Curated OER
The Kids are All-Right
Students explore alcohol abuse. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "The Kids are All Right", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an activity based on the content...
Curated OER
Message in a Bottle
Students consider the implications of the misuse of alcohol. In this personal health lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about the misuse of alcohol and examine advertisements for alcohol.
Curated OER
Family Sculpture Demonstration
Students simulate the personal interactions in a family with an alcoholic parent. In this alcoholism instructional activity, students read a family situation. They simulate the interactions in the family and create a living sculpture of...
Curated OER
Addictive Risk
In this health worksheet, students assess their addictive risk for drugs. They read the two primary factors to addiction and highlight the characteristics that increase and decrease addiction when answering 4 questions.
Curated OER
Alcoholic Advertisements
Alcohol is a powerful depressant drug. Over time heavy drinking can lead to severe health problems. This lesson shows how advertisements for alcoholic beverages entice people to buy their product by using wealthy people, or happy people...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Commitment to Recovery
Recovery from substance addiction is an ongoing process. The final instructional activity in a series about painkiller abuse and addiction prompts learners to research various recovery options before writing a short story about a...
Steered Straight
Marijuana Awareness
February is Marijuana Awareness Month, and a set of interdisciplinary activities can make your class aware of the social, medical, legal, and psychological effects of marijuana. With writing prompts, research opportunities, and...
Carfleo
Substance Use and Abuse
What is substance abuse? What is the difference between a depressant and a stimulant? Here is a comprehensive unit on drug use, including three lessons with such activities as categorizing and defining key terms, identifying issues...
Advocates for Youth
How Can I Take Care of My Health?
Life is all about choices, and a healthy life tends to involve a lot of healthy choices. Guide teenagers toward a life full of nutritious food, regular exercise, and responsible decisions with a series of lessons on healthy habits for...
Curated OER
Taking Pills Isn't the Answer
Students explore performance-related drug use. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Taking Pills Isn't the Answer", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an activity...
Curated OER
Facts into Action
Learners role play chosen scenario about smart decision making. In this drug awareness activity, students discuss the danger associated with drug abuse. They practice how to make careful choices when faced with a difficult situation.
Curated OER
I Refuse!
Fifth graders demonstrate effective use of assertive refusal skills when declining alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. In this assertive refusal lesson plan, 5th graders role play peer pressure situation and write a brief essay on what...
Curated OER
Small Actions with Big Purpose
Seventh graders examine the trait of perseverance. In this character education activity, 7th graders discuss community causes they care about and make plans to contribute their time and energy to overcome their personally-selected issues.
Curated OER
Environmental Causes of Birth Defects
Get your high schoolers thinking about the factors that lead to birth defects. They examine how environmental factors and personal choices can cause birth defects in unborn children. They discover the effects of various handicaps such as...
National Institute of Drug Abuse
Nurturing My Mental and Emotional Health
One exercise does not necessarily work for all! A resource from the National Institutes of Health provides tweens and teens with exercises to help them cope with anxiety and stress. Participants note their stress levels before and after...
Curated OER
Three Elements of Health
High schoolers identify and discuss three important elements of health: physical, social, and mental health. They go into detail about each and spend a lot of time discussing the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating a...
Curated OER
Harmful objects
First graders identify safe ways to report harmful objects. In this harmful objects lesson plan, 1st graders identify objects that can harm them. They then identify objects that are not safe verses ones that are safe, and are taught...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Caution: Thin Ice!
Sixth graders listen to a story titled "Thin Ice!" then partake in a whole-class discussion asking and answering questions about what was read. Scholars brainstorm risky behaviors in preparation for a game of RISKO—a game similar to...
Curated OER
The Sexual Response System
Students in upper-level sex education/family living classes study and discuss the stages of sexual response. As a group, they discuss possible real-life scenarios and the myths and misconceptions which can affect the functioning of the...
Curated OER
Peer pressure
Students identify ways to cope with peer pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. They use selection from Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.
Curated OER
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Students examine addictions and the effects on people around them. They identify the characteristics of addition and indicators of alcohol abuse. They complete a worksheet for homework.
Curated OER
With a little help from my friends
Students examine how having friends is an important part of growing up, but being in charge of the friendship rather than allowing it to control you is also important.
Curated OER
Boating Safety
Learners are introduced to the safety procedures to follow while boating. After taking a quiz, they complete open-ended questions about boating accidents in Illinois. They discuss as a class how those accidents could have been prevented.
Healthy Native Youth
Chapter 6: Making Choices
A lesson looks closely at risky behavior such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Middle schoolers use a question box to ask questions anonymously. They role-play what life would be like if they became pregnant then...