WHAT IS IT ABOUT? Making responsible/ethical/healthy choices in difficult situations
.
WHAT IS IT? A discussion that uses scenarios to explore character and citizenship.
DEAR ABBY…
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Choose a dilemma from the Dear Abby Library (or see Strategy Guide, pages 165-174).
2. Choose one of these activities: Turn and Talk, Role-Play, Flip the Switch, Write a Letter, or
create your own. (See back of card for more information.)
3. Say THE BIG IDEA and read the dilemma to the class.
4. Follow these prompts to have a discussion:
a. Describe the dilemma and why it’s a dilemma. Ask, “What makes this tricky?”
b. Brainstorm some options and their outcomes.
c. Ask, “What do you like and not like about these options? Why?”
d. Finish with a discussion of good solutions that have been brought up. Talk about why
some options might be better for some than others.
THIRD GRADE
imagine
and talk about
decision-making
when faced with
different kinds of
dilemmas…
will have
strategies
and ideas for
what to do…
DEAR ABBY…
WHY DO THIS?
MATERIALS
Dear Abby Library
FRONT
THE BIG IDEA
We all have different ideas about how to solve problems, and that’s okay—there are many
effective ways to solve a problem. We’re going to imagine situations, brainstorm what the
options are, and identify what we like or don’t like about them. Talking about these choices will
help us make decisions in the future when problems arise.
MUST DO: Ensure everyone has a chance to participate. Keep questions and conversations
open-ended, there does not need to be a right answer.
CAN ADAPT: Use stories from books, a dilemma that arises in the classroom, or other
academic materials.
are equipped
to handle
real-life
situations.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
AFTER THE ACTIVITY, DEBRIEF:
• Was it easy or hard for you to think about different choices the character could make? Why?
• Have you been in a similar situation before? What did you do? How did you feel about the choice
you made?
• What's the difference between imagining choices for a character and facing a dilemma in real life?
• What advice would you give someone who’s facing a dilemma?
• What are the different factors you considered when thinking about solutions?
Use pictures or role
play to support
emergent bilingual
learners. Allow
students who speak
the same language
to brainstorm
together before
sharing with the
class.
Consider whether
the scenario you
choose might be
uncomfortable or
difficult for any of
the students. Talk
with the student in
advance or choose a
different scenario.
BACK
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
Third grade is a time to build deeper understanding of the many choices that are possible in a given situation,
and begin to think more flexibly about what is right/wrong (or comfortable/uncomfortable; healthy/unhealthy;
responsible/irresponsible) about each. Listing pros and cons for each possible choice can help students
consider the complexities of decision-making. Use graphic organizers to help students visualize many options.
•
Turn and Talk
: Ask students to pair up and discuss the dilemma with a partner. Ask them to either generate
a couple of solutions or find one solution that they both agree on. Then, ask volunteers to share the
solutions they discussed.
•
Role-Play
: Role play the different dilemmas with puppets or with another adult in the room. During the role
play, have explicit conversations with children about the different choices the characters could make and
what might happen as a result. Later in the year, ask for volunteers to lead the role plays.
•
Flip the Switch
: Tell students that you’re going to play a game where they brainstorm many different
solutions to the dilemma. First, ask them to share positive choices the character could make. Go around the
circle and share, or ask them to participate “popcorn style.” Then, when you call out “Flip the Switch!” have
them share negative choices the character could make. Then lead a discussion to reflect on their
suggestions.
•
Write a Letter/Draw a Picture
: Ask students to write a letter or draw a picture of a choice the character in
the dilemma could make. Students can then share with the class, turn their work in to you, or keep them
private.