Introduction

In the ever-changing world we live in, it is essential for students to learn how to adapt and manage their emotions in different situations. The Two Sides game is a fun and engaging activity designed to teach students the concepts of being flexible and being rigid. By understanding these concepts, students can learn how to react appropriately to changes and handle their emotions in a healthy manner. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help educators incorporate the principles of Social-Emotional Learning into their classrooms.

No-Prep Activity

The Two Sides game is a simple activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. To play the game, have students sit in a circle. The teacher will present different scenarios, and the students will decide if a character in the scenario is being flexible or being rigid. After each scenario, pause for a moment to discuss the character’s actions and emotions. Encourage students to explain their reasoning and share their thoughts on how the character could have reacted differently to demonstrate flexibility.

For example, present the following scenario:

Lucy wants to play soccer during recess, but her friends decide to play basketball instead. Lucy gets upset and refuses to join them, sitting alone on the sidelines. Is Lucy being flexible or being rigid? How do you know?

After discussing the scenario, guide the students to recognize that Lucy was being rigid, as she was not willing to adapt to the change in plans and let her emotions take over. Encourage students to suggest alternative ways Lucy could have reacted to demonstrate flexibility.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to be flexible in different situations? How can being rigid affect our relationships with others?
2. What are some strategies we can use to help ourselves be more flexible when faced with changes or challenges?
3. Can you think of a time when you were either being flexible or being rigid? How did you handle the situation, and what could you have done differently?
4. How can understanding the concepts of flexibility and rigidity help us to better manage our emotions in various situations?
5. Why is it important for educators to teach students about being flexible and managing emotions in the classroom?

Related Skills

Learning to be flexible and manage emotions in different situations is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that students can benefit from include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Active Listening: Paying full attention to what others are saying and asking questions to ensure understanding.
• Conflict Resolution: Developing the ability to resolve disagreements in a healthy and constructive manner.
• Self-Awareness: Recognizing one’s own emotions, values, and strengths, and understanding how they influence one’s behavior.
• Resilience: Developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in incorporating the Two Sides game and other Social-Emotional Learning activities into your classroom, we encourage you to sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These samples will provide you with a range of resources and activities designed to help your students develop essential life skills and foster a positive learning environment.