Responsibility
Discussion questions (Pre teach)
(Ask) What is responsibility?
1. Being accountable for what you do, for your actions and behavior.
2. Doing the right thing at the right time, so others can trust and depend on you.
(Ask) What are ways you can show responsibility?
1. Complete your homework and chores on time without being reminded
2. Follow through on you commitments, even when you don’t feel like it.
3. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and learn from them. Don’t make excuses or blame others.
4. Take care of your things and those of other people. Return items you borrow.
5. Find out what needs to be done and do it.
6. Make wise choices, such as choosing to eat healthy foods and wearing a helmet.
7. Always do your very best. Others are counting on you!
(Ask) How would you practice responsibility if…
1. You broke the wheel off your brother’s new skateboard?
2. Your friend asks you to play and you haven’t finished your homework?
3. You’re playing a really fun game at your friend’s house and it’s time to go home?
4. You promised mom or dad you would clean your room but you just don’t feel like it?
5. It is time to go to bed and you just remembered that your book report is due tomorrow?
6. You agreed to take care of your neighbor’s dog while she is away but now a friend has invited you to a sleep over?
7. Your mom is not feeling well and could really use some extra help around the house?
8. You forgot to bring your homework home from school, including the book you need to study for tomorrow’s test?
Encourage students to come up with a few more situations to discuss together as a class.
Book Study
Read and discuss a book that teaches a lesson about responsibility.
Weekly Writing Prompts
Look for the “Wednesday writing prompts” on the announcements. Or, come up with your own writing prompts based on classroom discussions or events.
Activities for home or school
Reaching Out With Respect (Suggested for all grades)
Materials: A dollar bill
Look what I brought with me today. (hold up the dollar bill for the students to see.) All of us know how to spend money. Do we all need money? What do we use money for? (Briefly discuss needs and wants) When I hold this dollar bill in my hand it doesn’t block my vision of the things around me. I can see my family, friends, people who might need help, and I can see work that needs to be done. The problem comes when I hold money so close to me (hold dollar I front of your eyes) and that’s all I can see or care about. If I love money too much it can lead to trouble. I might begin to make foolish and selfish purchases, thinking only of myself instead of making responsible choices and thinking about the needs of others. Having money is not a problem. But if I love money too much-and hold it too close-it becomes a problem. What are some good and responsible things we can do with money?
Responsibili-Tree” (Suggested for grades K-3)
Materials: White, brown, and green construction paper. Stencils: tree trunk with branches, several leaves. Use tag board for stencils.
Give each student one piece each of the white, brown, and green construction paper. Instruct them to use the brown paper to trace and cut out the tree trunk and then glue it on their white paper. Then use the green paper to cut and trace out leaves and then glue the leaves on the branches of the tree trunk. Students will then write responsible actions that they will perform on each of the leaves. Such as: take out the garbage, feed the dog, set the table…)
Role Play (Suggested for grades 3-5)
Materials: None
Divide the students into small groups and ask them to develop a skit about responsibility. Have each group present to the class. Be sure to discuss each skit after the students have finished and point out the responsible behavior.
A Symphony of Character (Suggested for all grades)
Materials: Musical instrument that you or a guest can play
Draw a line of music on the board with notes. Play the music as written. Next, erase several of the notes and replay the music. Notice how different the music sounds. Explain the importance of each note in the composition. They all have a purpose to make the music work. It can be beautiful and complete only when each note is doing its part. Each of us is like a note in a musical composition. When we do our part and take responsibility for our actions, then we can make beautiful “music” in our lives and for those around us.
In closing…
Remember only you have the ability to be responsible. Be a person others can trust and count on to do the right thing!
“I am responsible for doing the work I need to do today even though it may be hard.” – Helen Keller
Discussion questions (Pre teach)
(Ask) What is responsibility?
1. Being accountable for what you do, for your actions and behavior.
2. Doing the right thing at the right time, so others can trust and depend on you.
(Ask) What are ways you can show responsibility?
1. Complete your homework and chores on time without being reminded
2. Follow through on you commitments, even when you don’t feel like it.
3. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and learn from them. Don’t make excuses or blame others.
4. Take care of your things and those of other people. Return items you borrow.
5. Find out what needs to be done and do it.
6. Make wise choices, such as choosing to eat healthy foods and wearing a helmet.
7. Always do your very best. Others are counting on you!
(Ask) How would you practice responsibility if…
1. You broke the wheel off your brother’s new skateboard?
2. Your friend asks you to play and you haven’t finished your homework?
3. You’re playing a really fun game at your friend’s house and it’s time to go home?
4. You promised mom or dad you would clean your room but you just don’t feel like it?
5. It is time to go to bed and you just remembered that your book report is due tomorrow?
6. You agreed to take care of your neighbor’s dog while she is away but now a friend has invited you to a sleep over?
7. Your mom is not feeling well and could really use some extra help around the house?
8. You forgot to bring your homework home from school, including the book you need to study for tomorrow’s test?
Encourage students to come up with a few more situations to discuss together as a class.
Book Study
Read and discuss a book that teaches a lesson about responsibility.
Weekly Writing Prompts
Look for the “Wednesday writing prompts” on the announcements. Or, come up with your own writing prompts based on classroom discussions or events.
Activities for home or school
Reaching Out With Respect (Suggested for all grades)
Materials: A dollar bill
Look what I brought with me today. (hold up the dollar bill for the students to see.) All of us know how to spend money. Do we all need money? What do we use money for? (Briefly discuss needs and wants) When I hold this dollar bill in my hand it doesn’t block my vision of the things around me. I can see my family, friends, people who might need help, and I can see work that needs to be done. The problem comes when I hold money so close to me (hold dollar I front of your eyes) and that’s all I can see or care about. If I love money too much it can lead to trouble. I might begin to make foolish and selfish purchases, thinking only of myself instead of making responsible choices and thinking about the needs of others. Having money is not a problem. But if I love money too much-and hold it too close-it becomes a problem. What are some good and responsible things we can do with money?
Responsibili-Tree” (Suggested for grades K-3)
Materials: White, brown, and green construction paper. Stencils: tree trunk with branches, several leaves. Use tag board for stencils.
Give each student one piece each of the white, brown, and green construction paper. Instruct them to use the brown paper to trace and cut out the tree trunk and then glue it on their white paper. Then use the green paper to cut and trace out leaves and then glue the leaves on the branches of the tree trunk. Students will then write responsible actions that they will perform on each of the leaves. Such as: take out the garbage, feed the dog, set the table…)
Role Play (Suggested for grades 3-5)
Materials: None
Divide the students into small groups and ask them to develop a skit about responsibility. Have each group present to the class. Be sure to discuss each skit after the students have finished and point out the responsible behavior.
A Symphony of Character (Suggested for all grades)
Materials: Musical instrument that you or a guest can play
Draw a line of music on the board with notes. Play the music as written. Next, erase several of the notes and replay the music. Notice how different the music sounds. Explain the importance of each note in the composition. They all have a purpose to make the music work. It can be beautiful and complete only when each note is doing its part. Each of us is like a note in a musical composition. When we do our part and take responsibility for our actions, then we can make beautiful “music” in our lives and for those around us.
In closing…
Remember only you have the ability to be responsible. Be a person others can trust and count on to do the right thing!
“I am responsible for doing the work I need to do today even though it may be hard.” – Helen Keller