Brain filter
You see a student drop their lunch tray and make a mess. What should your brain filter do with the thought "Haha, you are so clumsy"?
A) Let it out so everyone can laugh.
B) Trap it in your brain filter because it is unkind.
C) Shout it across the canteen.
B) Trap it in your brain filter because it is unkind.
What is the hidden rule about how loudly you should speak when you are working inside the school library?
A) Use a quiet, indoor whisper voice.
B) Shout so your friends can hear you from across the room.
C) Talk normally like you are outside on the football pitch.
A) Use a quiet, indoor whisper voice.
Which person belongs in your closest, safest circle?
A) A popular YouTuber you follow online.
B) A trusted family member or parent.
C) A student you saw once in the hallway.
B) A trusted family member or parent.
You see a student smiling widely and jumping up and down with an envelope in their hand. What is the Smart Clue telling you?
A) They are very angry about a letter.
B) They received some amazing or exciting news.
C) They are feeling tired and want to sleep.
B) They received some amazing or exciting news.
Your pencil lead snaps right before you start writing. What size problem is this?
A) A Tiny Problem.
B) A Medium Problem.
C) A Big Problem.
A) A Tiny Problem.
Your friend gets a haircut that you think looks very strange. They ask you, "Do you like it?" What is the best way to handle this?
A) Tell them the truth that it looks terrible.
B) Use your filter to stay kind and focus on something positive, like "It looks very fresh!"
C) Walk away and do not answer them.
B) Use your filter to stay kind and focus on something positive, like "It looks very fresh!"
The bell rings to end the lesson, but the teacher is still talking. What is the hidden rule?
A) Pack your bags immediately and stand up.
B) Wait quietly until the teacher gives you permission to pack away.
C) Walk out of the classroom to get to lunch first.
B) Wait quietly until the teacher gives you permission to pack away.
A student in your year group plays football at the same park as you, but you don't know their secrets or invite them to your house. What are they?
A) A Best Friend.
B) A Friendly Acquaintance.
C) A Stranger.
B) A Friendly Acquaintance.
The teacher enters the room, slams a stack of books hard on the desk, and crosses their arms without saying a word. What is the Smart Clue?
A) The teacher is ready to tell a funny joke.
B) The teacher is annoyed or frustrated about something.
C) The teacher is feeling very lazy today.
B) The teacher is annoyed or frustrated about something.
You arrive at your classroom and the door is locked, and no teacher is there. What size problem is this?
A) A Tiny Problem (you can just go home).
B) A Medium Problem (you need to stay calm and find a member of staff).
C) A Big Problem (it is a massive emergency).
B) A Medium Problem (you need to stay calm and find a member of staff).
You are working on a group poster and a classmate draws a picture that looks messy. What is a helpful comment that safely passes your brain filter?
A) "That looks really bad, let me fix it."
B) "Good effort! Maybe we can add some bright colours here together?"
C) "Why did you draw it like that?"
B) "Good effort! Maybe we can add some bright colours here together?"
You disagree with a school rule or a teacher’s decision. What is the hidden rule for handling this respectfully?
A) Argue loudly with the teacher during the middle of the lesson.
B) Wait until the end of the lesson and speak to the teacher calmly 1-to-1.
C) Complain loudly to your peers during class time.
B) Wait until the end of the lesson and speak to the teacher calmly 1-to-1.
Someone you don't know text messages you online and says, "Send me a photo of yourself and tell me where you live." What should you do?
A) Send it quickly so you can make a new friend.
B) Keep your boundary safe, say no, and tell a trusted adult immediately.
C) Ask them for their information first.
B) Keep your boundary safe, say no, and tell a trusted adult immediately.
A peer sits down next to you, avoids looking at your face, and says "I'm fine" in a very low, flat, and quiet voice. What is your Social Detective brain telling you?
A) They are perfectly happy because they said the word "fine."
B) Their body language and tone show they are actually upset or worried.
C) They are trying to start a big fight with you.
B) Their body language and tone show they are actually upset or worried.
A student bumps into you by accident in a crowded hallway. If you shout a bad word at them, why is this reaction incorrect?
A) Because the problem was Tiny and accidental, but your reaction was Big.
B) Because you didn't shout loudly enough.
C) Because you should have chased them down the hall.
A) Because the problem was Tiny and accidental, but your reaction was Big.
Why is it important to use a brain filter when you are feeling very angry or frustrated?
A) To make sure you win the argument.
B) To stop yourself from saying words that you will regret later.
C) To make the other person feel guilty.
B) To stop yourself from saying words that you will regret later.
Why are they called "hidden rules" if they are not written down on the classroom wall?
A) Because they are secrets that only the teachers know.
B) Because society expects us to know and follow them automatically.
C) Because they change every single day.
B) Because society expects us to know and follow them automatically.
What is the danger of treating a "Friendly Acquaintance" like a "Close Friend" too quickly?
A) You might share private information with someone who hasn't earned your trust yet.
B) They will automatically become your best friend forever.
C) You will get more followers on your social media.
A) You might share private information with someone who hasn't earned your trust yet.
A classmate is looking at their phone under the desk and giggling during a serious lesson. If you guess "They are studying hard for science," is this a Smart Clue or a Wacky Clue?
A) A Smart Clue, because they are using a screen.
B) A Wacky Clue, because the real clues show they are distracted by something funny.
C) A Perfect Clue, because science is funny.
B) A Wacky Clue, because the real clues show they are distracted by something funny.
What is the best way to handle a Medium Problem, such as getting into a small argument with a friend at lunchtime?
A) Walk away, take a 5-second pause to calm down, and talk it out later.
B) Immediately escalate it by involving a large group of people online.
C) Pretend nothing happened and feel angry inside all day.
A) Walk away, take a 5-second pause to calm down, and talk it out later.
Sometimes, a thought is true but it still should not pass your brain filter. Why?
A) Because if it is not kind or necessary, it will hurt someone's feelings.
B) Because true thoughts are always bad to say out loud.
C) Because you should only say things that are fake.
A) Because if it is not kind or necessary, it will hurt someone's feelings.
If you break a hidden rule, people around you might feel "weird" or uncomfortable. What is this effect called?
A) A positive social consequence.
B) An unexpected behaviour consequence.
C) A normal school routine.
B) An unexpected behaviour consequence.
If someone is in your "Mean People" circle at school, what is the smartest way to manage your relationship boundary with them?
A) Be aggressive back to them so they leave you alone.
B) Stay polite but distant, keep your boundaries firm, and report them if they cross the line.
C) Try to give them gifts so they stop being mean to you.
B) Stay polite but distant, keep your boundaries firm, and report them if they cross the line.
What is the difference between a Social Detective and someone who uses Wacky Clues?
A) A Social Detective uses real eyes and ears to read the situation; Wacky Clues are just wild, untrue guesses.
B) A Social Detective tells everyone what to do; Wacky Clues are always funny.
C) There is no difference at all.
A) A Social Detective uses real eyes and ears to read the situation; Wacky Clues are just wild, untrue guesses.
If you match a Tiny Problem with a Big Reaction over and over again, what is the long-term consequence for your reputation?
A) People will think you are a strong leader.
B) People will think you are unpredictable and might avoid working or playing with you.
C) The school will give you a special award.
B) People will think you are unpredictable and might avoid working or playing with you.