Standards Alignment
- TEKS.HEALTH.3.17A primary
describe how friends can influence a person's decision to use or not use alcohol or drugs; and - TEKS.HEALTH.3.17B primary
describe the difference between reporting and tattling and why it is important to report the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by friends or peers.
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Lesson Overview
This Grade 3 health education lesson helps students understand how friends can influence decisions about using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. It also clarifies the difference between reporting and tattling, emphasizing why it is important to report substance use by friends or peers. The lesson uses real-life examples, role play, and discussion to build students' skills in making healthy choices and seeking help when needed.
Learning Objectives
- Explain how friends can influence a person's decision to use or not use alcohol or drugs.
- Describe the difference between reporting and tattling.
- Explain why it is important to report the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by friends or peers.
Success Criteria
- Students can give examples of how friends might influence decisions about substance use.
- Students can clearly explain what reporting means and how it differs from tattling.
- Students can explain why reporting substance use is important for safety and health.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should understand basic concepts of friendship and peer influence, and have prior experience discussing healthy and unhealthy behaviors.
Key Vocabulary
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Drugs
- Peer influence
- Reporting
- Tattling
- Healthy choices
- Substance use
Materials and Resources
- Scenario cards describing peer situations involving alcohol, tobacco, or drugs
- Chart paper or whiteboard
- Markers
- Role-play props (optional)
Teacher Preparation
- Prepare scenario cards illustrating different peer influence situations.
- Review definitions of reporting and tattling with examples.
- Set up a safe and respectful classroom environment for discussion and role play.
Detailed Lesson Notes
Peer Influence on Decisions About Substance Use
Friends and peers can have a strong impact on a person's choices, including whether to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. This influence can be positive, encouraging healthy decisions, or negative, encouraging risky behaviors. For example, a friend might encourage someone to try a cigarette, or they might support a friend in saying no to drugs. Understanding this influence helps students recognize when they are being pressured and how to make their own healthy choices.
Difference Between Reporting and Tattling
Reporting means telling a trusted adult about a serious concern, such as a friend using alcohol or drugs, to keep everyone safe. Tattling usually means telling on someone to get them in trouble for minor issues. Teaching students the difference helps them understand that reporting is important for health and safety, not just to get someone in trouble. Reporting helps adults provide help and protect friends from harm.
Why Reporting Substance Use Is Important
When students report that a friend or peer is using alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, adults can step in to provide support and keep everyone safe. Reporting can prevent harm and help friends get the help they need. It is an act of care and responsibility, not betrayal. Students should feel safe and supported when they choose to report.
Role Play and Discussion Strategies
Use role play scenarios where students practice responding to peer pressure and deciding when to report substance use. Discuss feelings and reasons behind choices. Encourage respectful listening and empathy. Reinforce that making healthy choices and seeking help are signs of strength.
Worked Examples
Worked Example 1
Scenario
A student’s friend offers them a cigarette and says, "Come on, everyone is doing it!" How might the friend be influencing the student’s decision? What could the student do?
Explanation
The friend is using peer pressure to encourage the student to try smoking, which is a risky behavior. The student can recognize this influence and choose to say no, explaining that they do not want to use tobacco. This shows understanding of peer influence and making healthy choices.
Answer Guide
The friend is pressuring the student to try smoking. The student can say no and explain they don’t want to smoke.
Worked Example 2
Scenario
A student sees a friend using alcohol and feels worried. What is the difference between tattling and reporting in this situation?
Explanation
Tattling would be telling an adult just to get the friend in trouble without concern for safety. Reporting means telling a trusted adult because the friend’s alcohol use could be harmful and the adult can help. Reporting is important to keep friends safe.
Answer Guide
Tattling is telling to get someone in trouble. Reporting is telling to keep the friend safe and get help.
Engage
Teacher Activity
Introduce the topic by asking students if they have ever felt pressured by friends to do something they didn't want to do. Share a simple story about a friend influencing a decision about trying something new.
Student Activity
Students share their own experiences or thoughts about peer pressure in small groups or pairs.
Explanation
This activity helps students connect personally to the idea that friends can influence decisions, setting the stage for learning about substance use influences.
Examples
- Students share examples of peer influence.
- Students recognize both positive and negative influences from friends.
Explore
Teacher Activity
Present different scenarios on cards where a friend is either encouraging or discouraging the use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Have students discuss in groups what they would do in each situation.
Student Activity
In groups, students read scenarios and decide how to respond to peer influence, practicing saying no or seeking help.
Explanation
This activity allows students to explore real-life situations and practice healthy decision-making skills related to substance use.
Examples
- Students identify healthy responses to peer pressure.
- Students recognize when it is important to ask for help.
Explain
Teacher Activity
Define and explain the difference between reporting and tattling. Use examples to illustrate why reporting substance use is important for safety and health.
Student Activity
Students discuss examples of reporting versus tattling and explain why reporting is helpful.
Explanation
Clarifying these terms helps students understand their role in keeping themselves and their friends safe.
Examples
- Students can distinguish between tattling and reporting.
- Students understand the importance of reporting substance use.
Elaborate
Teacher Activity
Lead role play activities where students practice reporting substance use in a respectful and responsible way. Discuss feelings and outcomes of reporting.
Student Activity
Students role play telling a trusted adult about a friend's substance use and discuss how it helps.
Explanation
Role play builds confidence and skills for real-life situations where reporting is needed.
Examples
- Students demonstrate respectful reporting behavior.
- Students express understanding of the positive impact of reporting.
Evaluate
Teacher Activity
Ask students to explain how friends can influence decisions about alcohol or drugs and to describe the difference between reporting and tattling.
Student Activity
Students write or share orally examples of peer influence and explain why reporting substance use is important.
Explanation
This assessment checks students' understanding of key concepts and their ability to apply them.
Examples
- Students provide accurate examples and explanations.
- Students demonstrate understanding of reporting importance.
Classroom Activity
In groups, students read scenarios and decide how to respond to peer influence, practicing saying no or seeking help.
Guided Practice
Guided Practice 1
Prompt
What is one way a friend can influence your decision about using drugs or alcohol?
Teacher Answer Guide
A friend can encourage you to try drugs or alcohol, or they can support you in saying no.
Guided Practice 2
Prompt
Explain the difference between reporting and tattling.
Teacher Answer Guide
Reporting is telling a trusted adult about something serious to keep people safe, while tattling is telling to get someone in trouble for small things.
Guided Practice 3
Prompt
If you see a friend using tobacco, what should you do and why?
Teacher Answer Guide
You should tell a trusted adult (report) because it can help keep your friend safe and get them help if needed.
Guided Practice 4
Prompt
Why might some students feel scared to report a friend’s use of alcohol or drugs? How can you encourage them?
Teacher Answer Guide
Students might fear hurting their friend or being seen as a tattletale. Encourage them by explaining that reporting is about safety and caring, not getting someone in trouble.
Guided Practice 5
Prompt
Create a short role play where one student offers drugs and the other practices saying no and reporting. What are important things to include?
Teacher Answer Guide
Include clear refusal of the offer, explaining why they say no, and a respectful way to tell a trusted adult about the situation to keep everyone safe.
Independent Practice
- Foundational: What is one way a friend can influence your decision about using drugs or alcohol?
- Developing: Explain the difference between reporting and tattling.
- Application: If you see a friend using tobacco, what should you do and why?
- Analysis: Why might some students feel scared to report a friend’s use of alcohol or drugs? How can you encourage them?
- Challenge: Create a short role play where one student offers drugs and the other practices saying no and reporting. What are important things to include?
Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key
- 1. A friend can encourage you to try drugs or alcohol, or they can support you in saying no.
- 2. Reporting is telling a trusted adult about something serious to keep people safe, while tattling is telling to get someone in trouble for small things.
- 3. You should tell a trusted adult (report) because it can help keep your friend safe and get them help if needed.
- 4. Students might fear hurting their friend or being seen as a tattletale. Encourage them by explaining that reporting is about safety and caring, not getting someone in trouble.
- 5. Include clear refusal of the offer, explaining why they say no, and a respectful way to tell a trusted adult about the situation to keep everyone safe.
Guiding Questions
- How can friends influence your choices about alcohol or drugs?
- What is the difference between reporting and tattling?
- Why is it important to report if a friend is using substances?
Common Misconceptions
- Tattling and reporting are the same thing.
- Friends only influence you to do bad things.
- Reporting a friend means you are not a good friend.
Differentiation
Support and Intervention
Use simple language and examples when explaining peer influence. Provide sentence starters for describing reporting and tattling. Use visual aids to show differences between reporting and tattling.
English-Language Learner Support
Use pictures and role play to explain peer pressure and reporting. Pre-teach key vocabulary with visuals. Pair ELL students with supportive peers for discussions.
Advanced and Extension
Have students create their own scenarios about peer influence and reporting. Encourage students to write a short story about making healthy choices. Discuss how community resources can help with substance use problems.
Assessment
- Observe student participation in discussions and role plays.
- Ask students to explain peer influence and reporting during class.
- Use exit tickets where students write one thing they learned about reporting.
- Write one way friends can influence your decisions about alcohol or drugs.
- Explain why it is important to report if a friend is using drugs.
- Describe the difference between reporting and tattling.
- Create a poster showing how to say no to drugs and when to report.
- Write a paragraph explaining how friends can influence decisions about substance use.
Answer Guide
- What is one way a friend can influence your decision about using drugs or alcohol?
Answer: A friend can encourage you to try drugs or alcohol, or they can support you in saying no. - Explain the difference between reporting and tattling.
Answer: Reporting is telling a trusted adult about something serious to keep people safe, while tattling is telling to get someone in trouble for small things. - If you see a friend using tobacco, what should you do and why?
Answer: You should tell a trusted adult (report) because it can help keep your friend safe and get them help if needed. - Why might some students feel scared to report a friend’s use of alcohol or drugs? How can you encourage them?
Answer: Students might fear hurting their friend or being seen as a tattletale. Encourage them by explaining that reporting is about safety and caring, not getting someone in trouble. - Create a short role play where one student offers drugs and the other practices saying no and reporting. What are important things to include?
Answer: Include clear refusal of the offer, explaining why they say no, and a respectful way to tell a trusted adult about the situation to keep everyone safe.
Real-Life Application
Ask students to talk with their family about how friends can influence decisions and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they see someone using alcohol or drugs.
Homework or Home Connection
- Ask students to talk with their family about how friends can influence decisions and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they see someone using alcohol or drugs.
Lesson Summary
Students learned that friends can influence decisions about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in both positive and negative ways. They practiced recognizing peer pressure and making healthy choices. The lesson clarified the difference between reporting and tattling, emphasizing that reporting substance use is important for safety and helping friends. Through discussion and role play, students built skills to say no to risky behaviors and seek help when needed.
Teacher Notes
Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.