Introduction
In the world of social interactions, students must learn the difference between reporting harmful behaviors and tattling. Tattling can have negative effects on friendships and social relationships, as it often involves telling on others for minor rule-breaking that doesn’t cause harm or danger. This blog post will explore a simple, no-prep activity for educators to help students understand the concept of tattling and its consequences. We’ll also provide discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for further exploration.
No-Prep Activity
In this activity, educators can use a scenario-based approach to teach students about tattling. The scenario provided in the prompt can be used as a starting point. The educator can read the scenario aloud to the students and then ask them to think about how each character feels and why. After discussing the feelings and thoughts of the characters in the scenario, the teacher can present an alternative ending where Liz chooses not to tattle on Serena.
To further reinforce the lesson, the educator can create additional scenarios that involve tattling and present them to the students. The students can then analyze the scenarios, discuss the characters’ feelings and thoughts, and suggest alternative actions that would lead to better outcomes. This activity requires no additional materials or preparation and can be easily adapted to fit the needs of any special education classroom.
Discussion Questions
- How does tattling affect the feelings and thoughts of the people involved?
- What are some situations where it might be appropriate to tell an adult, and what are some situations where it might not be necessary?
- How can we determine if a situation is serious enough to involve an adult?
- What are some strategies for addressing minor rule-breaking without tattling?
- How can understanding the consequences of tattling help students build better social relationships?
Related Skills
Addressing the issue of tattling in the classroom is just one aspect of teaching students essential social-emotional skills. Other related skills that educators may want to explore include:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Conflict resolution: Learning how to resolve disagreements in a constructive and respectful manner.
- Communication: Expressing thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively.
- Self-regulation: Managing emotions and behaviors in different situations.
- Responsibility: Taking ownership of one’s actions and decisions.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in exploring more activities and strategies to teach students about tattling and other essential social-emotional skills, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can help you create a supportive and engaging learning environment that fosters the development of strong social relationships and emotional well-being.
