Awareness skills

Key ideas
1. Risk can be frightening.
2. Doing the right thing can sometimes be risky.

Activity
Ask children to define what "taking a risk" means. Risk is uncertainty when the results could be unpleasant. List their ideas and examples of risk on a chalkboard. Create a definition of "risk" using their own words.

Our fear can rise or fall depending on the level of risk. Take out a pack of cards and shuffle them. Then choose one card and place it face down on a table. Ask for a volunteer. Then say something like, "Let's say I will give you the opportunity to get a grade in this class depending on the card I just dealt you. If it is red, you get an A. If it a spade, you get a C. If it is a club, you fail. If we decided to choose your grade this way, would you take the risk?" Talk briefly about the choice and then turn the card over.

Then ask the volunteer, "Let's say, instead of a grade, we were to let the draw of cards to determine one of these outcomes: If red, then you are class president. If a spade, nothing happens. If a club, you are thrown out of school and never allowed to return. Would you take the risk? Talk briefly about the choice and then turn the card over.

Follow up with something like, "I am using cards here to illustrate risk. Now let's talk about some real examples of risks that kids your age have faced. You could ask them to comment about the following examples if they cannot think of some on their own.

Being truthful when you might be punished.
Saying no when asked by friends to drink alcohol.
Telling someone you like him (or her).
Telling a friend that you feel angry toward him (or her).
Standing up in class to give a speech.

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion for this lesson? Go to the author contact page.

http://www.ksu.edu/wwparent/programs/hero/hero-aware-2.htm--Revised June 13, 2005
Copyright © 1996-2005 Charles A. Smith. All rights reserved.