Teaching Life Lessons with Skittles

I found this idea last year (I’ll be totally honest, I can’t remember where from & I didn’t save it — so this is me acknowledging that I did NOT come up with this activity on my own) & used it on my Leadership & Career Exploration class for 8th graders… there isn’t a better way to teach life lessons than with skittles! This little activity teaches about consequences & grace.

how it works...

The students have to choose at least seven skittles, but can take as many as their one (sanitized & gloved) hand can hold. Without giving them any more instructions, I allowed them to grab! Once everyone had counted their skittles, I told them that for every skittle they picked, they have to write one complete sentence about themselves. I then explained that for every action, there can be a good or a bad consequence! (I had one girl who took eight skittles & a boy who took around 230!!!)

After about ten minutes of writing (& a whole lot of whining lol) I taught them about grace. I allowed them to stop no matter how many sentences they had written. Even though they didn’t earn it or deserve it… I showed them grace!

We then discussed what it means to be impulsive, to be a follower vs a leader, to think things through before you act / speak, etc.

It’s amazing what lessons can be taught with candy!

Disclaimer — I did not write this lesson, it is one that was shared with me. I cannot currently find the information to give credit where it is due, but I certainly will if I come across it!