Notes: Life Skills - 2 | GK Olympiad for Class 5 PDF Download

Decision Making

• Decision making is the process of choosing between what is right and what is wrong.
• Sometimes, doing what is right can be difficult.
• We start making decisions from a young age and continue throughout our lives.
• As we grow older, the decision-making process can become more complicated.
• Even making a to-do list is a form of decision making.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial when it comes to making decisions.

Examples of Decision Making

• Following rules in the classroom.
• Choosing which friends to sit with.
• Picking a toy or game while shopping.
• Deciding what to wear, what to eat, when to study, when to play, which game to play, which program to watch on TV, which book to read, and what task to do next.

Improving Decision-Making Skills

• Make a list of good decisions you made during the week.
• Make a list of bad decisions you made during the week.
• Seek guidance from parents or elders on how to improve bad decisions.

Taking Responsibility

• We should take responsibility for our actions and decisions, even if they lead to negative outcomes.

Qualities of a Good Decision Maker

• A good decision maker should be a good listener, open-minded, flexible, realistic, honest, and clear about priorities.

Teamwork

• Teamwork means working together in unity.
• Always working in a team makes you stronger.
• There is a famous proverb, “One and One Makes Eleven,” which means that a team of two people doesn’t just double your efforts; it increases them eleven times.
• This shows the power of teamwork.

Success in Sports

• Success in sports comes when you play as a team.
• You enjoy games more when you play with others as a team.
• Teamwork is especially beneficial in sports because it allows you to learn good skills from each other.

Training for Teamwork

• To train yourself for teamwork, you can:
• Appreciate the efforts of others.
• Control your temper.
• Play well and cooperate with other team members.
• Encourage everyone to participate.
• Give equal chances to all.
• Avoid hurting others.
• Enjoy playing with others.

Games that Depend on Teamwork

• Some games that rely entirely on teamwork include:
• Cricket
• Hockey
• Football
• Baseball
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Relay races
• Working together helps get work done faster.
• Only a well-knit team can win any challenge.

Leadership

• A leader is someone who guides and inspires others to work together towards a common goal. In a school setting, a student can be a leader of a group or a class.
• A good leader:
• Works hard and doesn't waste time being lazy or on social media.
• Encourages everyone in the group and is honest with them.
• Avoids misunderstandings and stays focused on the task at hand.
• Is reliable, respectful, patient, and supportive of group members.
• Is kind, brave, strong, courageous, and optimistic about the work and the performance of others.
• Is open-minded and considers new ideas from team members.
• Communicates confidently, learns from past mistakes, and keeps improving through constant learning.
• A good leader is someone who takes on a bit more responsibility when things go wrong and gives credit to others when things go well.

Etiquette

Etiquette refers to the set of rules that guide polite and appropriate behavior. Here are some fundamental etiquettes to follow:

• When you want something, remember to say Please.
• When you receive something, always say Thank you.
• Do not interrupt adults who are having a conversation unless it is urgent. They will notice you and respond when they are done talking.
• If you need to get someone’s attention quickly, saying Excuse me is the polite way to interrupt.
• When in doubt about something, it’s best to ask for permission first.
• Avoid commenting on people’s physical appearance unless you are giving them a compliment.
• When someone asks how you are, respond and then ask them the same question.
• After spending time at a friend’s house, make sure to thank their parents for having you over and for the enjoyable time.
• Always knock on closed doors and wait for a response before entering.
• When making a phone call, start by introducing yourself and then ask to speak with the person you are calling.
• Be grateful and use polite phrases like Thank you for any gifts you receive.
• Avoid calling people mean names or making fun of anyone for any reason.
• Even if a play or presentation is not interesting, sit quietly and pretend to be engaged. The performers are putting in their best effort.
• If you accidentally bump into someone, immediately say Excuse me.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and avoid picking your nose in public.
• Hold the door open for others if you can as you walk through.
• If you see a parent, teacher, or neighbor working on something, offer to help them. You might learn something new!
• When an adult asks you for a favor, do it willingly and with a smile.
• Always say Thank you when someone helps you.
• Use eating utensils correctly. If you are unsure how to use them, ask your parents for help or observe how adults do it.
• Keep a napkin on your lap and use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Discipline

• Discipline means living life with proper rules and systems, which helps in achieving goals.
• When we lead a disciplined life, we start improving our habits, which improves our personality and life.
• Discipline helps us to improve our self-confidence and self-control so that we improve ourselves.
• Some of the most common habits which are part of disciplinein life are:
  • Getting up early in the morning
  • Exercising
  • Eating healthy food
  • Avoiding bad things
• Discipline helps us to stay healthy, fit and feel a little lighter.
• Discipline teaches you how to talk to other people that you know in a decent and dignified way.

Time Management

• Time management is all about using time wisely and ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently.
• It involves planning how much time to spend on different activities, making sure that important tasks get done without last-minute stress.
• For students, time management is crucial because they need to balance studying for various subjects within a limited time frame.
• Learning to manage time well can help individuals handle their responsibilities more effectively.

How to Learn Time Management

• Learn to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency.
• Make schedules or timetables to organize daily activities.
• Create lists of tasks that need to be completed.
• Once time is lost, it cannot be regained, so it’s important to use the available time in a way that maximizes benefits.
• Many people spend too much time on urgent tasks and not enough on important ones. By managing important activities on time, they won’t become urgent later.
• Decide the priority levels of activities based on their urgency. For example:
• Top priority activities like arriving on time, brushing, bathing, studying, etc.
• Least priority activities like watching TV, chatting, etc.
• Each person should make their own list of activities without being influenced by others.
• Always keep some extra time for unexpected events like power cuts, machine breakdowns, sickness, guest arrivals, etc.

Initiative

• Initiative is the ability or opportunity to take action or charge before others do. It directs our attention to a challenge and inspires us to tackle difficulties.
• For example, when a teacher poses a question to the class and some students raise their hands to answer, they are showing initiative. Similarly, when a new student joins the class and feels shy, it is up to the other students to take the initiative to start a conversation and help the new student feel comfortable.
• Initiative involves a willingness to do things and take responsibility for them. It is about starting something and seeing it through over time.
• Initiators differ from leaders in several ways:
• Initiators can see possibilities that don’t yet exist and aren’t afraid of rejection. They can become good leaders with practice, are self-motivated, creative, and have the ability to ask “Why Not?”
• Leaders, on the other hand, are usually skilled and finish what initiators start. While a leader can be a good initiator, an initiator may not necessarily be a good leader.