Developed by: Jennifer McCauley
Revised: Spring 2002

Level: 3-5

Pinocchio: Learning to Make Responsible Decisions

Standards


Learning Expectations

 This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards:

4.0  Career awareness and employment readiness skills

The student will:

4.4  Demonstrate decision-making skills.
4.5  Describe the importance of responsibility, dependability,
       punctuality, positive attitude, and integrity in work.
 

General Approach 

 The general approach is that the counselor will read Walt Disney's book Pinocchio and will follow this with a discussion of good and bad decisions made by Pinocchio in the story.  Children will also discuss good and bad decisions they have made and how they can make good, responsible decisions.  Activity adapted from "Children's Literature Offers Lessons In Decision Making" by Pamela Leong, found at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5290.html.
 

Activity Steps
  • Begin with a discussion of making decisions. Who knows what a decision is?  Have you made any decisions today?  (Examples: what clothes to wear to school, what to eat for breakfast, to do your work at school, to not fight with your brother or sister)  Sometimes we have to think about the consequences of our actions before we make a decision.  Does anyone know what a consequence is?  For example, you might do your work at school (decision) so that you will get good grades and also so that you will get free time on the playground (consequences).   
  • Read Pinocchio by Walt Disney.  If children are familiar with the story, they could be allowed to act out the story.  Ask the children to watch for times when Pinocchio makes decisions. 
  • After reading the story, or after children have acted it out, have children make a list on the board of the decisions Pinocchio made during the story.  Ask the children to tell you the consequences of Pinocchio's decision.  Have the children evaluate whether Pinocchio made a good decision or a bad decision.   
  • Ask the children to think of a time when they made a good decision.  Let a few children give examples.  Then, ask the children if any of them have made a bad decision.  Ask them to think of the good decision they could have made instead and the good consequences which would result. 
 

Time Required

 This activity may require 45 minutes to one hour. Length of time required will depend on whether you read story or have children act it out.  The Pinocchio movie could also be shown, but this may require more time.
 

Resources Needed
  • a copy of Pinocchio by Walt Disney                                                                                      
  • chalk board or dry erase board 
 

Performance
Indicators

 Children's answers to questions concerning Pinocchio's good and bad decisions and the consequences to those decisions can be used to evaluate the activity.  Also children's answers to questions concerning their own good and bad decisions.  You may want to write down children's answers.