Alcohol - Drugs - Saying No

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

1. Write about a time when you had to resist strong peer pressure to do something you didn't want to do. How did it happen? How did it make you feel? Did you change anything or make any decisions based on that experience? What did you learn from it?

2. Write about someone you know who has gotten involved with alcohol or other drugs. How did it happen? How did it make you feel? Did you change anything or make any decisions based on that experience? What did you learn from it?

3. Write about the kinds of peer pressures that exist in your school or community. How do you feel about them? What could be done to reduce them or make them go away? What could you personally do to help improve the situation?

4. The kids in the video make the point that pressure to do something is easier to cope with if you decide in advance what you will or won't do. Write about a time when deciding in advance helped you, or would have helped you, deal with a tough situation.

5. Imagine that some day you will have children. Write a letter of advice for them to read when they reach the age you are right now. Tell them what you think about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and how you hope they will deal with these things in their own lives.


Teaching Guide: Saying No to Alcohol and Other Drugs for grades 5-9
This page is from the teaching guide for the video Saying No to Alcohol & Other Drugs in the Big Changes, Big Choices video series. Even if you aren't showing this video there is a lot of material here you can use to create a lesson. Feel free to modify it to suit your needs.
HOW TO SAY NO Saying "no" to your friends can be very hard sometimes. You may be afraid of what they'll think of you if you don't go along with them. Here is a good way to say "no" and still be cool. 1. Say what the problem is (that's mean, or, that's illegal, etc.). 2. Say what the consequences are. 3. Suggest something to do instead. 4. If your friends insist on doing it anyway, leave. But leave the door open for them to change their minds and join you. Sometimes you can make it easier on yourself by preparing in advance for a possible pressure situation. Here are some things you can do ahead of time. • Think ahead and try to anticipate possible problems. • Decide in advance what you intend to do. • Think of some good ways to handle the situation if it arises, or some good ways to avoid the situation altogether.	EDUCATIONAL GOALS YOUNG ADOLESCENTS WILL: • Look critically at the kinds of negative peer pressures they are under at this age. • Recognize some of the ways in which they internalize peer pressure. • Learn about the harmful consequences of alcohol and other drug use. • See how innocent actions can often lead to serious consequences. • Learn some ways to resist negative peer pressure THE VIDEO This program presents and reinforces anti-drug attitudes and teaches practical techniques for saying "no" to our friends without appearing to be uncool. In addition to the specific matter of drug use, we examine the issue of peer pressure - both positive and negative - and figure out how to tell the difference. We consider why it's important to resist negative peer pressure, and what that has to do with taking charge of our lives. THE SERIES In Big Changes, Big Choices comedian/teen counselor Michael Pritchard helps young adolescents discover that they have the power and the responsibility to make the right choices for themselves. The TV cameras follow him to middle schools in three different regions of the U.S. as he thrills his young listeners with unusual humor about growing up, and engages groups of teens in highly productive problem-solving sessions about serious issues that affect their lives. DO YOU HAVE ANY: • discussion questions • writing assignments • learning activities • or other ideas you'd like to contribute to this page? If so, click here and send them to us by email. TERMS OF USE © Copyright Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc. All rights are reserved. The material in this website is intended for non-commercial educational use. If you wish to copy or use any of this material, please click here for "Terms of Use." Except as provided in "Terms of Use," this material is for private use only and may not be republished or copied without written permission of the publisher.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS If you are using the video, ask the first two questions before viewing. 1. Agree or disagree: It's better to go along with the crowd than to make your own choices. Why do you agree or disagree? 2. What is peer pressure? What does it have to do with making choices? 3. In what ways has peer pressure changed as you've gotten older? 4. Do you think peer pressure sometimes affects the way you or your friends make choices? In what way? 5. One boy in the video makes the point that peer pressure is nothing unless you fall into it, and you can choose not to do that. Do you agree with him? Why, or why not? 6. How do you decide whether or not it's okay to go along with the crowd. When is it okay? When isn't it okay? 7. How does it make you feel when you do something that you felt you shouldn't? 8. What makes it hard to say "no" to a friend? 9. What are the benefits of knowing how to say "no?" 10. One boy in the video said that when you're under the influence of alcohol, the alcohol starts doing your thinking for you. What did he mean by that? Do you agree? Why, or why not? 11. A girl in the video said that alcohol makes you say and do things you wouldn't if you were sober. Do you think that's true? If it is true, what's wrong with it? Have you ever seen that happen to anyone? 12. A boy in the video said that when you're under the influence of alcohol, you're a hazard to yourself and others. What did he mean by that? Do you agree? Have you ever known anyone to get hurt, or to hurt someone else, while intoxicated? 13. Do you think that movies and television make alcohol use look attractive or unattractive? Does that influence you in any way? Do you agree with the way they portray it? What changes would you make? 14. Do you know anybody who has ever benefited from smoking, drinking alcohol, or using other drugs? 15. Do you know anybody who has been harmed by smoking, drinking alcohol, or using other drugs? 16. Does anything scare you about using alcohol or other drugs? What? Why? 17. The kids in the video suggest that pressure to do something is a lot easier to cope with if you decide in advance what you are going to do. What did they mean by that? Do you agree? Can you think of some examples? 18. What was most meaningful to you in this video? Why? (If you wish to copy or use any material from this website, please click here for Terms of Use.)
STUDENT ACTIVITIES 1. People often give themselves excuses when they're about to do something they know they probably shouldn't. Here is a list of commonly used excuses. Have the class analyze each one and determine what's wrong with it. Then, ask them to think of other excuses that aren't in this list, and analyze those, as well —"Just one (or, a little won't hurt)." — "I can control myself, so this once won't matter." — "Everybody's doing it." — "I don't want to be left out." — "I deserve this." — "I feel stressed out. This'll help me relax." — "If I don't do this, they'll think I'm a . . . " — "If I don't do this, they might not like me." — "If I don't do this, they might get mad at me." — "I'm too young for this to hurt me." 2. Excuses are things we say to ourselves to get out of saying "no." What are some good things we can say to ourselves that will help us say "no" when we want to. Make a list and hang it on the wall as a constant reminder. 3. Make up several hypothetical situations and have the kids do role plays in which they practice the saying "no" method from the top of this column. Here are a few ideas to start with. — Your friends want you to lie to your parents about where you're really going, because if they knew the truth they wouldn't let you go. — Several of your friends are organizing a system for cheating on a big test, and they want you to be a part of it. (If you wish to copy or use any material from this website, please click here for Terms of Use.)
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS 1. Write about a time when you had to resist strong peer pressure to do something you didn't want to do. How did it happen? How did it make you feel? Did you change anything or make any decisions based on that experience? What did you learn from it? 2. Write about someone you know who has gotten involved with alcohol or other drugs. How did it happen? How did it make you feel? Did you change anything or make any decisions based on that experience? What did you learn from it? 3. Write about the kinds of peer pressures that exist in your school or community. How do you feel about them? What could be done to reduce them or make them go away? What could you personally do to help improve the situation? 4. The kids in the video make the point that pressure to do something is easier to cope with if you decide in advance what you will or won't do. Write about a time when deciding in advance helped you, or would have helped you, deal with a tough situation. 5. Imagine that some day you will have children. Write a letter of advice for them to read when they reach the age you are right now. Tell them what you think about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and how you hope they will deal with these things in their own lives.