Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.3B Grade 4 CPI 4

 

Standard: 2.3 - Drugs & Medicine

 

Strand: B - Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator:  4 - The student will identify the short- and long-term physical and behavioral effects of alcohol use and abuse.

 

Grade: 4

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        BODY SYSTEMS, DRUG EFFECTS -  Explain that the body experiences many short and long-term effects from the use of various drugs. In small groups, students trace a body outline and add body systems to the tracing. Each group gathers information about the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on an assigned body system. Using the information, each group develops a skit portraying various body parts and describing the effects of chemical substances on the assigned body system. Students use the body tracings and “sandwich board” costumes to illustrate the skit. After each group has presented its skit, students list at least one effect for each body system.

 

·        SHOEBOX THEATER PRESENTS: THE IMPACT OF ATODS - Students create a “Shoebox Theater” by drawing or creating a movie, frame by frame, which is pulled through slits on a box. In pairs, students write a story outline related to substance use and chemical dependency, then create the project and a script that can be displayed like subtitles in a foreign film. Present the films as part of a classroom film festival and discuss each one. Each student writes a review and summary of at least two theater presentations.

 

      Variation: Using a computer program such as KID PIX 2 or KID PIX Studio, students develop a slide show to produce a movie in HyperCard format about the effects of chemical dependency on a family or individual. Drawing, sound narration, and transitions give a multimedia feel to the project.

 

·        PICTOGRAPH STORY: IMPACT OF ATODS - Tell students that the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs affects the lives of many people. Explain that a person does not have to be using the substances to be affected by them (e.g., a family member may use drugs). Direct students to think about the many ways ATODs impact a person’s life. Using these ideas, students create a pictograph story—a story using student-made drawings or pictures from magazines to illustrate key words and phrases. The story should depict ways in which people’s lives are impacted by ATOD use and abuse (e.g., car crashes, falls, fires, illness, time lost from work or school). Students exchange stories and provide positive feedback. Reinforce the message that help is available for people with substance abuse problems and for those affected by another person’s use.

Variation: Invite a representative from the Automobile Association of America (AAA) to speak about alcohol and traffic safety. Students incorporate information from the presentation into their pictograph story.