1. When faced with a fork in the road take it.
Quote of the Day
-Yogi Berra-
When faced with a
fork in the road take it.
I am going to have them move the desks into a big semi-circle. I will do this before they get to class because I think it will overwhelm some of the kids.
Ask students to share what they wrote.

2. Review We are changing emotionally, physically, and socially.
Becoming more responsible.
Positive lifestyle factors.
Negative lifestyle factors / Risk behaviors.
Abstinence.
Positive attitude.
Name some decisions you have made because of a change you went through; emotional, physical or social.
Name decisions you have made because of a new responsibility you have inherited.
Tell me a decision you made that you believe had a positive influence on your health.
Did you make a decision that might cause harm or injury to yourself or others?
Have you ever made a decision to not do something? A conscious, active choice not to participate in high-risk behaviors.
Did having a positive attitude affect the way you handled a situation?

3. How do we make healthy decisions?
How do we make healthy decisions? How do we know if the decisions we make are positive or negative? List students answers on the board. Group them into ideas that will fit into the five categories that influence decision making.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
PERSONAL RESOURCES
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
INTERNAL PRESSURES
SOCIAL PRESSURES

4. INFORMATION & RESOURCES
FACTUAL INFORMATION
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE INFORMATION IS FACTUAL?
Author
Date
Domain
Design
Writing
TEACHERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELERS, LIBRARY, COMMUNITY AGENCIES
Young people are bombarded with health-related messages through television and other media(radio, billboards, music, advertisements, the Internet.
Because of all this information decisions are based on untruths, myths, and misperceptions. Can anyone think about something they saw or herd that makes them question a decision they made?
Find the author of a website.
The date the website is published. For example information from the 1950’s on cigarette smoke is much different than today.
Domain .com .orr and .net can be purchased. .EDU is reserved for colleges and universities
Site Design

5. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
HOW CAN PAST EXPERIENCES INFLUENCE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS?
What do you think personal experiences has to do with decision making?
Did you make a decision that got you a lot of attention? A lot of “likes”
The need to feel part of a group, be independent, take control, feel safe or feel loved can influence decisions to drink and drive, use substances, have sex join a gang, or engage in other health-risk behaviors.

6. PERSONAL RESOURCES IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
HOW CAN YOUR STRENGTHS DETERMINE A DECISION YOU MAKE?
HOW CAN YOUR LIMITITATIONS DETERMINE A DECISION YOU MAKE?
You might decide to try something new and different based on your strengths.
Sometimes a decision to avoid new experiences often are made before young people are provided opportunities to develop new skills.

7. INTERNAL PRESSURES PERSONAL VALUES, BELIEFS, NEEDS, AND WANTS.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE?
WHAT HAPPENS IF A DECISION IS INFLUENCED BY MULTIPLE VALUES?
Personal values and beliefs, are developed through interactions with family, peer group and others, define what is important and guides a young persons actions attitudes and judgements.
One family might value sports over education. A young person could value honesty, loyalty, and friendships. Personal responsibility and health are other values. Diversity = a value
Ask for an example of multiple values being challenged. If they cant think of one give them a scenario. A friend is pressuring you to steal. Win-loose situation because you are trying to uphold a value of honesty and it could compromise a friendship.

8. SOCIAL PRESSURES
PERSONAL DECISIONS ARE STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY THE OPINIONS, BELIEFS, VALUES AND FEELINGS OF OTHERS?
HOW CAN SOCIAL PRESSURES CAUSE CONFLICT?
Ask the students what they believe social pressure is?
Can feel pressured in all their social situations – home, school, peer group, and community.
Conflict can be caused by social pressures because of a direct conflict with parental pressure to do something else.

9. INFLUENCES OF DECISION MAKING
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
PERSONAL RESOURCES
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
INTERNAL PRESSURES
SOCIAL PRESSURES

10. DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Step 1: State the situation:
Ask yourself what the facts are and who else, if anyone is involved.
Step 2: List the options
Make a complete list of options.
Step 3:Weigh the possible outcomes.
When weighing your options use the H.E.L.P. formula.
H (Healthful) Will my choice affect my well-being or the well-being of those around me?
E (Ethical) Will my choice show respect for my self and other people?
L (Legal) Will I be breaking the law? Is it legal for someone my age?
P (Parent Approval) Would my parents approve of my decision?

11. Step 4: Considering Values.
Values are the beliefs and principles that guide the way a person lives.
Step 5: Make a decision and act.
Take action after you have weighed your options and considered the risks and consequences.
If you are uncomfortable with your decision reconsider your options. Ask a parent or trusted adult.
Step 6: Evaluate your decision.
Did you expect the outcome to turn out the way it did?
How did your decision affect others?
How did your decision make you feel about yourself?
If you do not like the outcome use the decision making process again and think about what you could do differently.