Taking Charge of Your Health

Decisions

Bell Ringer

What is a big decision you have made lately and how did you make the decision that you did?

Class Discussion• What decisions do you make everyday?

• What are the big decisions you will probably have to make within your lifetime?

• SIX MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS• Addiction• Dating/Sex• School• Friends• Self Esteem• Parents

List on the board (10 min)

Factors Affecting Decisions Values: the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about what is

important that help guide the way you live.

Family

Friends

Community

Neighbors

Teachers

Religious Leaders

Education

Values Clarification Activity*Auction Activity (20-30 min)Box 1: You bought a lottery ticket and won a million dollars! Box 2: You dropped out of high school and took a job at below minimum wage with no chance of advancement. Box 3: You graduated from high school, went to college and took a job that pays a reasonable salary, but you dislike what you do.  Discussion Ideas: What items sold at the highest amounts?What items sold for the lowest amounts?In what category would you put the higher selling items?In what category would you put the lower selling items?Why did some items sell for more than others?Why were some people willing to bid a higher amount for some items than they were willing to bid on other items?What does this tell us about the value people place on different things in life?Why didn’t everyone want the same items?Were there any items you really wanted to bid on, but were afraid of what the other people in the class would think or say about you?Were any items not bid upon? Or had a very low bid? Why?What does the overall bidding tell us about our class?Does this type of activity give us any indication about what we feel is of value to us in life?How did you feel when all of your money was gone?How did you feel if you had money left at the end of the auction?Did any of you consciously save money to be able to purchase a secret box? Why or why not? How did those people who bid on the secret boxes feel about their purchase?How can we apply this activity to real life?What are some of the things that you would be willing to really work for to accomplish?

Six Steps to Decision Making

Step 1: State the Situation

• Clearly Identify the Situation. What decision do I need to make? Who is involved? Do I feel pressure? How much time to decide?

Step 2: List the Options

• What are the possible choices to make? Sometimes it’s better NOT to take action. Share your options with significant others and ask for advice.

Step 3: Weigh the Possible Outcomes

• Weigh the consequences of each option. Use the HELP strategy to guide your choice.

HELP Strategy

H (Healthful)

E (Ethical)

L (Legal)

P (Parent Approval)

Step 4: Consider Values

• A responsible decision will reflect your values.

Step 5: Make a Decision and Act on It

• Use everything you know at this point to make a responsible decision. You can feel good that you have carefully thought about the situation and your options.

Step 6: Evaluate the Decision

• Reflect on what has happened. What was the outcome? How did it affect your health and the health of others around you? What did you learn? Would you take the same action again? If not, how would it differ?

Six Steps continued...

Choices & Consequences Activity (5-10 min)

• Draw a 4*4 grid of square on the board. Have it covered up.

• Ask students to take out a pencil and paper and to write down the number of squares they can see. (up to 30)

• How many squares did you see immediately?• How many squares did you see after looking at it for

awhile?• Why did you keep discovering more squares?• Is there always more than one alternative to every decision

we have to make?• What happens when we don’t look at all of our alternatives?• Who can we turn to that can help us explore our

alternatives?• Who is responsible for the decisions you make?

Decision Making Case Studies (10-20 min)

Divide class into equal groups.Have each group read their case study aloud and answer the questions.Delegate separate people in each group to be in charge of:1. Reading the scenario to the class2. Answering Question #1 aloud3. Answering Question #2 aloud4. Answering Question #3 aloud

We always reap what we sow.

There is no shortcut.

-Steven R. Covey (7 Habits)