Making Decisions

Summary

Provide an understanding and an awareness of the factors that can influence decisions, introduce basic decision-making methodologies, and provide structured practice in analyzing a problem, identifying options, and making a decision.

Materials

• See handout in the Instructional Procedures section.
• PowerPoint Presentation

Instructional Procedures

Students will complete the following activities:

Activity #1:

What are you trying to decide? (pdf)

• Have students identify three decisions they are trying to make (e.g., going to a party, moving away from home, buying a car, buying a home, calling in sick to work, etc.)
• Have them use the decision-making process sheet to work through one of the decisions they have identified.

Activity #2:

What decision-making strategies have you used? (pdf)

• As a class, have students identify and role-play the various decision-making strategies they've used.
• Discuss how well they think their strategies have worked.
• Discuss what factors might have influenced their choice of strategies.

Activity #3:

How do economic conditions affect decision making? (pdf)

• Research current economic conditions and determine possible effects on personal and financial decisions.
• Discuss what actions might be taken based on various economic conditions

Activity #4

Can you analyze a decision? (pdf)

• Ask students to volunteer to videotape one or more of their favorite television programs.
• Using the videotaped television programs, have students identify the decision-making strategies being used by the main characters.
• Have students document the decision-making process using the sheet provided.
• Discuss how well each strategy worked.

Extensions

Assessment Plan

• Lesson 1 Quiz (pdf)
• Answer Key (pdf)

Bibliography

This lesson was created by Practical Money Skills: www.practicalmoneyskills.com/.