---

Stakeholders Lesson

Overview

When we talk to students about responsibility, we can't do so without mentioning stakeholders.  While this can be an abstract concept for little learners to master, it’s critical in their understanding of the responsibility pillar.

Materials

A tent stake (or picture of a stake) to use as a visual to help explain the job of the stake in the ground:  to hold something up, like your tent.  Ask if anyone knows what a “stakeholder” is.  Explain that a "stakeholder" is anyone who might support or hold you up and have a stake in your choices, in the outcome of your decisions.

Procedure

Ask the students this simple question, "Who will care?"  Have students stand up to represent the stakeholders as they name them.  For example:

•    Who will care if you show up late for a baseball or soccer game?  Expect answers like the umpire, our teammates, the other team, the other coach, our fans, the other team’s fans, the team who plays next, etc.  If you take it out far enough, everyone in the room will be standing!

***Try a few more; have your students answer aloud or make a list of stakeholders:
•    Who will care if you don't let your dog in at night?
•    Who will care if you sneak out of the house after your curfew to drive around with friends?
•    Who will care if you choose never to recycle anything?
•    Who will care if you don't do your homework?
•    Who will care if you don't pick up after yourself at home? in the classroom?
•    Who will care if you don't show up for a play date?
•    Who will care if you promise to give a friend a ride to skate night and you forget and go without him/her?

CLOSURE: Here's a little ditty that encapsulates the responsibility pillar that you can use as an echo poem or sing to the tune of Where is Thumbkin?

What's Responsibility?
Staying in control of me!
Doin' my chores faithfully,
Making choices carefully.
Thinkin' 'bout the stakeholders.
Thinkin' 'bout the consequences.
You can count on me –
Responsibility!

This lesson was submitted by Barbara Gruener, counselor at Westwood Elementary School, Friendswood, Texas.

---

McREL standards

McREL Life Skills

Standard 4. Displays effective interpersonal communication skills   
Level IV   Benchmark 1. Demonstrates appropriate behaviors for relating well with others (e.g., empathy, caring, respect, helping, friendliness, politeness)