Oops, I Made a Mistake! Learning from Our Choices
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about decisions and feeling sorry.
- Talk about choices we regret and what we can do.
- Read about a person who changed their mind about a decision.
- Listen to an expert talk about dealing with regret.
- Write about a mistake and what you learned.
Key Words:
- Regret: Feeling sad or sorry about something you did or didn’t do.
- Decision: A choice you make.
- Mistake: Something you do wrong.
- Learn: To get new knowledge or skills from an experience.
- Move on: To stop thinking about the past and focus on the present.
Let’s Talk About It!
- Have you ever made a decision that you regretted later? What was it?
- How did you feel about it? (Sad, angry, disappointed?)
- Did you learn anything from your mistake?
Let’s Read a Story!
Alex had to decide between two things: a new job in a faraway city or staying close to family. Alex chose to stay, but they started to miss the chance for a new adventure. After thinking about it for a while, Alex realized that being close to family was more important. They found new ways to be happy where they were.
Questions About the Story:
- What was Alex’s decision?
- Why did they regret their choice at first?
- How did Alex overcome their regret?
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short clip of a life coach talking about how to deal with regret. Focus on the advice to accept the mistake, learn from it, and then move on.)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is feeling bad about a decision. The other is a friend giving advice.
Example:
- Person 1: “I really regret not studying harder for that test. I could have gotten a better grade.”
- Person 2: “It’s okay, everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is that you learned from it. Next time, you’ll be better prepared.”
Homework:
Think of a time you made a mistake. Write a short paragraph about what happened, how you felt, and what you learned.
Extra Fun:
Make a list of five positive things that have happened because of a mistake you made.
