Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 7-8

Activity Objective: The objective of this activity is to have youth create realistic and relevant scenarios (that they navigate in their lives) and explore how to make healthy choices around them.

Materials Required:

• Paper for writing
• Writing utensils

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Gather all materials

Task Time: 60 minutes 

Activity Description:

 1.       Tell the class that they will be creating realistic scenarios involving choices and consequences in small groups and then swapping them with another group to act out

2.       Divide the class into groups of 3-4 individuals and give them about 10-15 minutes to create a realistic scenario where a difficult choice has to be made

• Make sure the scenarios are relationships-based (e.g., friendship, romantic, family, authority, etc.)
• Tell the youth that if they are using scenarios that have actually happened to take out names or identifying details to respect confidentiality

3.       After each group has created their scenarios, have them swap with another group. The groups are then given about 15 minutes to go over the scenario and create two skits they will perform. One skit is depicting a good choice followed by positive consequences. The other skit is depicting a poor choice that is followed by negative consequences.

4.       Once all the groups have completed their skits, have each group perform for the whole class. Ask the class the following:

• What are some other good choices that could be made in this scenario? What kinds of consequences can follow?
• In the poor choice skit, how could this choice be followed by a better choice? What would the consequences be?

5.       Point out that choices and consequences apply across all the different themes relevant for healthy relationships that have been talked about. Emphasize that we need to think through the choices we make the consequences that may follow. When we make a good choice, we feel good about it and about ourselves. Validate that it is okay to make poor choices sometimes because we all do, but it can always be followed by a better choice

Activity Extensions:

Have small groups create posters describing common difficult scenarios youth may face and outline a ‘choices and consequences’ model for them. These can then be posted around the classroom or the school as appropriate

Additional Comments:

Youth may be drawing on scenarios that have happened or are happening in real life. If any scenarios depict abuse, facilitators should follow up with youth to explore these suspicions as part of their legal duty to report