Lesson 2 : Impact of Substance Use on Growth & Development
Students will learn about the five dimensions of health and wellness, the spectrum of substance use, factors influencing decision making, and the importance of making healthy decisions to promote wellbeing.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL Grade 6 Health Curriculum:
- Recognize the potential for addiction to substances, like tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
- Practice problem-solving and decision-making skills for preventing substance use.
- Discuss the personal and societal cost of smoking, drinking and other drug use.
- Identify different substances and their effects on health and well-being.
- Practice problem-solving and decision-making skills for preventing substance use
- Identify ways of developing positive relationships with peers.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills.
Lesson Plan
Activities
Learning Activity 1: What is Health and Wellness?
Infographics: Health and Wellness and Self-Care
Students may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this Learning Activity.
Pre-Activity: Recorded Meditation
This activity will introduce meditation and mindfulness to the students as a tool to improve health and wellness.
Exploration Activity: Wellness Quest: Exploring Health in All Dimensions
Students will understand and explore different aspects of health and wellness—mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social.
Note: This activity requires preparation in advance.
Sharing and Reflection Activity: Personal Wellness Plan
Students will set goals based on what they have learned about the dimensions of health and wellness.
Learning Activity 2: Substance Use Spectrum and Factors Affecting Intoxication
Infographics: Substance Use Spectrum and Factors Affecting Intoxication
Students may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this Learning Activity.
Pre-Activity: Applying the Substance Use Spectrum
Students will create their own Substance Use Spectrum to understand the range of choices from safe to risky behaviors related to substance use, and recognize the importance of making safer choices.
Exploration Activity: Factors Affecting Intoxication (Spin the Bottle Activity)
Students will learn about the various factors that impact how intoxication affects the body through an interactive “Spin the Bottle” game.
Note: This activity requires preparation in advance.
Sharing and Reflection Activity: Safer Choices Poster Campaign
Students will create an awareness poster that encourages safer choices regarding drug use and intoxication.
Learning Activity 3: Long-term Impacts of Drugs on Health and Wellness
Introductory Activity: Stepping Into the Future
This game will help students understand the long-term health consequences of different substances through an engaging, movement-based activity.
Exploration Activity: Time Machine
Students will explore the long-term impacts of substance use and the importance of making healthy choices by discussing different scenarios through a time machine concept.
Sharing and Reflection Activity: Time Capsule
Students will create a time capsule, where they state their intentions for the future and what supports and habits will help them to reach their goals.
Substance Snapshots
Substance Snapshots aim to provide educators with knowledge surrounding specific substances, classes of substances, and methods of consumption. These documents are intended to support educators in their delivery of drug education. They are not for direct use by elementary students.