Lesson Plans

An Introduction to Decision Skills: The Himalayan Decision Authors: Carl Spetzler, DEF Chairman, and Chris Spetzler, Program Director Grade Level: 7 - 12 Unit Length: Four, 50-minute lessons Overview of Lessons These lessons, designed to be used with the Himalayan Decision video (and after teachers have received training in the fundamentals of good decision making), help motivate students’ interest in decision making and introduce students to the key concepts of decision quality.

The Basics of Good Decision Making Author: Bob Loew Grade Level: 9 - 12 Overview of Lessons This stand-alone short course (10-15 hours) can be used to teach the fundamentals of good decision making to high school students. It culminates with a personal decision project.  It is best used after teachers have received training in the fundamentals of good decision making.

Advisory and Counseling Decision Lessons Authors: John Frazier, DEF Program Director, and Lambrina Mileva, DEF Research Manager Grade Level: 7 - 12 Unit Length: Varies by lesson Overview of Lessons These lessons represent the application of decision skills within advisory, counseling, and life skills settings. The lessons are organized by decision quality concepts and advisory/counseling topics and can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals or groups.

Language Arts/English Decision Lessons Author: Dan Slack, Academic Dean at The Haverford School, Haverford, PA Grade Level: 6 - 12 Unit Length: Varies by lesson/text Overview of Lessons Based on commonly used middle and high school texts, these lessons are designed to help English and language arts teachers introduce students to the process of good decision making. By examining the decision processes of key characters, students engage in a fresh, rich and revealing analysis of each text.

U.S. History Decision Lessons Authors: Stuart Morris, chairman of the history department at Sacred Heart Preparatory High School (Atherton, CA), and J.F. Foran, DEF Director Grade Level: 10 - 11 Unit Length: Varies by lesson Overview of Lessons These lessons focus on how the decisions made by leaders, citizens, and groups defined and shaped the United States.  Using the six elements of good decision making, students will evaluate and further their understanding of key historical decisions and, in the process, learn how to make better decisions themselves.