GRADE 6: LESSON PLAN 2
Lesson 2: Impact of Substance Use on Growth & Development
Students will learn about the five dimensions of wellness, the spectrum of substance use, and the factors that affect intoxication. They will also explore the long-term impacts of drugs on overall health and wellness.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL Grade 6 Health Curriculum:
Drug Education
- 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
Relationships
- Identify ways of developing positive relationships with peers.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills.
Learning Activities
The following activities are designed to support the delivery of this lesson and help reinforce key concepts. Some activities are available in multiple formats to offer flexibility and accommodate teacher or student preferences.
- 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 explore different aspects of health and wellness (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social) through this station activity.
- Sharing and Reflection Activity: Personal Wellness Plan
Students will create a Personal Wellness Plan by setting three goals that reflect 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 work together to place scenarios along the Substance Use Spectrum and discuss how safe or risky each situation is, adjusting placements as needed.
- 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.
- 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 movement-based game helps students learn about the long-term health effects of substances, with space to step forward and backward as part of the activity.
- Exploration Activity: Time Machine
Students will use a “time machine” to explore different scenarios, discussing the long-term impacts of substance use and the benefits of making healthy choices.
- Sharing and Reflection Activity: Time Capsule
Students will create a time capsule by writing their future intentions, the decisions behind them, and the supports that will help them.
These resources may help support the delivery of the lesson plan and learning activities:
Educational Materials
The relevant Educational Materials for this lesson are referenced throughout the lesson plan; additional ones are available here.
Substance Snapshots
Relevant Substance Snapshots are noted in the lesson plan; more may be accessed here.