you. So today we are going to work on learning how you can take care of responsibilities.
Mindful Moment
Zip Up!
1. Let's pretend we have a zipper running up and down our bodies, from our belly buttons to our chins, which helps us sit (or stand) straight and tall.
2. Without touching your body, put one hand in front of your belly button and the other hand at your lower back.
3. Let's zip ourselves up: zzzzip!
4. Now that we're zipped up, let's take a few breaths together with our bodies straight and tall.
Watch "The Responsibility Rap"
After watching "The Responsibility Rap," make a list of some of the things you are responsible for. Some examples could be brushing teeth, putting on shoes, bringing folder back to school, turning in work, being kind to one another, exercising, listening to the teacher, or reading a book at night.
Watch Pigsty
Questions after Watching
- Do you think Wendell was being responsible?
- What could Wendell do to make better choices?
Activity
Coupons
Materials needed: Scissors, paper, copy of coupon masters, markers, stapler
Have the students create coupons for special tasks they will do at home to help their families. Emphasize that it's important for them to include tasks they don't do regularly (helping with laundry or unloading the dishwasher), make only promises they will be able to deliver, and do tasks willingly. Then students present their coupons to family members. Have them draw and decorate coupons to take home with specific tasks written on them. Talk about how their families will react to these helpful gifts and how these positive reactions will make the student feel. You are welcome to create a template for these coupons to bring to class and ask the students to write the task and decorate them.