Instructional objective: Students will write about the following six Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions for the Self-Mentoring tale called “Hyena’s dilemma at a fork in the path.”
- Click this link to read Sections 1-7 of Middle School lesson plan: Hyena’s dilemma at a fork in the path
Section 8: Self-Mentoring Writing Assignment for story called “Hyena’s dilemma at a fork in the path”
After reading the story called "Hyena’s dilemma at a fork in the path," get your students to respond to the following questions.
Self-Mentoring Story link:
Two Self-Mentoring Role-Plays link:
Link to Teaching poster needed for these questions
Students answer the following questions:
1. Knowledge
RECALL what caused the hyena to try to go down both paths simultaneously?
2. Comprehension
REWRITE the story in your own words.
3. Application
Conflict happens with all kinds of people and in all kinds of circumstances. DETERMINE if you agree or disagree with the following statement and tell why:
“It takes great character and courage to choose to handle any kind of conflict in the Self Mentoring way rather than to give in to rage or fear or depression.”
4. Analysis & 5. Synthesis
DIRECTIONS: Read these directions for question four and five. Then Analyze and Synthesize the following ten Fork in the Road decisions for Middle School Students.
- Step 1: Just like hyena, students have all kinds of decisions to make. You can make decisions that demonstrate you are a person with good character. You can also make decisions that demonstrate that your character is not as good as it could or should be.
- Step 2: ANALYZE the following situations and CATEGORIZE which path would indicate the person was showing good character traits and which path would indicate that the person’s character needs to be improved.
- Step 3: In the hyena’s case, his goal was to get a really delicious meal. In the following examples, PREDICT what would be the “meat” for that person. PREDICT what their overriding goal is that motivates them to either take one path or another path.
Ten Fork in the Road Decisions to write about
1 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
A student earned an “Outside Pass” for not being absent or tardy all week. He or she offers this pass to you, even though you did not earn it.
- Choice 1: To take the outside pass and to try to pass it off as yours.
- Choice 2: To turn the outside pass down as you did not earn it.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
2 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
Someone hits you.
- Choice 1: To hit that person back.
- Choice 2: To NOT hit that person back.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
3 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You show up at a party and find that there are no adult chaperones and lots of alcohol or cigarettes being pushed upon you.
- Choice 1: To call your parents and get them to pick you up.
- Choice 2: To remain at the party, but refuse to give in to the pressure to drink or smoke.
- Choice 3: To remain at the party and give in to the peer pressure to drink or smoke.
a. Which of the three options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
4 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You have a boyfriend or a girlfriend and a group of friends. Both want to spend quality time with you and are rather possessive.
- Choice 1: To choose to spend most of your time with the group of friends and neglect your romantic interest.
- Choice 2: To choose to spend most of your time with the romantic interest and neglect your friends.
- Choice 3: To try to spend time with both groups equally.
- Choice 4: To talk things out and work out a schedule or a compromise so that both groups can be happy.
a. Which of the four options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
5 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You want to have a certain profession down the road that is full of either prestige or a good salary or both. You realize that you must have a certain quality of education to meet that goal.
- Choice 1: To work hard to get good grades and to take the perhaps more challenging coursework when you get to high school.
- Choice 2: To be lazy and take the easiest classes and to not try that hard in the classes you do take.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
6 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You told a lie to someone to keep from getting in trouble. You found out that one lie leads to another to another.
- Choice 1: To keep on lying until you finally get caught and get into big trouble.
- Choice 2: To tell the truth about lying, face the consequences, and stop the cycle of lies before it gets any bigger or any worse.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
7 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You were talking. A teacher reprimands you.
- Choice 1: To apologize nicely and admit your mistake.
- Choice 2: To deny that you were talking when you really were talking.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
8 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You really want to make a good grade on a test. You realized you did not study as much as you should have. Suddenly you notice that you can see the test of a really smart kid in the class.
- Choice 1: To cheat.
- Choice 2: To keep your eyes on your own paper and simply do the best that you can.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
9 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
You have been a big bully in the past. You enjoy picking on kids that are smaller than you. The principal says that if you do this anymore, you may face some severe consequences.
- Choice 1: To keep on picking on the smaller and weaker kids around you.
- Choice 2: To try to change your ways and not pick on people any more.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
10 of 10: Fork in the Road Decision for a middle school student
Your parents drink or smoke. You know that smoking and drinking is bad for your health, but you are curious. One day, they leave you home alone, and you see an unfinished glass of liquor or beer or you see a half-smoked cigarette sitting in the ashtray.
- Choice 1: To take a sip or gulp of the alcohol or to take a few puffs on the cigarette.
- Choice 2: To not try the alcohol or cigarettes, even though you may feel a bit curious as to what it might be like.
a. Which of the two options above will you choose and tell why?
b. What is the “Meat” or the determining factor that motivated you to choose that particular path?
6. Evaluation
Describe any decisions, turning-points, or forks in the road that you are facing in your life. Describe this situation and then EVALUATE what decision you think that you will most likely make. DETERMINE whether or not this path or choice will demonstrate Good Character Traits.
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