SEL skills: social awareness, responsible decision-making

The in-role writing prompt for this month’s play provides a great opportunity for students to take the perspective of and empathize with others. As students step into the shoes of either Dr. Victor Frankenstein or “the creature,” they identify the character’s feelings and how those feelings affected his behavior, reflect on the negative effects of prejudice, examine moral situations, and evaluate the consequences of actions.

SEL skills: social awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills

This debate asks a tough question: Is it ever OK to lie? Students examine points on both sides of the argument—as well as their own beliefs—and decide what they think. Exploring this question, whether in a class discussion or written essay, is a great opportunity to identify and develop values to promote honesty, reliability, and accountability.

SEL skills: self-management, responsible decision-making

These paired texts encourage students to reflect on their relationships with technology and to make constructive choices about their personal behavior. As a class, they will consider such questions as: Why is excessive phone use a problem? How can it affect you physically and emotionally? Is it ethical for phone and app developers to create products that are addictive? Why or why not?