Why Respect Matters Worksheet

The Respect Worksheet can be used standalone, or with the book "What if".

Stand alone Activity- Explain Respect

What is respect? - Respect is about caring how your actions impact others. When we treat people the way we want to be treated- with fairness, courtesy, and kindness- then we are being respectful. (To explain more about respect, see the "What is Respect" Definition for kids or the What is Respect Presentation.)

Why does respect matter? - People live around other people. To live and work well together, we need to consider how our actions impact other people, the places we live, and the things we need to share. Acting with respect means we try to be fair, kind, and courteous so we can get along. To understand why respect is so important, just consider what would happen if everyone was unkind, rude, or didn't care if they way they acted hurt other people. Respect helps us remember to treat other people the way we would like to be treated.

Using the worksheet- Students read actions and then explain how those actions impact others. Connecting actions and consequences helps children see why something is respectful or disrespectful, why it's important, and it helps them learn that they can control the way they act to be more respectful. Students also check a box to indicate whether the action is respectful or disrespectful.

Story-based Activity

This activity is based on the book, "What if?" where a wise old tree teaches two children to pause and ask "What if?" before they act or speak. The tree teaches the children that taking a moment to think of outcomes or consequences can help them choose a more respectful way to treat others, and themselves.

See a full lesson plan for the story plus worksheet.