Length
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.5
Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6
Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7
Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.8
Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.9
Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.
Materials
Key Vocabulary
- Impulsivity
- Impulsiveness
- Attention
- Motor activity
- Nonplanning
- Self-control
Instructions
- Write the word 'impulsivity' on the board and ask the students what it means, allowing some time for discussion.
- Pass out the paper copies of the text lesson to the class now, one per student.
- Have the class read the introduction and 'What is Impulsiveness?' section of the text lesson.
- Next to the word 'impulsivity' on the board, draw an equal sign and then write the word 'impulsiveness'.
- Explain to the class that the terms are often used interchangeably.
- How did we do in defining impulsivity?
- What types of behaviors might be related to impulsivity?
- Are there certain times when impulsivity is a good thing?
- Now instruct the class to read the 'Administering and Scoring the Scale' and 'Second Order Factors' sections of the text lesson.
- What does attention have to do with impulsivity?
- What does motor activity have to do with impulsivity?
- What does non-planning have to do with impulsivity?
- Tell the class to read the rest of the text lesson now.
- Why would the inability to stick with things for long periods of time signal impulsiveness?
- What does it mean to have self-control?
- How is the concept of self-control related to impulsivity?
- Based on what we have read about measuring impulsivity, how many of us consider ourselves to be impulsive?
- Are there certain times when we may be more impulsive than others?
- Pass out the worksheet and ask the students to work independently to complete it.
Activity
- Now pass out the copies of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale.
- Have the students analyze the questions on the scale in terms of how they indicate the presence or absence of impulsivity. They should write their analysis next to each of the questions.
- When all students have finished, have them share their analysis of the 30 questions during class discussion.
- When the discussion has concluded, have the students gather in four smaller groups.
- Ask each group to use what they've learned about impulsivity from the text lesson and the questionnaire to design a plan for managing impulsivity.
- For example, tasks should be planned out in advance rather than just diving in without a plan and so on.
- When each group has a plan for managing impulsivity in place, have them take turns presenting their plans to the class.
- How effective might these plans be at creating strategies for managing impulsivity?
- Why is it important to manage impulsivity?
- What might result from impulsive behaviors and choices?
Extensions
- Have students keep a log of their choices and behaviors for a 24-hour period. How many instances of impulsivity can they spot? How might things have been different if impulsivity had been managed?
- Show the students video clips of individuals acting impulsively and those who are not, asking students to distinguish between the two and make observations about the different behaviors.
