Your Impact on Others · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What You Meant vs. What They Felt

Personal & Social Development · Self-Awareness · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Before taking the last snack, what's a good question to ask yourself?

    • How fast can I grab it?
    • How might this feel to the other person?
    • Will anyone notice?

  2. Priya didn't say hi to her friend at recess because she was distracted. Her friend looked hurt. What was the impact of Priya's action?

    • Her friend felt hurt
    • Priya felt hurt
    • Nothing happened

  3. If you didn't mean to hurt someone, their feelings don't count.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Jay is about to take the ball without asking his sister, who's been waiting for a turn. What might happen if he predicts before acting?

    • He might realize she'll feel it's unfair and ask first
    • He'll definitely get in trouble
    • Nothing will change

  5. Sam laughed at a joke about Lily's drawing. He meant it as a joke, but Lily looked embarrassed and put her drawing away. What was the impact on Lily?

    • She felt proud
    • She didn't notice
    • She felt embarrassed

  6. After yelling at his brother over the remote, what's the best next step for Theo?

    • Ignore it and play video games
    • Think about what he could've said instead and how his brother felt
    • Wait for his brother to apologize first

  7. After forgetting to add Ana to a group chat, Leo thinks it over. Which response best shows he understands intent vs impact?

    • 'I didn't mean to leave you out, and I get why that felt bad. Next time I'll double check the list.'
    • 'It's your fault for not asking to be added.'
    • 'I didn't mean to leave you out, so it's not a big deal.'

  8. Maya says, 'I only care about what I meant to do, not how it made my friend feel.' What is Maya missing?

    • That she should apologize immediately
    • That her friend is wrong to feel that way
    • That impact matters even when intent was good
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What You Meant vs. What They Felt W1-mt_rpug2tkYhb-s1

  1. How might this feel to the other person? · Asking how someone might feel helps you predict the impact before you act.
  2. Her friend felt hurt · Even without meaning to, not saying hi left her friend feeling ignored. That feeling is the impact.
  3. False · Feelings are real no matter what you meant. Intent and impact are two different things.
  4. He might realize she'll feel it's unfair and ask first · Thinking ahead lets Jay guess how his sister will feel, so he can choose to ask first.
  5. She felt embarrassed · Lily's embarrassment was the real impact of the joke, even though Sam only meant to be funny.
  6. Think about what he could've said instead and how his brother felt · Looking back at what he could've done differently, and how it would have felt to his brother, helps Theo learn for next time.
  7. 'I didn't mean to leave you out, and I get why that felt bad. Next time I'll double check the list.' · Leo names what happened, admits the impact, and plans to do better. That's how intent and impact fit together.
  8. That impact matters even when intent was good · Meaning well doesn't erase how the other person felt. Both intent and impact matter.
Worksheet · LightMySky