To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Personal Development (Substance Abuse Prevention) in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Conduct a class debate on a resolution such as the following:

• "The legal drinking age should be raised to 21."
• "Performance-enhancing substances should be banned from professional sports."
• "Tobacco should be made illegal."

• Provide a variety of resources (e.g., guest speakers, videos, print materials) related to substance abuse. Encourage students to reflect in their journals about the potential effects on their lives if they abuse substances.
• Have students chart legal and illegal drugs, identifying those used for medical purposes and those used for non-medical purposes.
• Invite a doctor or public health nurse to speak on the misuse of medicines.
• Challenge students to create and implement a plan with school staff to promote a drug-free school. For example:

• students design, produce, and distribute slogans for T-shirts (e.g., "Students at –––––––––––––– school are drug free!")
• write articles for the school and community newspapers
• establish a peer mentorship or "Kids Helping Kids" program
• set up a Drug Awareness Evening for parents
• hold a contest for the best poster addressing substance abuse awareness

• Ask students to create multimedia presentations to discourage substance abuse. These could then be presented via school radio, lunch-time video, school notice-boards, or the school paper. Raps, chants, songs, and so on that promote substance abuse prevention could also be created to share with younger students.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• After activities related to substance abuse, have students reflect on their understanding of the issues by completing the following statements:

• Some people believe –––––––––––––– .
• Other people disagree. They believe –––––––––––––– .
• The way this could affect me is –––––––––––––– .

• Following the guest speaker’s presentation on the misuse of medicines, ask students to summarize what they have learned. Look for evidence that they recognize such things as:

• the importance of seeking professional advice prior to taking medicines
• the importance of following directions
• the consequences of incorrect dosage

  Print Materials

• HeartSmart Kids (4-7)
• Making Decisions Grade 7

  Multimedia

• bc.tobaccofacts:grade 7
• Student WorkSafe 7 Module

  BC Ministry of Education Home Page