Understanding Our Choices

Overview

This 30-minute lesson is the first of a four-lesson unit titled "Choices and Emotions" designed for Year 3 students. It focuses on helping children understand what choices are, recognise situations where choices are made, and reflect on the reasons behind their decisions. The lesson addresses personal values and external influences gently, nurturing self-awareness and empathy in line with the National Curriculum for England's PSHE framework.

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National Curriculum Links

PSHE Association Programme of Study (Key Stage 2, Y3)

• Core theme: Health and Wellbeing
• Learning outcomes:
  • To recognise what influences their choices and the consequences of these choices (NC Ref: PSHE KS2 - H2)
  • To identify ways to make responsible choices (H2)
  • To explore feelings and understand that different people might feel differently about the same situation (H1)

Statutory Guidance: Relationships Education (DfE, 2019)

• Understand the concepts of choice and personal preferences linked to wellbeing and relationships
• Recognise that different choices may be influenced by family, culture, and friends

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

1. Define what a choice is and give examples from everyday life.
2. Identify different factors that influence their decisions, such as family preferences, friendships, and personal likes.
3. Reflect on a simple decision-making scenario and explain why they made their choice.

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Resources

• Scenario cards (age-appropriate, simple written or illustrated) with dilemmas relevant to 7-8 year-olds
• Whiteboard and markers
• “Choice Reflection” worksheet (simple one-page template with 3 prompt questions)
• Soft ball or talking object for group discussion
• Timer or stopwatch for time management

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter (5 minutes) – What is a Choice?

• Begin with a brief discussion: ask children to shout out some choices they make every day (e.g., what to wear, what to eat, which games to play).
• Write the word CHOICE on the board and elicit a simple working definition: “A choice is when we decide between two or more things.”
• Emphasise that making choices is positive but sometimes tricky.
• Use a quick interactive ‘Choices in Class’ game (e.g., “Show me thumbs up if you like apples, thumbs down if you don’t like apples”) to illustrate variety in preferences.

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2. Main Activity (15 minutes) – Exploring Choices Through Scenarios

• Split class into small groups (5-6 pupils each). Provide each group with 3 scenario cards where children have to choose between two or three options. Examples:
  • Choosing between playing inside or outside on a rainy day.
  • Deciding what to do at break time when a friend wants to play a game you don’t like.
  • Picking a snack option when given several choices.
• In groups, pupils discuss:
  • What is the choice?
  • What reasons do they have for their preferences?
• Each pupil then selects their choice and shares the reason with the group.
• Teacher circulates, prompts deeper thinking using questions like: “Why do you prefer that?” “Does anyone else have a different choice? Why?”
• Bring the class together. Invite 2-3 groups to share insights or surprising reasons behind their choices.

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3. Reflection (7 minutes) – Individual Thinking and Sharing

• Hand out the “Choice Reflection” worksheet, with simple prompts:
  1. What was my favourite choice today?
  2. Why did I choose it?
  3. Did anything or anyone influence my choice?
• Pupils complete worksheet quietly.
• Invite volunteers to share their reflections aloud if comfortable.
• Teacher highlights that everyone’s choice is different, and that’s okay – understanding our choices helps us understand ourselves and others.

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4. Plenary (3 minutes) – Key Takeaway and Next Steps

• Recap key points: Choices are part of our daily life, influenced by things around us and how we feel.
• Emphasise that understanding choices helps us to be thoughtful and kind to ourselves and others.
• Link to upcoming lessons on emotions connected to choices.
• Use a quick “Thumbs up if you learned something new today” check-in.

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative assessment through group discussion observations: Are pupils able to articulate what influenced their choices?
• Reflection worksheets: Evaluate pupils’ understanding of the concept of choice and their ability to link choices to personal reasons.
• Teacher questioning: Use targeted questioning to assess comprehension throughout.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide visual prompts and verbal support for pupils who need it. Group scenarios can be role-played for those who benefit from kinaesthetic learning.
• Challenge: Encourage more confident pupils to explain external vs personal influences or how choices affect others.

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Additional Tips for Teachers

• Use real-life examples relevant to your classroom culture to enhance engagement.
• Encourage respect for different perspectives and reinforce that there are no 'right' or ‘wrong’ choices here—this is about understanding personal preferences.
• Incorporate clear signposting of feelings and values gently, which will be developed in subsequent lessons.

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This lesson plan balances curriculum requirements with creative exploration to foster self-awareness, empathy, and responsible decision-making in young learners – essential skills for their personal and social development.