What's the difference between helping and not helping? A K-lesson.

📚 Understanding Helping vs. Not Helping

This lesson explores the nuances between actively helping someone and choosing not to intervene, examining the ethical and social implications of each choice.

🎯 Learning Objectives

• 🤝 Understand the definition of helping behavior.
• 🤔 Identify factors that influence helping behavior.
• ⚖️ Analyze the consequences of not helping.
• 🌟 Develop empathy and a sense of social responsibility.

🎒 Materials

• 📰 Case studies or news articles about situations where help was needed.
• 📝 Worksheet with scenarios for students to analyze.
• ✏️ Pens/pencils.
• whiteboard or projector.

Warm-up Activity (5 mins)

Think-Pair-Share:

1. Think of a time you helped someone or someone helped you.
2. Share your experience with a partner.
3. Discuss what motivated the helping behavior.

Main Instruction

Part 1: Defining Helping Behavior

• 🙋‍♀️ What is helping behavior? Actions intended to benefit others.
• 💖 Altruism vs. egoism: Discuss the motivations behind helping.

Part 2: Factors Influencing Helping Behavior

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Bystander Effect: Discuss how the presence of others can inhibit helping.
• 🕰️ Time pressure: Explain how being in a hurry can reduce helping behavior.
• mood: Explain how positive and negative moods can influence helping.
• 🎭 Diffusion of responsibility: Explain the tendency to feel less responsible when others are present.

Part 3: Consequences of Not Helping

• 💔 Social consequences: Discuss the impact on relationships and community trust.
• moral implications: Discuss the ethical considerations of choosing not to help.
• 📜 Legal implications: In some cases, not helping can have legal consequences (e.g., Good Samaritan laws).

Scenario Analysis

Present students with different scenarios and have them analyze the factors influencing the decision to help or not help. For example:

1. A person collapsing on the street.
2. Someone being bullied at school.
3. A neighbor needing help with groceries.

🤔 Discussion Questions

• ❓ What factors would influence your decision to help in each scenario?
• ❓ What are the potential consequences of not helping?
• ❓ How can we overcome the bystander effect?

Assessment

Group Activity: Creating a Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Divide students into groups and have them create a PSA to encourage helping behavior. The PSA should address:

• 📢 The importance of helping others.
• strategies for overcoming barriers to helping.
• 🎉 The positive impact of helping on individuals and communities.

📝 Assessment Rubric