Understanding Substance Use

Duration

30 minutes

Grade Level

8th Grade (approximately age 13-14)

Subject

Health Education

Units of Study

Unit #3: Substance Awareness

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Standards Alignment

• Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2): Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS MS-LS1-3): Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells.

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Learning Objectives

1. Knowledge: Students will identify the most commonly abused substances among teens and their effects on health and behavior.
2. Understanding: Students will discuss statistics related to drug use among teenagers in the United States.
3. Skills: Students will engage in critical thinking and express their opinions on drug use in a respectful manner.

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and screen for presentation
• Printed statistics handouts
• Sticky notes
• Markers
• Chart paper

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Lesson Overview

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

   • Begin with an open discussion: “What do you know about drug use and abuse?”
   • Write down key words or phrases on the whiteboard.

2. Presentation (10 minutes)

   • Use a PowerPoint presentation to share the following statistics:
     • 20% of U.S. high school students reported using marijuana in the past year.
     • 9% of teens reported misusing prescription drugs.
     • 14% of seniors reported drinking alcohol in the past month (from the National Institute on Drug Abuse).
   • Discuss the effects of short-term and long-term drug use, including mental health implications, physical health risks, and academic performance.

3. Group Activity (10 minutes)

   • Divide the class into groups of 5 students each to ensure every voice is heard.
   • Provide each group with a statistic related to drug use.
   • Ask groups to discuss:
     • What the statistic means.
     • Why they think this is happening.
     • Potential solutions or preventive measures.
   • Each group will write down their thoughts on chart paper.

4. Class Debrief (5 minutes)

   • Reconvene as a class and invite each group to present their findings.
   • Encourage thoughtful questions from classmates.
   • Emphasize respectful communication and active listening.

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Differentiated Instruction

• Visual Learners: Use infographics in the presentation.
• Auditory Learners: Incorporate discussions and group activities.
• Kinesthetic Learners: Use sticky notes for a “silent reflection” activity where students write down an idea or question about drug use and place it on the wall before the group discussions.

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Inclusion Practices

• Provide printed materials in multiple formats (e.g., large print).
• Ensure that discussions are structured to allow quieter students to share ideas.
• Pair students of varying skill levels during group activities to foster collaboration.

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Assessment

• Participation in group discussions and activities.
• An exit ticket where each student writes down one new thing they learned during the lesson.
• Assess the clarity and understanding of topics shared by each group.

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Closing

Reiterate the importance of being informed about the risks associated with drug use. Encourage students to discuss these topics with family members and friends to raise awareness and promote healthy choices.