Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential for middle school students to develop the ability to adapt to changes and handle unexpected situations with ease. One of the key skills for success in this area is learning how to be flexible instead of rigid. In this blog post, we will introduce you to an engaging game called “Two Sides” that helps students recognize and practice flexibility and adaptability in different situations.

No-Prep Activity

Two Sides is a simple game that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. The goal of the game is to help students identify and understand the difference between being flexible and being rigid in various situations. Here’s how to play:

1. Divide the class into two groups: one representing flexibility and the other representing rigidity.
2. Present a scenario to the class, either verbally or written on the board. The scenario should involve a situation where someone needs to adapt to a change or unexpected event.
3. Ask each group to discuss how they would react to the situation, keeping in mind the characteristics of being flexible or rigid.
4. After a few minutes, ask each group to share their response with the class.
5. Discuss the differences between the two responses and how being flexible or rigid can impact the outcome of the situation.
6. Continue with additional scenarios, allowing students to switch roles between flexibility and rigidity.

This activity encourages students to think critically about their reactions to change and helps them practice adapting their thoughts and feelings to better handle different situations.

Discussion Questions

After playing the Two Sides game, use the following questions to stimulate further discussion:

1. Why is it important to be flexible in our daily lives?
2. How can being rigid make situations more difficult or stressful?
3. What strategies can we use to become more flexible and adaptable when faced with changes or unexpected events?
4. Can you think of a time when you were flexible and it helped you navigate a challenging situation?
5. How can we support each other in developing flexibility and adaptability skills?

Related Skills

Teaching flexibility and adaptability is an important aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that can be beneficial for middle school students to develop include:

• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Empathy
• Self-awareness
• Resilience

These skills work together to help students build a strong foundation for success in various aspects of life, including academics, relationships, and personal growth.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach flexibility and adaptability to middle school students, we encourage you to explore more resources and activities that can support their Social-Emotional Learning journey. Sign up for free samples of skill-building materials and discover additional activities that can benefit your students.