Play a song as the students enter.  Introduce the unit on the value of responsibility by asking the students what responsibility means.  Discuss the meaning of the song just played.

Say: ? Today, we will play with responsibility by having a trust walk.?  To do a trust walk, half the class wears blindfolds.  One partner is responsible for carefully leading his or her blindfolded partner around, guiding physically as well as offering verbal information to manage uneven areas and to help the partner feel safe and comfortable.  Do this for 10 minutes, then reverse roles.  Discuss the feelings associated with each role.

Ask:  ?How would you have felt if your partner were not responsible??

Lesson:  Global Responsibility

Discuss the following Reflection Points:

• Global responsibility requires respect toward all human beings.

• Responsibility is using our resources to generate a positive change.

• A responsible person knows how to be fair, seeing that each gets a share.

Ask:

• If you could tell every person in the world that he or she had to be responsible, in what ways would you want people to be responsible?

• What would you want them to do?

• What would you want them not to do?

• What is our global responsibility?

• What is our societal responsibility?

• What is our moral responsibility?  (13- and 14-year-olds only)

Positively affirm the positive responses.  Lead them in the Peace Relaxation Exercise if that seems appropriate.  This discussion will evoke a variety of reactions from different people.  Older students may want to discuss these questions for several periods.  Help them select relevant reading materials.

Activity:  Instruct the students to make a Mind Map of responsibility.

Lesson: Irresponsibility

Ask the students to discuss:  ?What would the world be like if no one carried out his or her responsibilities??

Activity:  Instruct the students to make a Mind Map of irresponsibility.

The students can share their Mind Maps of irresponsibility, and then their Mind Maps of responsibility from the prior lesson.

Follow-up Activity:  Divide the students into groups of eight to ten and ask them to make a play demonstrating irresponsibility and/or responsibility.  It can be a comedy or a drama.
 

Responsibility Ideas at Home for Parents

Think about when you were little and started to do things.  What made you feel proud of yourself?  When you were older, what did you like to hear?  What attitudes have you found most productive in helping your own children take pride in their achievements?

Notice when your child is being fair.  Notice when your child is taking care of another.  Affirm children?s positive actions and let them know you appreciate their being responsible and loving.

When a new situation or problem is arising for your child, ask, ?What do you think??  Compliment him or her for thinking it through and coming up with some alternatives.

If there is currently a lack of cooperation with chores, have a family meeting.  Make a plan.  Perhaps have a time during the day when everyone helps for 20 or 30 minutes.  Set a buzzer and off you all go!  Or make a list of the chores that need doing.  Ask for volunteers among the children, or divide the chores yourself among the children, depending on the situation.  Post the list on a wall.  Positively notice their helping actions, or give them a smile.  Do not nag.  After three days, review the chores list together and ask for difficulties or suggestions.  Positively remark on the improvement, and come up with ideas to deal with the remaining obstacles.  After that, weekly family meetings are an ideal time to keep up the momentum and positivity for helping with chores (and for meeting about many other things as well!)

Notice when your child is making effort to try a new skill, and praise him or her.  At times that requires allowing the child to do something alone rather than more quickly doing it yourself.  Praise what the child has done correctly, and show him or her how to correct the areas for improvement.

When they want a new freedom, think about it.  Once you have sincerely considered both the positive and negative consequences and discussed it with the other parent if applicable, sit down and discuss that freedom with your child.  Ask, ?With that additional right, what do you think the responsibilities should be??  Compliment him or her for thinking it through, if appropriate.  If you, as a parent, are uncomfortable with allowing that freedom, think about why that is so and clearly present your reasons to the child.

When they want to do something for which you think they are not prepared -- yet they are old enough to do it -- ask them what they think they will need.  Respectfully guide them to discover what in reality that new idea will require.  Give them your vote of confidence, your good wishes, and let them go with love.  In the future, they will more frequently turn to you for guidance.