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Take Action in Secondary Schools

SECTION III:
Education and Instruction

Grade 9 and 10 Health and Physical Education Curriculum

This Action Area focuses on curriculum and classroom based resources and supports on the topic of substance use and abuse. This section is designed to provide teachers with an overview of information found in both the Ophea H&PE Curriculum Support Documents and the CAMH Educating Students about Drug Use and Abuse Curriculum Guide.

Background information on substance use and related issues, including a Glossary of Terms and Descriptions of Drugs can be found in Section II.

Also included are ideas and suggestions that Parent Advisory Councils can implement to increase awareness among parents and the school community. Suggested peer led student activities are also mentioned. Ideas for students to attain community hours in the area of substance use and abuse are outlined as well.

Ophea curriculum resources are designed to provide support materials to effectively and efficiently deliver the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum. CAMH curriculum resources were developed with a similar intent but with the focus solely on the substance use and abuse portion of the curriculum.

Initially developed in 2000, Ophea's Curriculum Support Documents are hardcopy resources. The CAMH curriculum guide is a website resource updated at regular intervals. Both resources contain ready made lesson plans, alternate activity ideas, reproducible worksheets, rubrics and other assessment tools. Included also are tips for arranging guest speakers, tips on gender differences, and tips and facts for teachers.

Students are required to take one Health and Physical Education credit and most take it in grade 9. Due to many reasons, curriculum restraints among them, many students will not take Health and Physical Education again in their high school years.

Although it is established that the topic of substance use and abuse is relevant to students throughout their high school years, it is not a focus elsewhere in the curriculum. To address this shortcoming, this section also includes several creative substance use and abuse ideas and activities that can be used by school staff to help address expectations in a variety of subject areas.

Please note: As part of the Ministry of Education curriculum review cycle, the Health & Physical Education curriculum is currently being reviewed.  Project implementation for the Secondary Health & Physical Education curriculum is Fall 2011.

Title: Educating Students about Drug Use and Abuse

Ready to use lesson plans for drug education in your classroom – Curriculum Support for the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-10, Health and Physical Education, Healthy Living, Substance Use and Abuse

Publisher/Organization:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Date of Publication/Production of resource:

Last updated in 2006/2007
Website: www.camh.net/curriculum (updated regularly)

Languages:

English/French

Availability/Ordering:

Downloadable at www.camh.net/curriculum
Free

Physical description of resource:

Internet resource. Curriculum support for the Ontario curriculum. Demonstrates and uses decision-making and assertion skills with respect to media influences and peer pressure related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

Target audience/Grade level:

Grade 9

Key messages/Themes:

  • Use the decision-making model to effectively solve a relevant drug-related problem
  • Strategies that teenagers would use to refuse drugs
  • Use of decision making and assertion skills with respect to media influences and peer pressure related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

Strategy/Learning approach:

Lecture, problem solving, role playing, negotiation, worksheet, charades, homework assignment, brainstorm, and small group assignment

Brief description from examples/Experience using this resource:

Steps of decision-making are explained using a relevant drug related problem (e.g., being offered a ride from someone who had been drinking). Comparison of assertive, aggressive and non-assertive communication is made. Refusal techniques, student worksheets, refusal role-play, and refusal skills charades activities are included.

Application/Relevance to curriculum:

Yes. Can be used in a variety of subject areas in the Grade 9 Ontario curriculum.

Resources required:

Photocopied worksheets, magazines for ads promoting alcohol and tobacco, chart paper

Suggestions/Expansion/Creative use of resource:

  1. The role playing or charades activities are easily adaptable to the Grade 9 Dramatic Arts curriculum.
  2. The media literacy activity on alcohol and drug advertisements could be used in the Grade 9 English curriculum. Students study and interpret images displayed on advertisements and learn how the advertiser attempts to persuade the individual consumer to purchase the advertiser’s product.
  3. Fact or myth quiz can be incorporated into a Literacy lesson on informational forms of writing such as, newspaper, brochure or a pamphlet. The information could also be used in a technology lesson (e.g., BTT10) to create a brochure using a computer application such as Microsoft Publisher.
  4. Statistics on student drug use may be found in the CAMH document which Math students could use to prepare graphs of statistics on substance use. Math students could also calculate the cost of smoking over different periods of time, smoking one pack a day. Figure out what portion of an average net income this would consume and what else could have been purchased instead. A tobacco use survey could be conducted in the school or class.
  5. The Grade 10 History and Civics curriculum uses debates as a communication tool. The advantages/disadvantages of drug use could be used as a debate topic to model proper debate style.
  6. The information provided in this resource could be easily adapted for display on a bulletin board within the school. This may be particularly effective during Drug Awareness Week.

Complementary/Additional resources:

Ophea Grade 9-10 supplement www.ophea.net/hpe

Title: Educating Students about Drug Use and Abuse

Ready to use lesson plans for drug education in your classroom – Curriculum Support for the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-10, Health and Physical Education, Healthy Living, Substance Use and Abuse

Publisher/Organization:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Date of Publication/Production of resource:

Last updated in 2006
Website: www.camh.net/curriculum (updated often)

Languages:

English/French

Availability/Ordering:

Downloadable at www.camh.net/curriculum
Free

Physical description of resource:

Internet resource – demonstrate understanding of the issues and coping strategies related to substance use and abuse.

Target audience/Grade level:

Grade 10

Key messages/Themes:

  • Factors that lead to substance dependence.
  • The physiological and sociological effects of substance use.
  • Knowledge of the legal aspects of substance use and abuse (e.g., regarding under-age drinking, impaired driving, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act).

Strategy/Learning approach:

Lecture, problem solving, worksheet, homework assignment, brainstorm, small group work, research and case studies

Brief description from examples/Experience using this resource:

Steps of decision-making are explained using a relevant drug related problem (e.g., being offered a ride from someone who had been drinking). Comparison of assertive, aggressive and non-assertive communication is made. Refusal techniques, student worksheets, refusal role-play, and refusal skills charades activities are included.

Application/Relevance to curriculum:

Yes

Resources required:

Photocopied worksheets, magazines for ads promoting alcohol and tobacco, chart paper

Suggestions/Expansion/Creative use of Resource:

  1. The legal aspects of drug use can be tied into the Grade 11 Law curriculum. The legal issues case studies found in the CAMH document could be used.
  2. The Centre for Addition and Mental Health’s Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey can be used as a data collection tool in Math class or as part of a data management assignment. The survey results are updated regularly at www.camh.net and provide students with accurate statistics regarding drug use.
  3. There are discussion questions based on the stages of drug use that could be used as open- ended response questions in an English class.
  4. Sue’s story outlines a fictional student’s experience with alcohol. The story could be used as a mental set for an English lesson on story writing, or for an in-class discussion regarding drinking and driving.
  5. Ads and counter-ads look at media advertisements and how they affect decision-making regarding the use of different products. Students are asked to create counter-ads that discourage the use of certain products. This activity can be used in an English course or an Art/Computer course dealing with product/package design.
  6. The Virtual Party game is an interactive internet-based resource for youth. It is available at www.virtual-party.org. The site presents fictitious partygoers with a variety of choices and consequences. By assuming the role of the characters, students discover the physiological and sociological effects and consequences of alcohol use. Upon completion of the game, students are asked to develop an information tool (pamphlet, poster or brochure). This activity could be an excellent way to incorporate technology into a lesson, while teaching different writing forms.

Complementary/Additional resources:

Ophea Grade 9-10 supplement www.ophea.net/hpe

Title: Ophea Health and Physical Education Grade 9 Supplement

(Module 3 Substance Use and Abuse)

Publisher/Organization:

Ophea

Date of publication/Production of resource:

Published in 2000

Languages:

English/French

Availability/Ordering:

Sample lessons downloadable for free atwww.ophea.net/hpe
Copies of complete documents are available through contacts through school/school board.*

Physical description of resource:

The Ophea document is available in a hardcopy. It is usually found in a binder in the Health and Physical Education Department in a school. It contains classroom activities, rubrics and reproducible worksheets. It acts as a supplemental resource used as a companion to the course profile for Healthy and Active Living Education produced by the Ministry of Education.

Target audience/Grade level:

The Ophea Health and Physical Education Grade 9 Supplement resource is primarily directed to the Healthy and Active Living course.

Key messages/Themes:

The Substance Use and Abuse module focuses on drugs and drug use, community resources, decision-making, peer pressure and assertiveness related to substance use. Also, it looks at the influence that media has on drug and alcohol use.

Strategy/Learning approach:

Reflection, quiz, debate, presentation, guided discovery, role play, and homework assignment

Brief description from examples/Experience using this resource:

The Grade 9 Supplement resource contains in depth information regarding various drugs and their effects. A debate activity is used to explore the advantages and disadvantages of drug use. Ophea uses a problem solving model, assertiveness training and refusal skills to avoid peer pressure. Also, there is a very engaging activity based on Advertising and Media Literacy with respect to alcohol/drug advertising.

Resources required:

Chart paper, television, advertisements, and print advertisements

Cross-curricular Ideas:

The IDEAL
decision-making model
refers to:

Identifying the problem.

Discussing (describing) or listing possible ways you might choose to help solve the problem.

Evaluating each situation, listing the pros and cons of each way to solve the problem.

Acting on a plan to use the best solution.

Learning about your plan, thinking about how your plan will turn out.

  1. A reflective worksheet that addresses personal attitudes toward alcohol and drug use can be used in a variety of settings. The worksheet could be used as an organizer or brainstorming guide for a personal essay in an English class.
  2. A four corners activity is used to determine attitudes towards alcohol and drug use. This example could be used to model the four corners activity and introduce substance use and abuse to any class.
  3. The Ophea resource presents a Fact or Myth quiz related to substance use and abuse. The Fact or Myth quiz can be incorporated into a Literacy lesson on informational forms of writing such as, newspaper, brochure or pamphlet. Also, the information in the quiz may be used in a Technology lesson to create a brochure using a computer application such as Microsoft Publisher.
  4. Background information is provided for various substances. The information includes description, effects and legal status. The information provided in this resource could be easily adapted for display on a bulletin board within the school. This may be particularly effective during Drug Awareness Week.
  5. The Grade 10 History and Civics curriculum uses debates as a communication tool. A list of advantages and disadvantages of drug use is provided in the resource. The advantages and disadvantages of drug use debate could be used to model proper debate style.
  6. A report/presentation rubric based on knowledge and understanding of substances provides a ready-to-use assessment tool for teachers. This activity could be used during Drug Awareness Week, as practise to develop presentation skills or as a guide to following rubrics.
  7. A thorough list of community contacts is made available in the Ophea document. The community contacts provided with the resource could be the source of an internet search activity when teaching students about proper technology use. Also, the list could be posted in the school for student/staff use.
  8. This resource provides assertiveness training for students dealing with the pressures of substance use in their lives. Ophea provides a role playing activity with common situations involving drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The role playing activity is easily adaptable to the Grade 9 or 10 Dramatic Arts curriculum. The activity asks students to apply the IDEAL decision-making model to several situations involving drug use, peer pressure and refusal skills. The role playing activity is accompanied by an assessment rubric.
  9. The Media Literacy activity on alcohol and drug advertisements could be used in the Grade 9 English curriculum. Students study and interpret images displayed on advertisements and learn how the advertiser attempts to persuade the individual consumer to purchase the advertiser’s product.

Complementary/Additional resources:

CAMH Curriculum Guide www.camh.net/curriculum
Virtual Party www.virtual-party.org

Title: Ophea Health and Physical Education Grade 10 Supplement

(Module 5 Substance Use and Abuse)

Publisher/Organization:

Ophea

Date of publication/Production of Resource:

Published in 2000

Languages: English/French

Availability/Ordering:

Sample lessons downloadable for free at www.ophea.net/hpe
Copies of complete documents are available through contacts through school/school board.*

Physical description of resource:

The Ophea document is available in a hard copy. It is usually found in a binder in the Health and Physical Education department in a school. It contains classroom activities, rubrics and reproducible worksheets. It acts as a supplement resource used as a companion to the course profile for Healthy and Active Living Education produced by the Ministry of Education.

Target audience/Grade level:

The Ophea Health and Physical Education Grade 10 Supplement resource is primarily directed to the Healthy and Active Living course.

Key messages/Themes:

The Substance Use and Abuse module focuses on “the three C’s” of drug education: comprehension of the issues involved, commitment to make behavioural changes and the capacity to make behavioural changes.

Strategy/Learning approach:

Round Robin, internet games, games, guest speaker, wheel of factors, teacher lead, jigsaw, discussion, worksheet, and case studies

Brief description from examples/Experience using this resource: The Grade 10 Supplement resource contains a wealth of information regarding substance use and abuse. The activities are intended to act as building blocks providing students with relevant knowledge applicable to everyday situations.

Resources required:

Photocopied Worksheets Updated
Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey

Cross-curricular Ideas:

  1. There are discussion questions based on the stages of drug use that could be used as open ended response questions in an English class.
  2. Sue’s story outlines a fictional student’s experience with alcohol. The story could be used as a mental set for an English lesson on story writing, or for an in class discussion regarding drinking and driving.
  3. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey can be used as a data collection tool in Math class or as part of a Data Management assignment. The survey results are updated regularly at www.camh.net and provide students with accurate statistics regarding drug use.
  4. Legal aspects of drug use are presented as a four corners activity and also in a case study format. The scenarios presented are applicable to the Grade 11 Law curriculum. The situations presented could also be used in another context within the classroom. There is also an assessment rubric tied to the activity.
  5. Ads and counter-ads look at media advertisements and how they affect decision-making regarding the use of different products. Students are asked to create counter ads that discourage the use of certain products. This activity can be used in an English course or an Art or Computer course dealing with product/package design.
  6. The Virtual Party game is an interactive Internet-based resource for youth. It is available at http://www.virtual-party.org The site presents fictitious partygoers with a variety of choices and consequences. By assuming the role of the characters, students discover the physiological and sociological effects and consequences of alcohol use. Upon completion of the game, students are asked to develop an information tool (pamphlet, poster or brochure). This activity could be an excellent way to incorporate technology into a lesson while teaching different writing forms.

Complementary/Additional resources:

CAMH Curriculum Guide www.camh.net/curriculum
Virtual Party www.virtual-party.org

* Please note: Most school boards in Ontario have partnered with Ophea in creating the documents. These school boards have copyright permission, and may be able to provide you with a copy of the documents for a reduced cost. If you are associated with a district school board, contact your board office and speak with an appropriate representative. For support to identify the contact the person at your school board, visit: http://www.ophea.net/Ophea/Ophea.net/safetycontacts.cfm Otherwise, you can purchase these support documents directly from Ophea for $40 per grade plus applicable taxes and shipping/ handling. For more details, go to www.ophea.net/hpeorder.cfm.