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Teens in the Driver Seat

A peer-to-peer safe driving program for your school.

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January 22, 2021

M&M Madness

 

distractionsnighttimeseat beltsspeedingimpaired drivingped and biketrucks  
Watch the Video:  
Peer pressure is a real thing. Group decision making is much harder than making a decision on your own. This activity explores decision making and peer pressure and discusses what happens when you have more people impacting your decision.

Items Needed

  • A jar or clear ziplock bag of M&Ms or similar small candy
  • Paper and Pen for each participant
  • NOTE: You will need to know how many candies are in the jar/bag.

Steps

  • Give everyone a piece of paper and pen or pencil. Explain that they will be trying to guess how many candies are in the jar/bag and that they will be recording their guesses on the paper.
  • Hold up the jar or clear bag of candy and tell each person to guess how many there are and write it down beside #1. Remind them to not shout out their answers.
  • Then, ask them to find a partner and come up with a guess together and record it on the paper.
  • Ask the teams of 2 to find another team and repeat the process.
  • Groups of 4 form groups of 8, and so on until the group is a whole and makes a guess.
  • Have everyone return to their seat and make one last guess individually.
  • Tell the group how many candies are in the bag/jar and ask them to circle the guess that was closest.
  • Discuss:
    • How many were closest when they guessed by themselves?
    • …with 2 people?
    • …with 4 people? Etc
    • In which group was it easiest to make a decision? Explain.
    • How easy was it to make your opinion known as the group continued to get larger?
    • How was it decided in each group what the guess would be for that round?
    • Did you disagree with any of the decisions? Did you speak up? Why or why not?
    • Which was closer to correct, the first individual guess or last?
    • Did you make any change between these guesses? Why or why not?
    • How can we relate to this activity to making decisions with our friends?
    • Did the persuaders come out? Let’s hear from them. What was your reasoning for wanting to make your voice heard?
    • Are group decisions always the best for everyone in the group? Why or why not?
    • What should you do if you don’t agree with the decision that has been made?
    • What should you do if someone in your group doesn’t agree with the decision that has been made?
  • Share photos from your activity along with safe driving information on your school social media channels & website. Make sure you tag us: @teensdriverseat.
  • Submit an Activity Form to earn TDS All-Stars credit for your school.

Don’t Forget

  • Teens experience peer pressure to engage in unsafe driving behaviors when other teens are present.
  • Knowing how to handle this pressure is a skill teens need to stay safe behind the wheel.

Make it GREAT

Give the candy to the person with the closest guess or share with the group.
 

Article by Stacey Tisdale / Activity Categories, Activity Sheets, Big Rig Activity, Distraction Activity, High School Activities, Impaired Activity, Junior High Activities, Nighttime Driving Activity, Ped and Bike Activity, Seat Belt Activity, Speeding Activity

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