Saying "No" - 2

Foundational

Lesson Plan

Goal: When presented with a situation where saying "No" is acceptable, the student will demonstrate a respectful "No" in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Identify if saying "No" is acceptable in a given situation.
2. Use respectful language and phrases such as “I can’t because….” to say "No" in appropriate situations.
3. Create a list of situations in which a person has the right to say "No".

Definitions of Key Terms: Saying "no" means respecting that we have choices to say "yes" and "no". You can say "no" politely and you can also say "no" to danger. "No" means you definitely do not want to have something, do something, or participate in an activity.

Discussion Points

    Questions
  • Is it okay to say "no" to a friend?
  • How do you say "no" politely?
  • What could happen if you decline an invitation?

Discuss with students what saying "no" means. Review the discussion point questions.

Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:

Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.

  • T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
  • P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
  • S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.

SEL Categories Activity:

  • Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
  • Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
  • Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
  • Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.

Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.

  • Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
  • Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
  • Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.

Activity 1: Situations for Saying "No"

Ask students to think of situations or events when it is important to say "no" to peers and friends. After allowing students to think or brainstorm silently, ask students to share their ideas and capture those on chart paper or the board.

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board

If the students are struggling to think of situations on their own, you can offer some examples such as, “When a friend asks you to steal gum from a store,” or create your own.

Discuss different ways or language/phrases students can use in each situation to say "no" respectfully. Capture these phrases on the chart paper or board.

Discuss how we feel when we have to say "no" to peers and friends. Capture those feelings on the chart paper or board as well.

Activity 2: Saying "No" Respectfully

Review the list generated in Activity 1 with students. Pair or separate students into small groups. Distribute one Student Activity Sheet A to each group or pair of students. Ask students to complete the sheet together.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per group/pair
  • Pencil for each student
    •

Discuss the answers when all pairs/groups have finished. Be sure to discuss if the situation presented on the activity sheet is one that is an acceptable situation for saying "no" in. Discuss how students may feel saying "no" in some of the situations listed on the activity sheet.

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: Provide a response for how you would say “no” if you were in the presented situations.

If your friend wants you to lie to your mom

If your mom asks you if you want brussel sprouts

If your teacher asks you to be in the school play

Activity 3: Comic Strip Worksheet

Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with students. Ask students to complete Student Activity Sheet B. You may have students work independently or in pairs or small groups.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student
    •

When finished, select students to share their work.

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Create a situation where one of the characters below would need to say “no”. Write the responses in the blank spaces. Share and explain your comics when you are finished.

Anya

Beth

Tori

Silas

Lesson Extension: Listening Comprehension and Grammar Review

Explain that a script is a form of writing; a dialogue between characters in a movie, play, or broadcast. Students should listen carefully as the teacher plays the example scripts from the immersive reader. Replay the script if needed. Allow students time to answer the questions on Student Activity Sheet C.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student
  • Student Activity Sheet D - 1 per student
  • Red and purple colored pencil or crayon
    •

After students have finished, discuss the listening comprehension questions together.

After completing the listening comprehension portion of this activity, provide students a copy of Student Activity Sheet D. Point out to students the features of script text that indicate which character is talking. Remind students that this is a dialogue between characters.

Ask students to complete Student Activity Sheet D.

Display the script using the immersive reader and highlight the nouns in the script. Students should self check their work to determine if they correctly named two nouns. Repeat the process for verbs and contractions.

If time allows students may partner together and role play the script.

Example script of saying "no" appropriately:
Ken: Hi Silas. Do you want to come out with me and our buddies after school?
Silas: Uhm, I’m sorry I can’t. My mom wants me to go home after school.
Ken: Okay then we will all just come to your house.
Silas: Sorry. My mom said that is not allowed when she isn’t home.

Example script of saying "no" inappropriately:
Ken:Hey, let’s go to the mall.
Silas: Nah
Ken: What?
Silas: I’m not going. Don’t ask again.

Read Aloud Recommendations: Completing a read aloud with students is a great way to connect text with lesson content while incorporating reading and language practice. Below are suggested titles including, a YouTube link, Lexile and Grade Level information for books relating to the lesson.


Book Title Author Grade Level Lexile Level
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day Judith Viorst 1-2 AD840L
No Fuzzball! Isabella Kung Pre K-3 AD510L

Student Activity Sheet C

Directions: Think about the script read/played for the class and complete the questions below.

1. Who are the characters in this script?

2. What does Ken want Silas to do?

3. Does Silas allow Ken to come over when his mom is not home?

4. How do you think Silas felt telling Ken “no”?

5. How do you feel when you have to tell others “no”?

Student Activity Sheet D

Directions: In the scripts below, circle in purple two nouns that name a person and one noun that names a place. Circle in red two verbs. Underline the contractions. BONUS: write out the two words that make each contraction.

Remember:

A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.

A verb names describe an action, a state, or an occurrence.

A contraction is a word made from shortening or combining two words.

Example script of saying "no" appropriately:
Ken: Hi Silas. Do you want to come out with me and our buddies after school?
Silas: Uhm, I’m sorry I can’t. My mom wants me to go home after school.
Ken: Okay then we will all just come to your house.
Silas: Sorry. My mom said that is not allowed when she isn’t home.

Example script of saying "no" inappropriately:
Ken: Hey, let’s go to the mall.
Silas: Nah
Ken: What?
Silas: I’m not going. Don’t ask again.

Application Activity

Review and discuss example scripts from the lesson extension.

In small groups, have the students create scripts demonstrating how to say "no" appropriately and inappropriately. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.

Materials Needed:

Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.


Script Extensions:

Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.


Ideas for modifying this activity based on your students’ needs:

  • create a script as a class
  • pair or group students so that skill levels are varied and assign each a role or task that uses their skill
  • create the script by recording the dialogue with a phone or other recording device

Topic Checkout

Review the key points from previous activities with students. Ask students time to complete the Student Topic Checkout.

Discuss the answers when all students have finished.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: Complete the following questions.

1. What does saying “no” to peers and friends mean?

2. What are the two ways that you can say “no” to peers and friends respectfully?

3. List two or more situations when you would need to say "no" to peers and friends?

4. Why is saying "no" to peers and friends so important?