1. Bell Ringer: September 12, 2017 (Write the date, the question, and your answer.)
Write a good sentence and describe a possible choice and consequence in this situation.
You are with a friend in Wal-Mart in the electronics section. You notice that your friend is taking an item from the shelve and he/she places it in their pocket. Your friend motions for you to come with them to leave the store. What might happen next?

2. Life Skills Training Lesson 2
Making Decisions
Life Skills Training Lesson 2

3. Unit Goals Learn the formula for making decisions
Recognize that different people make different decisions in the same situation
Analyze decisions or problems to be solved using the decision-making formula
Identify common external influences on decision-making
Practice making decisions using the suggested formula

4. Vocabulary Decision consistent consequences hypocrisy influence
clarify
impulsive

5. Decision making process
Step 1: Clarify or clearly state the decision to be made or the problem to be solved.
Step 2: Consider the possible alternatives and consequences
Step 3: Choose the best alternative needed and take the necessary action to implement the decision or solution.

6. Turn in your book to Worksheet 3 “Putting the 3 C’s into Practice” on page 18.
Situation 1
Two good friends, Sue and Maria, stopped by the school office on their way home. Sue spotted a wallet on the secretary’s desk. She searched through it and removed $20 and quickly put it into her pocket. Maria confronted Sue, who said she needed it to buy her mother a birthday present and added that she didn’t think the person would notice that it was gone anyway.
Possible choices Possible consequences

7. What do you think?
Why is your choice the best of the other possibilities that you considered?
Why do different people in the same situation come to different conclusions as to the best thing to do?
Would your decision have been different if Maria saw one of her friends take $20 from her mother’s wallet? Why or why not?

8. Situation 2
You’re at the basketball court in the park with two friends. One of your friends takes out a pack of cigarettes and asks the two of you if you want to smoke. Your other friend says “Yes”. You don’t really want to smoke, but since both of them do, you’re not sure what to do.
Use the 3 c’s model and decide what you think is best.
1. Clarify the decision to be made
2. Consider the alternatives
3. Choose the best alternative

9. Remember!
Individuals have personal reasons for the decisions they make so it is important that each person decide individually and not just go along with others’ decisions.
Decisions should not be made impulsively. Take as much time as necessary.

10. Who are the people or things that influence your decisions?

11. Group decision making
Brainstorm: Name some groups that influence your decision making.

12. How are our decisions influenced?
Often we are influenced by group members because everyone wants to be accepted by the group and not be considered an outcast or different.
People who say or do something they don’t believe in are giving up their individuality. This is called hypocrisy. Hypocrisy means believing in one thing but doing something else.

13. Group decision-making planner
Describe the situation:
Problem:
Possible choices Possible consequences
Group decision:
My decision:

14. Practice situation 1
Sophia was a party where all the adults were drinking. She noticed that a lot of the kids were sneaking drinks without their parents noticing. She knew that she wasn’t supposed to drink, but her parents were in another room when a cute boy offered her a drink. She wanted to talk to the boy and she wanted him to like her.

15. Practice situation 2
John always seemed to have something to do after school. He always intended to study, but his friends would come by and invite him to go out. As a result, he never managed to get his homework done, and he ended up getting bad grades. He promised his parents that he would start studying right after school. His friends want him to go to the pizza shop after school to meet the new girl who just moved to town.

16. Practice situation 3
Elias is at a party where there are a lot of older teens who are drinking heavily. His best friend lives near one of them and is supposed to get a ride home with him. Elias knows that the driver is drunk and is afraid that he will get into an accident or be arrested for drunk driving. Elias knows he will have a hard time convincing his friend not to go, especially in front of the older kids.

17. Practice situation 4
Gianna is about to take a test which she did not study for. If she fails this test, she may fail the class. The smartest kid in the class sits down in the seat next to her. She can see his test paper.

18. Practice situation 5
Alexa noticed her older brother has been smoking pot with his friends. Sometimes he even smokes alone in his room when their parents aren’t home. She begins to notice changes in his behavior. He used to be a good student but now he doesn’t do his homework anymore and he has started to lie to their parents about where he goes after school. Alexa is concerned about him and thinks he needs help.

19. Practice situation 6
Pete is at a party and starts talking to a girl he thinks is really pretty. He is just about to ask her out on a date when he realizes she is the girl his best friend has been wanting to go out with.