Title
Choices Have Consequences
Lesson Objective
The student will learn how to handle grievances without getting angry or using violence (3 to 4 students are needed for this lesson).
Background Information for Teacher
Words in bold are said aloud by the teacher.
Student Prior Knowledge
N/A
Materials:
● Gold coins
● Character Cards
● Water Cards or blue buttons
● Food Cards or orange buttons
● Situation Cards
● Plunder Cards
● Code of Conduct Cards
● Curse You Cards
● Teacher treasure map
● Manila envelope
● Small containers
● Content Venn Diagram, Content Web, Content Flow Chart, or other chart
● Paper and writing utensils
Step 2: Teach Lesson
Explain to the student that the choices they make in their lives affect others. All relationships need strong values, and there are many
other ways to handle grievances besides being angry or using violence. Violence is never the option.
Ask the student, Would you like to be in charge and make important decisions? How would you like to be rich? Would you
like to have great adventures? Would you like to be powerful and a strong leader? Allow the student time to respond.
Tell the student, Today we are going to do all these things in a pirate activity.
Give the student a container filled with gold coins, Character Cards
, a deck of Water
and Food Cards
, a deck of Situation Cards
, a
deck of Plunder Cards
, a deck of Code of Conduct Cards
, and a deck of Course You Cards
.
Have the student select a Character Card
. This card tells them who they are and what their characteristic traits are.
(Always include the Captain card when playing. Other character cards may be set aside depending on the number of players. The
student is given five gold coins, three Water Cards
and three Food Cards
to begin the game. Gold coins may be exchanged for two
Water
or Food Cards
).
Place the Character Card
in front of you.
The Captain draws the first Situation Card
and follows the instructions on that card.
Players only pay other players when instructed on the card. All other “bounty” is put back into the container.
Play continues to the Captain’s left until all cards have been turned over, or until time expires.
After the game has ended, each player counts their coins and Food and Water Cards
. Compare what the other players have to your
own “bounty.”
The teacher instructs the Captain to take all the treasure from each player. The Captain then either keeps it all for himself, or divide it
however they’d like.
Once the game is finished, the teacher opens the Treasure Map and reads:
If the captain kept all the treasure for himself, everyone on the ship died, including the Captain, because he can’t sail the ship by
himself.
If the Captain shared part of the bounty, the crew didn’t have enough strength to get the treasure back to the ship. They made it
halfway back and then couldn’t row anymore. The rowboat was too heavy to move, so they had to tip the treasure out of the
rowboat into the depths of the ocean.
If the treasure was divided equally, everyone wins because each person had enough strength to find the treasure and bring it back.
They split it equally and then were able to buy an island and build a lovely community where they all lived happily ever after.
Using the Content Venn Diagram, Content Flow Chart
, or Content Web
, lead a discussion highlighting the objectives of this Content
Standard. Ask the student:
How is living on a pirate ship similar to living in a community and how it is different? Why rules are important in a
community and what would happen if there were no laws? How does cooperation and sharing play an important part in
working with others? How did the Captain’s choice affected each player? How can you handle conflict and come to a
peaceful resolution?
Allow the student time to respond and have a discussion.
Step 3: Complete the worksheet attached below.
Worksheets needed to complete the lesson
Printable coins & treasure chest
Step 4: Review. Start the next lesson with the game or activity attached below for review so the student can demonstrate
understanding of this lesson before moving forward.
Anger Map (offline) activity