This week some of our Guidance classes did an activity that simulated what it feels like when we do unnecessary work or miss out on class time because of not following directions.
This lesson fit well with Habit 1 "Be Proactive" from the 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. The directions at the top of the paper said, "Read everything on this paper before you begin". Most of the students spent 10-15 minutes going through the long list of silly directions which included placing your left shoe on the table, but a few of the students read the entire page before starting the activity and noted the directions in the final step-"Do only number 1 (Write your name at the top of this paper) and then sit quietly."
Both the students who were not tricked and those who were had a good laugh over the activity and it lead to some classroom discussion regarding Being Proactive and the importance of understanding and following directions in school as well as at home. We also explored Habit 5 "Seek first to understand then to be understood" and discussed how developing this habit helps us in school.
This lesson fit well with Habit 1 "Be Proactive" from the 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. The directions at the top of the paper said, "Read everything on this paper before you begin". Most of the students spent 10-15 minutes going through the long list of silly directions which included placing your left shoe on the table, but a few of the students read the entire page before starting the activity and noted the directions in the final step-"Do only number 1 (Write your name at the top of this paper) and then sit quietly."
Both the students who were not tricked and those who were had a good laugh over the activity and it lead to some classroom discussion regarding Being Proactive and the importance of understanding and following directions in school as well as at home. We also explored Habit 5 "Seek first to understand then to be understood" and discussed how developing this habit helps us in school.