Decision Making Lesson Plan

Instructor: Sharon Linde

Sharon has a Masters of Science in Mathematics

The ability to make decisions is an important skill for all students to have. Use this lesson plan to teach students about differing types, processes, and models they can use to make decisions, then apply the concepts to a real-life situation.

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, students will be able to:

listmethods used to make decisions
use a decision-making model or method to make a decision
explain impacts of decision-making methods on outcomes

Length:

1.5 - 2 hours

Materials

Copies of our lessons, one for each student
Chart paper

Key Vocabulary

Decision-making
Rational
Intuition
Guessing
Satisfice

Curriculum Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2

Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.

Instructions

Begin by asking students to think of an important decision they're in the process of making or will need to make in the immediate future. Record and tuck away for later.
Tell students they will be learning methods to make decisions independently and as a group. Share prior knowledge on topic.
Ask students to turn and talk about how they decided what to wear that morning. Share answers, then instruct students to read the first section, Making Decisions, in the lesson Decision Making: Definition & Types.
Discuss:
- Why are there many different ways to make decision?
- Can we apply the same strategy for all decisions? Why or why not?
- Which decisions are difficult for you to make? Easy? Why?
Now instruct students to read the remainder of the lesson, highlighting or recording information in notebooks. Ask:
- Which method did you use when getting dressed this morning?
- Which method do you use most often? Why is that?
- Are there methods you never use?
- When is it a good idea to guess when making a decision? When is it not a good idea?
- Have you ever used the satisfice method? Discuss.
Have students return to their decision from the beginning of class. Using their new knowledge of decisions, students should make a brief plan. As they work, walk around and offer suggestions. Allow students to work in partners if possible.
Next, tell students they'll be practicing how to make decisions in groups. Divide into groups of 5-6 students and ask each group to identify a problem they're experiencing in class, school, a sporting event, or other shared event.
Now have students read the lesson Decision Making: Process & Models and follow the steps listed to solve their problem.
Using chart paper, ask students to list each step of the process in writing, making their thinking visible.
As students work, walk around to offer support and suggestions.
Students may need to use technology to research, gathering evidence or searching for alternative solutions. Provide if necessary.
Present findings when finished.
Discuss the pros and cons of making a group decision compared to working independently.

Extensions

Ask students to interview an adult to determine what decision-making strategies they use in their personal lives and in group situations. Share in class.
Instruct students to use these strategies for a week, noticing which they use most often. Keep a log, reflect, and share.

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