Decision Making

OFE Guidance Lessons

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PreK Lesson

The Rabbit Listened

The Rabbit Listened

What is the role of the school counselor?
The Rabbit Listened

Kinder and 1st Grade

Watch 'No David!'

  • Is David making the best decisions?
  • How could he choose differently?
  • What would you do if you were David?
  • How do we know how to make the best decisions for ourselves?
Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallow Challenge

Materials needed: Bag of fresh marshmallows and a timer



Game Expectations:

ROUND 1: Give each student one marshmallow. The students have to make a decision. They can eat their marshmallow now OR wait for 30 seconds and then get two marshmallows. Students have to practice self control by keeping their body still because if they drop the marshmallow, they can not get another until the next round. Once the students have a marshmallow, start a countdown clock. During the 30 seconds, ask the students how they are feeling? Excited, Scared, Happy, Nervous-use this time to say how all of these feelings are normal and good to have, but we still have to make good decisions even when our feelings are bigger. At end of the time, praise the students for making a good decision and ask if they would like to try again.



Round 2: This time, every student starts with 2 marshmallows. If they are able to wait 1 minute without eating their marshmallows, they get 4! Review expectations-Quiet body. This time, while students are waiting for the 1 minute to pass, talk to them about some of the things that help us feel calm when we are having to make a decision. Let’s try taking some deep breaths. Role model how to take deep breaths (in through the nose and out through the mouth). Ask the students if there are any other things they can do.



Round 3: This time, every student starts with 6 marshmallows. If they are able to wait 2 minutes without eating their marshmallows, they get 6 more! Quickly review the expectations. While waiting for the 2 minutes to pass, talk about things that can help us to calm down when we are losing control (coping strategies). There are all kinds of things we can do to help us stay calm. We could sing a song. We could talk to a friend. We could try positive self talk.



Reminder at the end:

Who is the person that made the decision to hold onto the marshmallow?

Did your teacher make you hold the marshmallow? Did I make you hold the marshmallow? So, who made the decision to hold onto the marshmallow and wait? You had the power to make the healthy decision to wait. You have that power! No one can force you to make an unhealthy decision because YOU have the power to do that.

Marshmallow Challenge

2nd and 3rd Grade

Watch "Right Choices and Overcoming Difference"

Discuss how the dad made the right choice by helping the umpire at the end even though he might still be upset about the game.

Do the Right Thing Tic-Tac-Toe

Materials Needed: Do the Right Thing Tic-Tac-Toe Cards, Tic-Tac-Toe Board, Board to Keep score, Marker


Pre-Game Directions:

1. Copy Do the Right Thing Tic-Tac-Toe Cards.


2. Draw a tic0tac-toe board on a whiteboard or Chart Paper


3. Explain that in this game of tic-tac-toe, students will be given questions from the Do the Right Thing Cards. These questions focus on responsible actions toward themselves, others, and the world around them.


4. Review responsible behaviors and making good decisions with the students.


5. Tell the students that they will be on 2 different teams - the X's and the O's. Teams will get the opportunity to place an X or an O on the tic-tac-toe board after correctly answering a Do the Right Thing Tic-Tac-Toe Card.


Game Directions:

1. Begin game by giving each team 5 points. These points can be taken away for any unsportsmanlike behaviors. There can be not complaints about how a group member answers a question.


2.Player from the X team will pick a card from the Do the Right Thing Cards and answers the question. If answered correctly, team X can place an X on the Tic-Tac-Toe board.


3. Player from the O team continues as X team, but will place an O on the board if answered correctly.


4. Game continues until 3 X's or 3 O's are in a row - or until the board is full. If a team gets 3 in a row, they get a point. If there is no winners, both teams get a point.


5. Play until you run out of time. Winning team is the team with the most points.

4th Grade

Multiple Intelligence Survey

Today we are going to talk about decisions you will make in middle school. There are so many decisions you will have to make and I want to make sure that you make the best decisions for YOU. So today we are going to take a multiple intelligence quiz. This quiz is going to help us see a few things about you. First, it is going to help us see in what ways you learn best. It will also show us what things you like. Together these things will help us pick the classes that are best for you for middle school.

5th Grade

Multiple Intelligence Survey

Today we are going to talk about decisions you will make for your upcoming 6th grade year. There are so many decisions you will have to make and I want to make sure that you make the best decisions for YOU. So today we are going to take a multiple intelligence quiz. This quiz is going to help us see a few things about you. First, it is going to help us see in what ways you learn best. It will also show us what things you like. Together these things will help us pick the classes that are best for you for middle school. I need everyone to take one paper copy of our quiz and grab your Chromebook.