Grade 7: Lesson Plan 1
Lesson 7.1: Substance Use and Smart Choices
Students will explore different types of substances and their potential effects, while building critical thinking skills to support safer and more informed decision-making.
The Lesson Plan teacher guide contains necessary background information, learning activities, scenarios, and discussion guides. All activities and resources needed to support the delivery of the lesson plan are provided below.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL Grade 7 Health Indicators:
Responsible Decision-Making
- Explore individual and social factors that influence substance use decision-making.
- Explore how to make safer choices about substance use, including the benefits of stopping or reducing use.
Self Concept
- Explain the influence peer groups can have on individuals.
Belonging and Worth
- Explore how personal support networks play a role in providing physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
- Explain the importance of developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
- Discuss how one event can elicit multiple perspectives.
Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviours
- Explain how thoughts, beliefs, and values impact feelings and behaviours.
- Demonstrate skills that contribute to developing a growth mindset.
Healthy Relationships
- Demonstrate effective ways to communicate with others.
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: Understanding Substances
- True or False (Teacher Presentation)
This activity helps teachers assess students’ prior knowledge about substances. Students will respond to a series of statements by indicating whether they agree or disagree with the statements presented.
- Passport to Learning about Substance Use
Students will record their learnings and reflections here throughout the learning activities. Students may complete the activities in the Passport electronically or using a print copy of the booklet.
- Learning Activity 2: The Legalization, Decriminalization, and Regulation of Substances
- Teacher Discussion Guide
Provides guidance for discussion for each scenario in this activity.
- FACE Decision-Making Model
Provides guidance for discussion for each scenario in this activity.
- Factors Influencing Decision Making
Students may find it helpful to refer to the Factors Influencing Decision-Making infographic as they work through this activity.
- Learning Activity 3: A Balancing Act: Harm Reduction Hustle
- Overconsumption of Substances: Fact or Fiction (Teacher Presentation)
Teachers can present this activity using Canva or Google Slides to explore students’ views on fact vs. fiction about overconsumption.
- Overconsumption Infographic
Students may find it helpful to refer to the Overconsumption infographic as they work through this learning activity.
- Teacher Discussion Guide
Provides teacher guidance for this activity.
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.