Activity 3: What a Respectful Discussion Looks and Sounds Like

What is it all about?

After engaging in a facilitated discussion about germ transmission, ways to avoid contracting or spreading germs to others (including vaccinations), and learning how to engage in respectful discussions, students participate in role play. This will demonstrate their understanding of practices to avoid infections and how to engage in a respectful discussion when others’ opinions or points of view are different from their own.

What is needed?

• Student Resource: Role Play Cards (PDF)
• Blank Scenario Card (DOC)

How is it done?

Use these instructions to engage students in role play to demonstrate their understanding of germ transmission, safe practices to prevent the spread of infections, and how to engage in respectful discussions.

• Use Activity 1: Staying Healthy from Germs with students to learn/recall what they know about germs, how they spread, and ways to prevent the spread of germs.
• Post the Talking Tips for Engaging in Respectful Discussions poster and review with students. Clarify tips and/or key words that may not be familiar.
• Divide students into pairs or small groups. Have groups practise using the various “Try This” tips by finishing the sentences (e.g., What do you mean when you say you don’t do that?).
• Post the role play scenarios for students to reference.
• Have students work in small groups on their selected or assigned scenario (skit, commercial, or tableau), which will demonstrate their understanding of germ transmission, safe practices to prevent the spread of infections, and how to engage in respectful discussions.
• Have groups perform their role play for another group or the whole class.
• Use the roles plays to consolidate student understanding of safe practices to prevent the spread of germs and infections and how to engage in respectful discussions with others when their opinion or point of view is different from their own.
• Use the Blank Scenario Card as a template to create one or more additional scenarios to facilitate student learning about safe practices to prevent the spread of germs and infections and to practise engaging in respectful discussions.
• To extend student learning to other healthy living discussions, consider having students generate a list of health topics where their opinions or points of view may differ from a friend and role-play the scenario.