Teaching responsibility and decision making skills: Activities for students

As educators, it’s important to nurture essential life skills in our students by teaching responsibility and decision making. Instilling these qualities early on cultivates a sense of accountability, autonomy, and sound judgment in our students, empowering them to navigate the complexities of life beyond the classroom. Let’s explore how to teach responsibility and decision making skills for students through a collection of engaging activities and insightful video lessons.

Why is teaching responsibility and decision making important?

Teaching responsibility and decision making is crucial as it equips students with fundamental skills that transcend academics and shape their future success. Encouraging responsible behavior and decision making empowers students to assess situations critically, consider consequences, and make choices aligned with their values and goals. By instilling a sense of responsibility, students learn the importance of accountability, self-discipline, taking ownership of their actions, and being honest and trusting themselves. These skills are vital in navigating the complexities of life beyond the classroom, aiding in the development of mature, independent individuals capable of making informed decisions.

Teaching responsibility and decision making skills: Activities for students

Flocabulary’s high-quality videos captivate students and create an impactful and memorable learning experience by harnessing the power of hip-hop music, visual art, storytelling, humor, drama, and poetry. Each video-based lesson includes a suite of instructional activities that provide additional practice and exposure at varying levels of rigor to scaffold instruction.

Here is an example of the type of videos you can find on Flocabulary!

The following Flocabulary songs teach about responsibility and making smart decisions. Below the videos, we have questions you can use to start a discussion with your students. Use these songs about responsibility and decision making to teach social emotional learning skills and character education development.

After watching the videos, here are some questions for the classroom you can use to facilitate a discussion about these important skills:

• How were the characters in the videos responsible, or irresponsible?
• What does responsibility look like? How does a responsible person act? How does an irresponsible person act?
• How does responsibility play a role in our decisions?
• How are we responsible for the well-being of others?

New to Flocabulary? Sign up for an account to access the video lessons and resources mentioned in this article.

1. Managing Worry

The Managing Worry video lesson addresses the natural feeling of worry and provides practical strategies for students to manage their anxious thoughts. Managing emotions such as worry helps students to be responsible and logical decisions by fostering clarity of thought, reducing impulsivity, enhancing problem solving skills, building resilience, and boosting self-confidence in the decision making process. This lesson also encourages students to seek support from trusted individuals when faced with uncertainties as a responsible decision.

As shared earlier, this video is available for free on YouTube. However, the full video lesson with interactive activities and assessments is only available on Flocabulary’s site. Watch the Managing Worry video here.

2. Managing Frustration

The Managing Frustration video lesson focuses on acknowledging frustration and coping strategies for students to handle these emotions. Utilize this lesson for teaching kids responsibility of perseverance in decision making by emphasizing how managing frustration is crucial for making informed choices amidst challenges. By showcasing that frustration is a universal experience and should not deter progress, educators can instill the value of resilience and responsible decision making even in the face of difficulties.

3. Joining In & Including Others

“Can I play with you?” is a common question students eventually ask their classmates. The Joining In & Including Others video lesson focuses on fostering social skills and inclusivity by demonstrating positive behaviors in group settings. Teach them the significance of considering others’ feelings and actively involving them in activities to nurture a sense of responsibility in students toward creating an inclusive and supportive environment through their decisions and actions.

4. Needs & Wants

The Needs & Wants video lesson explores the distinction between necessities and desires while introducing the concept of budgeting and decision making. Use the responsible decision making activities for students in this lesson to teach how distinguishing between needs and wants informs thoughtful choices. Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing needs over wants within a budget cultivates responsible decision making skills, enabling students to allocate resources sensibly and understand the consequences of their choices.

5. Time Management

Use the Time Management video lesson to emphasize the importance of planning and controlling time for various activities in a busy schedule. Instill responsibility in decision making by highlighting how effective time management enables students to prioritize tasks and make informed choices about allocating their time. Leverage the tips in this video to encourage students to develop strategies for managing their schedules to foster a sense of accountability and encourage them to make deliberate decisions about their time efficiently.

6. Choosing a Career

Flocabulary’s Choosing a Career video lesson centers on guiding students through making informed decisions regarding their future professions. Teachers can utilize this lesson to instill responsibility and decision making skills in students by emphasizing how assessing personal strengths, academic capabilities, and researching career options are crucial steps toward making thoughtful career choices. By introducing terms like ROI, earning potential, and career paths, educators can empower students to make responsible decisions about their future careers.

7. Internet Safety

Our Internet Safety video lesson is focused on educating students about online safety, including safeguarding personal information, seeking assistance from trusted adults, and protecting devices from potential threats. Teachers can utilize this lesson to teach kids how to be responsible digital citizens by emphasizing the significance of making informed decisions when navigating the internet. By addressing measures to safeguard against viruses and protect personal data, educators equip students to make responsible decisions while using technology to teach accountability for their online actions and choices.

8. Effective Communication

Use the Effective Communication video lesson to teach about various communication styles and the importance of expressing thoughts and feelings effectively. Teachers can use this lesson to highlight how choosing assertive communication fosters respectful dialogue and informed decision making. Teaching students about different communication styles and the impact they have on interactions supports them in making responsible decisions in their communication approach to promote understanding, empathy, and thoughtful expression.

9. What Is Stress?

The What Is Stress? video lesson introduces students to the concept of stress, normalizing the natural occurrence, and the importance of healthy coping mechanisms. Teachers can utilize this lesson to teach responsibility by emphasizing the role of decision making in managing stress. By discussing and encouraging the adoption of effective coping strategies, educators enable students to make responsible choices when faced with stressors, fostering resilience, and promoting informed decisions about their well-being.

10. Vocabulary instruction

Flocabulary’s Word Up lessons teach students across various grade levels vocabulary words through storytelling and engaging songs. Here are some songs about choices and responsibility that also teach vocabulary:

• Look Before You Leap (Grade 2): This song is based on a fable by an old storyteller named Aesop and is a cautionary tale to students about making smart decisions. Ask: In this story, what bad decisions does the young frog make? Why does he make those decisions? What might the title, “Look Before You Leap” mean in our own lives?
• The Ballad of Ron and John (Grade 6): This song warns students to not make decisions based on anger. Ask: Why are the princes so angry with each other? Do they ever make peace? Why is it dangerous to not think ahead?
• Changes (Grade 8): This song is written about a serious issue – drunk driving, which is a major problem in America. Each year, on average, more than 15,000 people are killed, and 250,000 people are injured in drunk driving accidents. Ask students: How would you feel if you knew someone who was killed by a drunk driver? What would you do if you knew someone who was going to drive drunk?

Teach essential life skills with Flocabulary’s videos

Teaching responsibility to students in the classroom and decision making skills is key to their overall growth. Through engaging activities and videos, educators empower students to make smart choices, handle emotions, communicate well, and understand their decisions’ impact. These lessons aren’t just educational; they’re practical tools for lifelong responsible decision making, preparing students for success in life.

New to Flocabulary? Sign up for an account to access the video lessons and resources mentioned in this article.