TITLE:     SUBSTANCE ABUSE INFLUENCES

AUTHOR:     Donna B. Furtado, Richfield Elementary, Richfield, Idaho

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:     4-6    Science,  Substance Abuse

OVERVIEW:  There is no other area in the schools today that
commands more public attention than that of substance use and
abuse. This particular activity shows that substance abuse
education is more effective if it focuses on processes of decision
making rather than problems.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:
    1.  Identify external and internal influences that affect one's
choice of behavior.

    2.  Learn that external influences include  influences outside
ourselves: environment, family, and friends.

    3.  Learn that internal influences means determinants within
ourselves, and that this is based on our values and beliefs.

    4.  Understand the impact of a variety of influences that exert
themselves on a daily basis.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  Real cookies needed for this activity.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Ask for five volunteers from the class prior to activity and explain
role play to the volunteers.  Have them sit around a table upon which
is placed a plate holding "wellness" cookies.  Distribute previously
prepared instruction sheets to the five students.  Tell them not to
show the instructions to anyone else. Three of the volunteers
(#1,#2,#3) will get instructions that read, "?Take one wellness
cookie, eat it slowly, and try to persuade everyone else at the table
to eat a cookie."  The fourth volunteer (#4) will get instructions
that say "Wait two minutes, then take a cookie." The last volunteer's
(#5) instructions will read, "Do not take a cookie, no matter what." 
After five minutes, ask students these questions: see (TYING IT ALL
TOGETHER)

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
    1.  Ask person #5: How did you feel being pressured to do
something you were told not to do?

    2.  Ask person #4:  How did you feel about giving in?

    3.  Ask person #5: How did you feel when the person gave in?

    4.  Ask persons #1,#2,#3:  How did you feel persuading others?

    5.  Ask all:  Who makes your decisions?

    6.  Use this activity to introduce a first unit on Substance Abuse.