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Resilient Decisions: Ambiguity, Complexity and Independent Thinking

The opening lesson of the Resilient Decisions series introduces students to decision-making in the context of ambiguity — situations where there is no clearly "right" answer. Through a drawing activity with a surprise marking scheme, personal dilemmas in pairs, and group dilemma discussions, students experience first-hand the discomfort of uncertainty and begin exploring how resilience skills can help them navigate it. The lesson closes with a breathing exercise using Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" to illustrate that all choices carry uncertainty.

Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1:

Identify personal progress during Healthy Minds lessons

Outcome 2:

Understand the concept of ambiguity in decision-making

Outcome 3:

Know how to approach dilemmas and difficult decisions

What's included

A quick look at the classroom-ready resources that come with this lesson.

PowerPoint
Bounce Forward Resilient Decisions Lesson 1

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PDF
Resilient Decisions Bounce Forward Healthy Minds Teacher Guide 2023

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PDF
Bounce Forward Healthy Minds Teacher Guide Introduction

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PDF
Bounce-Forward-Healthy-Minds-Resilient-Decisions-Student-Handbook

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Link
Healthy Minds Teacher Guide — Safe Learning Agreement pages 5–6

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Link
Dilemmas page 139

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Link
Breathing Exercise / "The Road Not Taken" page 140

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Link
Resilience Competencies page 8

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Link
Student Handbook — Learning Record page 3

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Link
Home Activity page 4

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About the Organisation

Bounce Forward is a registered charity on a mission to transform how we think about mental health, shifting the narrative from deficit and crisis to strength, prevention, and psychological fitness. They create evidence-based programmes, curricula, and training that give young people, school staff, and the adults around children the knowledge, language, and daily habits to build genuine mental resilience. From whole-staff training to five-year school curricula, everything they do is practical, grounded in science, and designed to make a lasting difference not just in the moment, but across a lifetime.

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