Lesson Plan: The Tower of Resilience: Lessons from Jenga and Mega Jenga

Grade Level: Middle School (6th-8th grade)

Subject: Life Skills/Character Development

Duration: 1-2 class periods

Objective:

- Students will understand the importance of resilience, patience, and decision-making in overcoming challenges.

- Students will learn to reflect on their actions and make strategic choices to achieve desired outcomes.

- Students will develop teamwork and communication skills through collaborative problem-solving activities.

Materials:

- Jenga or Mega Jenga game sets (1 per group)

- Chart paper and markers

- Worksheets for reflection (created by the teacher)

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes):

- Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever played Jenga or Mega Jenga. Discuss their experiences and feelings during the game.

- Explain that Jenga and Mega Jenga are not just games but also powerful metaphors for life. Share the objective of the lesson: to understand the importance of resilience, patience, and decision-making in overcoming challenges.

2. Understanding the Game (15 minutes):

- Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a Jenga or Mega Jenga set.

- Have students familiarize themselves with the game rules and gameplay by playing a few rounds within their groups.

- Encourage them to observe and discuss strategies that lead to successful tower building and strategies that increase the risk of collapse.

3. Reflecting on Resilience (15 minutes):

- Gather students as a whole class and lead a discussion on the concept of resilience.

- Ask students to share their observations from the game and discuss how resilience played a role in their strategies.

- Write down their ideas on chart paper, highlighting the importance of staying calm, adapting to challenges, and learning from failures.

4. Decision-Making and Impulse Control (20 minutes):

- Discuss the significance of decision-making and impulse control in the game of Jenga/Mega Jenga.

- Present scenarios where players make impulsive moves that lead to tower collapse and discuss the consequences.

- Engage students in a brainstorming session on strategies for making thoughtful decisions and exercising impulse control during the game and in real-life situations.

5. Collaborative Tower Building (25 minutes):

- Divide students into groups and provide each group with a Jenga or Mega Jenga set.

- Instruct students to work collaboratively to build the tallest and most stable tower possible.

- Encourage them to apply the strategies discussed earlier, communicate effectively, and make thoughtful decisions to achieve their goal.

6. Reflection and Discussion (15 minutes):

- Have each group reflect on their tower-building experience and discuss the challenges they faced.

- Distribute worksheets for individual reflection, asking students to write about the strategies they employed, the decisions they made, and what they learned from the activity.

- Conclude with a class discussion, allowing students to share their reflections and insights.

7. Extension Activity (Optional):

- Challenge students to apply the lessons learned from Jenga/Mega Jenga to a real-life situation they have faced or anticipate facing.

- Ask students to create a presentation, a short essay, or a skit demonstrating how they would apply resilience, patience, and decision-making skills in that situation.

8. Wrap-up and Conclusion (5 minutes):

- Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson, emphasizing the importance of resilience, patience, and decision-making in overcoming challenges.

- Encourage students to apply these lessons not only in games but also in their everyday lives.

Note: The duration of the lesson may vary based on class time and student engagement. Adjust the timings accordingly.

 Alternative Activity

Materials:

• 3 sheets of paper (letter size or A4)

• 1 meter of tape (masking tape or any other strong adhesive tape)

• Ruler or measuring tape

Collaborative Tower Building (25 minutes):

• Divide students into groups and provide each group with the materials: 3 sheets of paper and 1 meter of tape.

• Instruct students to work together to build the tallest free-standing tower possible, using only the provided materials.

• Encourage effective communication, cooperation, and critical thinking within the groups.