GRADE 9: LESSON PLAN 1
Lesson 9.1: Substance Use, Addiction, and the Role of Harm Reduction
Students will examine the importance of brain health and the impact of substance use on brain function. They will develop an understanding of addiction, the substance use spectrum, and harm reduction principles, while practicing critical decision-making through the analysis of real-world scenarios.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL Grade 9 Health Curriculum:
Emotional and Social Well-Being
- To develop an increased awareness of self by engaging in activities that help you think about who you are and what is important to you.
- To learn more about themselves and others by representing and sharing different aspects of themselves.
Content, Processes and Skills
- To review and implement the decision-making process.
- To improve personal communication skills through classroom interaction and practice.
Drug Education (Supplemental)
- To evaluate the connection between substance use and brain development.
- To analyze the effects of substance use on health and well-being.
- To consider harm reduction strategies to minimize substance use risk.
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: Substance Use and Well-Being
- Connections Game – Student Activity
This engaging brain teaser challenges students’ word association and logical thinking skills to get their minds warmed up.
- Wordle Game – Student Activity
This Wordle game offers a quick, engaging word puzzle that challenges students to use logic and vocabulary skills as a low-stakes brain teaser.
- Brain Blast Student Booklet: [NOTE: The Brain Blast Booklet will be used in all 3 learning activities]
Students will record their learnings and reflections here throughout the learning activities. Students may complete the activities in the Brain Blast electronically or using a print copy of the booklet.
- Healthy Habits – Teacher Discussion Guide
In this activity, students will consider each component of wellness, identify examples of healthy habits, and explain how healthy habits relate to brain health.
- Exploration Activity: Look and Listen (Video)
This exploration activity will help students expand their understanding of brain health.
- Infographics: Health and Wellness, Self-Care
Students may find it helpful to refer to the Health and Wellness and Self-Care infographics as they work through this activity.
- Learning Activity 2: Addiction and Harm Reduction
- Substance Use and Brain Health True or False – Presentation
This true or false activity will engage students in a learning conversation about the different substances to be explored throughout the lesson.
- Pre-Activity: Look and Listen (Video)
This pre-activity will expand on the discussion around brain health and substance use as students consider the concepts of addiction, dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.
- Exploration: Quiz-Quiz-Trade
This activity will provide an opportunity to review students’ understanding of different substances, including the effects, addiction risk, withdrawal, and harm reduction strategies.
- Infographics: Substance Use Disorder, Harm Reduction
Students may find it helpful to refer to the Substance Use Disorder and Harm Reduction infographics as they work through this activity.
- Learning Activity 3: Substance Use Spectrum and Lowering Risk
- Pre-Activity: Lower Risk Use True or False – Presentation
This activity will allow the teacher to gauge the students’ understanding of harm reduction and lower-risk use.
- Exploration Part 1: Calculating Amounts of Alcohol – Online Calculator
This online calculator resource can be used to convert drinks into standard drink sizes.
- Exploration Part 2: Harm Reduction Situations – Student Activity
This activity will allow students to consider lower-risk use of substances as part of a harm reduction strategy.
- Infographic: Substance Use Spectrum
Students may find it helpful to refer to the Substance Use Spectrum infographic as they work through 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.