Seventh Grade Curriculum Resources

Standard of Learning

7.2 The student will describe and exhibit the behaviors associated with a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Key concepts/skills include:

the effects of nutrition on daily performance;
the importance of participating in recreational and leisure activities;
strategies for avoiding drugs, alcohol, tobacco, inhalants and other harmful substances;
the health benefits of regular physical activity and fitness;
the impact of sleep and rest on physical and mental performance.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will develop strategies for avoiding alcohol, tobacco, inhalant, and other drug use.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

list the benefits of staying tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free.
practice ways of saying NO.
define and explain assertive behavior. (willing to stand up for yourself in a firm but positive way)
identify strategies for assertively saying NO:
- increasing loudness and deepening tone of voice;
- making eye contact;
- having a stern facial expression; and
- leaving the situation.
identify strategies for avoiding alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, and other drugs:
- participate in healthy alternatives; (sports, clubs, recreation, etc.)
- choose friends wisely; and
- participate in "refuse to use" pledge/activities.

Sample Lessons

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
Grades: 6-8
Substance abuse prevention program for youth. Teaches youth how to resist peer pressure and live drug and violence-free lives.
Contact: http://www.dare.com

Group Rope Squares
Grades 5-12
This lesson will further reinforce group cohesion and communication skills as well as problem solving and cooperation. In teaching a drug prevention program, it is important to introduce activities like this that illustrate to students that Together they can help solve each other's problems, depend on one another, and communicate their needs to others.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – substance abuse prevention)
Free

HeartPower!
Grades: 6-8
Teaches student about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Science-based. Lessons, handouts.
--How Can You Help Others Stay Tobacco Free?
--Why is Second Hand Smoke Dangerous?
Sponsor: American Heart Association
Contact: http://www.americanheart.org(select HeartPower!)
Free

LifeSkills Training
Grades: 6-8
Model substance abuse prevention and competency enhancement program focusing on the major social and psychological factors causing substance use and abuse. Teaches drug resistance skills, personal management skills, and general social skills. Includes self-image, self-improvement, decision-making, anger management, assertiveness, communication, media, and conflict resolution issues.
Contact: http://www.lifeskillstraining.com
Cost

Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence
Grades 6-8
Positive youth development program focusing on social and emotional competencies; good citizenship skills; strong, positive character; drug-free lifestyle; and service to others.
Sponsor: Lions Quest
Contact: http://www.lions-quest.org
Cost

Mind over Matter
Grades: 5-9
Students learn about the effects of drug abuse on the body and brain. Includes marijuana, opiates, inhalants, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, nicotine, stimulants, and steroids.
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
Contact: http://www.nida.nih.gov
Cost: Free

Project ALERT
Grades 6-8
Model drug prevention curricula that reduces both the onset and regular use of substances. Two-year, 14 lesson program focusing on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and inhalant avoidance.
Sponsor: Project ALERT
Contact: http://www.projectalert.com
Cost

Project Towards No Tobacco Use (TNT)
Grades 5-10
Model program to prevent or reduce tobacco use in youth. Ten core and 2 booster lessons. Includes effective refusal and coping skills; effects of media and advertisers; methods to build self-esteem; and strategies for advocating no tobacco use.
Sponsor: Department of Preventive Medicine, USC
Contact: http://www.etr.org
Cost

Understanding Alcohol: Investigations into Biology and Behavior
Grades 7-8
Helps students understand how alcohol consumption affects body functions by using the concepts of scientific research.
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health, Curriculum Supplement Series
http://science.education.nih.gov

Additional Instructional Resources

Abuse & Addiction – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/health.htm(health & fitness 6-8)
ACDE Drug Prevention Lesson Plans – http://www.acde.org/educate/Lessons.htm
Adolescence: Peer Influence – http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty
Al-Anon/Alateen – http://www.al-anon.org
Alcohol - http://www.sayno.com/alcohol.html
Alcohol Cost Calculator for Kids – http://www.alcoholcostcalculator.org/kids/
American Council for Drug Education – http://www.acde.org
American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/secondhand.html
TheAnti-Drug.Com – http://www.theantidrug.com
Avoiding Gangs and Bullies - http://www.healthteacher.com/lessonguides/
Center for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws – http://www.udetc.org
The Cool Spot – http://www.thecoolspot.gov
DEA State Fact Sheets – http://www.dea.gov/pubs/state_factsheets.html
Drug and Violence Prevention - http://dave.esc4.net
A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free, SAMSA – http://family.samhsa.gov
Federal Drug Data Sources – http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/sources.html
Global Youth Network - http://www.unodc.org/youthnet
Guidance Counselors
Inhalants - http://www.sayno.com/inhalant.html
Inhalant Abuse – http://www.inhalant.org
Life Skills Learning Objectives - http://www.lifeskills4kids.com/learning_objectives.htm
Life Skills Programs
Monitoring the Future – http://www.monitoringthefuture.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving – http://www.maddva.org or http://www.madd.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information – http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition – http://www.inhalants.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Institute on Drug Abuse – http://www.nida.nih.gov or http://www.drugabuse.gov
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign – http://www.mediacampaign.org
Parenting Is Prevention – http://www.parentingisprevention.org
Partners for Substance Abuse Prevention – http://www.samhsa.gov/preventionpartners
Partnership for a Drug-Free America – http://www.drugfreeamerica.org
Play Clean (performance enhancing drugs in sports) – http://www.playclean.org
Reality Check – http://www.health.org/reality
Resource Officer SAMSA Model [Drug Prevention] Programs –http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov
School Zone – http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/schoolzone/index.html
Straight Scoop News Bureau – http://www.straightscoop.org
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) – http://www.saddonline.com
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program – http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS/
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Criminal Justice Reference Service – http://www.ncjrs.org
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org
Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Education Section – http://www.abc.state.va.us
Virginia Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program – http://www.safeanddrugfreeva.org
Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (Office of Substance Abuse) – http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of State Police – http://www.vsp.state.va.us
Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation – http://www.vtsf.org

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

write a one-page paper on the benefits of staying drug-free.
design a license plate or bumper sticker encouraging others to remain drug free.
role-play situations in which assertiveness and refusal skills should be used.

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