3rd- My third graders were learning about using win-win solutions to solve conflicts with others. We talked about the meaning of "fair" and how to find solutions that helped everyone to be successful! We used my STAR problem solving method (see poster below).
4th- We talked about things in life that might be sour rather than sweet. We talked about strategies for turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts and coping with negative situations. We, of course, used some sour patch kids as an example of the mix of sweet and sour!
5th- We reviewed making decisions for ourselves and making decisions as a group. We then talked about some times that other people make decisions FOR us. Who are these people and what are some decisions they might make? Sometimes we might not like the things we are told to do, but we have to use our coping strategies and our self-control to make positive choices that move us toward our dreams and goals rather than away from them. We read a short story about a boy putting nails in a fence that illustrated the impact of not using our self control.