One of the key competencies of social and emotional learning is social awareness and being able to see things from another's perspective. This ability to shift perspective is particularly important when crafting an argument to persuade others. A short activity asks scholars to imagine they are a student who is wants to convince the budget manager of the school board to upgrade the school gym. They then draft a paragraph explaining what the board might think about their position.

Concepts

social-emotional learning, casel, diverse perspectives, perspectives, persuasion, persuasive techniques, reading, social awareness

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Project the example chart as a model and have class members brainstorm suggestions for what arguments they could use to persuade the school board member to back the remodeling of the gym

Classroom Considerations

• Knowledge of persuasive techniques would be helpful but not necessary

Pros

• Includes a link to teacher support materials

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.6.1.a W.6.1.b W.7.1.a W.7.1.b W.8.1.a W.8.1.b W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.11-12.1.a W.11-12.1.b