Students will understand what it means to have self-control.
Students will understand self-control shows responsibility and independence.
Students will understand that self-control helps one resist temptation.
Students will practice self-control techniques.
Picture of a stoplight (“I Do”)
Red and green construction paper (“We Do”)
Black, red, yellow, and green construction paper for each student (“You Do”)
Safety scissors (“You Do”)
Glue stick (“You Do”)
Discuss several scenarios with your students and ask them to determine how the student in each example could practice self-control. Sample scenarios can include:
Hold up a picture of a stoplight and ask students, “Have you ever seen a stoplight?” After they respond, ask, “What happens when the stoplight is red?” Once they answer, ask, “What happens if you are really late and you want to go through a red stoplight?” (Go over examples of what can happen if someone goes through a red light.)
On the board, draw a red circle and write “STOP and calm down” in the red circle. Tell students, “When using self-control, we stop and calm down.”
What is the yellow light for? (Explain that a yellow light provides time for a driver to think, “Should I stop quickly, or am I already almost through the light?” A driver would not want to stop in the middle of an intersection and therefore has to think about what he/she is doing.) Draw a yellow circle on the board and write “THINK of solutions and consequences” in the yellow circle.
What is the green light for? (Discuss how and why it is safe to go on the green light.) Draw a green circle on the board and write “GO ahead and try the best action” on the green circle.
Next, introduce students to self-control strategies (model each strategy as you explain them to the students):
Use the stoplight in the classroom for a visual reminder.
Play the “Red Light, Green Light” game. Chose a student to stand at the front of the class and give him or her a green light (or green sheet of paper) and red light (or red sheet of paper). Tell the class that when the student holds up the green light, it means “GO,” and that they should walk forward, dance, or do some other form of physical activity. When the student holds up the red light, it means “STOP,” and students are to stop whatever they are doing. Play this game a few rounds, and then reverse the rules so that green means “STOP” and red means “GO.” Students will have to go against their impulses and use self-control to follow the reverse directions.
Tell students that they are going to create their own “Self-Control Stoplights” to help them remember self-control steps. Distribute black, red, yellow, and green construction paper. Direct students to create their own “Self-Control Stoplights” to tape to their desks.
Review the “Self-Control Stoplights” with students and remind them that they have the choice to use self-control every day. When they use self-control, they are choosing to be responsible and more independent.
After reading No, David!, by David Shannon, ask students to illustrate a part of the book where David should have shown self-control. Collect all drawings and make a new book titled Yes, David! Once the book is complete, read the new book to the students and display it in the classroom.
Have students create a coloring book page and use their self-control to color within the lines.
Have students fold a piece of paper in half lengthways. On one side draw a person showing self-control and on the other side draw a person not using self-control.
Direct students to role-play situations that require self-control. (For example, I want to talk to my friend while my teacher is reading my class a story. Should I distract my classmates and talk to my friend? Or should I not?)
Read the story Just Enough, by Teri Daniels. After the reading, ask students the following questions: How did the boy in Just Enough show self-control? Can you do some of the things that this boy can do with self-control?
Read Play with Me, by Marie Hall Ets. Discuss with students how the main character makes friends using self-control.
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