Introduction
In school, at home, and in the workplace, we all have to follow rules. However, some people might not follow these rules, which can be upsetting for others. It’s essential for students to learn how to focus on their own actions and let responsible adults handle rule-breaking situations. In this blog post, we will discuss an activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help educators teach this important concept to elementary students.
No-Prep Activity: The Worry Jar
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Simply gather your students in a circle and explain that everyone will take turns sharing a worry they have about something someone else is doing. After a student shares their worry, ask the rest of the group to discuss whether it’s something that the student should worry about or if it’s something that should be left to the responsible adult (e.g., teacher, parent) to handle. This activity encourages students to think critically about when it’s appropriate to worry about others’ actions and when it’s best to focus on themselves.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to focus on our own actions instead of worrying about what others are doing?
- How does worrying about others’ actions affect our relationships with friends and classmates?
- What are some examples of situations where it’s better to let a responsible adult handle the situation, rather than trying to fix it ourselves?
- Can you think of a time when you were worried about someone else’s actions, but realized it wasn’t your responsibility to handle the situation? How did it make you feel?
- What strategies can help you remember to focus on your own actions and let responsible adults handle rule-breaking situations?
Related Skills
Teaching students to worry about themselves and not others’ actions is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other relevant skills for students to develop include:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help students become more compassionate and less likely to focus on others’ actions in a negative way.
- Self-awareness: Being aware of their own emotions, thoughts, and actions can help students recognize when they are becoming overly concerned with others’ behavior.
- Problem-solving: Learning to solve problems independently can help students feel more confident in their own abilities and less reliant on others for validation.
- Communication: Developing effective communication skills can help students express their concerns and feelings in a positive and constructive manner.
Next Steps
Teaching students to focus on themselves and not others’ actions is an important skill that can benefit them throughout their lives. To help you incorporate this concept and other social-emotional learning skills into your curriculum, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can provide valuable guidance and support for educators working with elementary students.
