TITLE:      DECISION MAKING

AUTHOR:    LEZLIE A. KELLEY; UTAH LAW-RELATED
           EDUCATION PROJECT SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

GRADE LEVEL:    Appropriate for students 4th-6th grade

OVERVIEW:  Conflict resolution is a trend to which students
need to become familiar.  They should understand the
possible impact that alternative dispute resolution may have
in their lives.

PURPOSE:  This lesson encourages students to think of
different ways in which they may solve their problems.  The
traditional "My father can beat up your father" or "I'll see
you in court" are old-fashioned approaches to problem
solving.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will identify  the problem, the
choices and the consequences both positive and negative.
The students will work together to make a group decision.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
A.   Distribute copies of "Decision Mountain."  Inform
     students that they are going to make a decision by
     climbing the "Decision Mountain."  By climbing the
     mountain they will learn the steps involved in decision
     making, while examining in further detail the problem
     presented in their story.  Have students break into
     groups of five or six.
B.   Ask students to read the story to their group  and
     identify the problem.  At the foot of the mountain,
     write the problem.
     1.   Ask students to identify possible options for
          resolving the problem.  List negative and
          positive options.
     2.   Next, have the class identify  the consequence
          (positive or negative) for the specific option.
          List the consequences with the corresponding
          option number.
     3.   Review and discuss information.  Ask students
          to decide which options and corresponding
          consequences are best.  Have students write
          their group decision at the top of the
          mountain.
C.   Ask students to share their story with the class.
     Discuss problems and decisions.  Discuss how decisions
     were made and why it solves the problem.

STORIES

1.   Catherine is not doing very well in her English class.
     Whether she passes or not depends on her final written
     project.   Even though she has always tried hard, she
     hasn't been able to get very good grades.  She finds
     the paper that her brother did on the topic three years
     ago and this paper received an "A."

2.   You forgot your social studies assignment.  Today is
     the day when everyone is supposed to bring some object
     to show to the class.  The object should be something
     that has to do with American History.  As you start out
     the door of the house, you remember your sister's
     arrowhead collection.  Great idea-- you could take the
     collection to school for social studies class.
     Suddenly, you remember how your sister feels about the
     collection.  She always says, "I'll never take this
     collection to school because I don't want to lose or
     damage it."  Since she is already on her way to school,
     you can't ask permission to take the collection.  But
     the collection is the perfect thing for the assignment.

3.   The children in Mrs. Dunn's sixth grade class were
     having a special treat.  A collector of Indian
     artifacts was visiting and he brought with him some
     Indian weapons, clothing and beads.  He was going to
     teach the children some Indian words and songs.  But
     before he could start his program, Mrs. Dunn had to
     take him down the meet the principal.  The collector
     asked that no one touch his belongings, and he put a
     student, Jane in charge, saying that if anyone touched
     his things, he would call off his visit.  Shortly after
     Mrs. Dunn and the collector left, a few children
     couldn't resist touching the clothing and trying on
     some of the beads.  When the collector and Mrs. Dunn
     returned, Jane did not know what to do.

4.   The Smith's new neighbors are coming unexpectedly to
     visit the Smith's in two hours.  The Smith children,
     Bob and Sally, are at home watching their favorite
     television show with their best friends.  Mr. Smith,
     wanting to make a good impression on the soon to arrive
     guests and feeling anxious about meeting new people,
     immediately turned off the television and told the
     children to clean the house.  When Bob began to
     question his father, Mr. Smith got even angrier, and
     Sally embarrassed by her father's tone of voice, ran to
     her room crying.

5.   Mike brought a walkman radio to school that he had just
     received as a birthday gift the night before.  All of
     his friends wanted to have a turn playing the walkman.
     When it was James' turn, he accidentally  broke off one
     of the knobs.  Mike saw this happen and got really mad
     at James.