Prevention Series
Prevention Series is a targeted, health and wellness curriculum that educates secondary learners from Grade 6 through High School about the effects of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances. The series instills healthy habits and teaches students about positive actions for physical, intellectual, social, and emotional health for whole-self development. Students immerse themselves in the valuable lessons of two compelling storylines: “Dream Wake,” which depicts a story about harmful decisions, consequences, and fading dreams, and “Escape from the Shadow,” a reader's theater allegorical play about harmful habits and their cumulative impact on each dimension of the self.
In Unit 1, students are introduced to the relationship between self-concept and substance use. They examine the role of the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings about Self Circle as a prevention strategy against harmful substances. The story “Dream Wake” commences, and students are introduced to Greg and Marie as the two characters unravel the events that lead to the death of Greg's dreams. Meanwhile, students read the play, “Escape from the Shadow,” and follow the journey of Scott, David, and Lincoln—three young friends who discover a strange Shadow in the woods with a dangerous secret. Students enjoy the “Climb to Dreams” poster, “I Have a Dream” bookmark, “Hold on to Dreams!” music, and many more activities.
In Unit 2, students discover the adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on physical, intellectual, and emotional health. Learners are introduced to harmful facts about various substances, including cannabis, opioids, and others. Demonstrative activities and experiments take the learning of the core concepts to the next level. Through the “Drug Facts Crossword Puzzle,” “Take the Challenge Game,” and “Vital Signs Experiments”, students learn more about the harm of substances to their overall health and decision-making.
In Unit 3, the unit examines the harmful effects of substance abuse on self-management and self-concept. Learners discover prevention strategies to avoid substance abuse by exercising independence through responsibility and self-control. Unit 4 examines how substance use is detrimental to intra- and interpersonal relationships. Learners discover strategies to resist peer pressure to use alcohol and other drugs. Engaging materials such as “Break the Negative Code,” “Declaring My Independence,” and “Substance-Free Policy” Activity Sheets, and more reinforced the importance of positive actions and the dangers of substances.
In Unit 5, the lesson emphasizes that substance abuse negatively affects self-honesty. It examines how denial, signs of alcohol or other drugs, and media influence relate to substance use. Students understand the importance of telling themselves the truth to improve their health habits. The materials “I Tell Myself the Truth” bookmark and the “The Signs of Alcohol and Other Substance Use” poster teach students how being informed and honest about substance risks helps them make healthy choices and reach their dreams. In Unit 6, the series establishes alcohol and other drugs as a hindrance to self-improvement. It demonstrates how a positive self-concept serves as an invaluable tool in preventing substance use. To demonstrate this, students learn about the Saltwater and Fresh Water analogy.
In Unit 7, the lessons expose the path of alcohol or other substance use from experimentation to addiction and reinforce the positive action of preventing alcohol or other substance use. Students complete the “Stages of Substance Use and Misuse” Activity Sheet and play the “Choices and Consequences” Game. The final chapter of “Dream Wake” and the final act of “Escape from the Shadow” bring forth an important realization to students: negative health choices and habits have grave consequences to physical, intellectual, social, and emotional health. At the end of the unit, students carry out the “Dream Big and Live Healthy!” Celebration.
Prevention Series is a targeted, health and wellness curriculum that educates secondary learners from Grade 6 through High School about the effects of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances. The series instills healthy habits and teaches students about positive actions for physical, intellectual, social, and emotional health for whole-self development. Students immerse themselves in the valuable lessons of two compelling storylines: “Dream Wake,” which depicts a story about harmful decisions, consequences, and fading dreams, and “Escape from the Shadow,” a reader's theater allegorical play about harmful habits and their cumulative impact on each dimension of the self.
In Unit 1, students are introduced to the relationship between self-concept and substance use. They examine the role of the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings about Self Circle as a prevention strategy against harmful substances. The story “Dream Wake” commences, and students are introduced to Greg and Marie as the two characters unravel the events that lead to the death of Greg's dreams. Meanwhile, students read the play, “Escape from the Shadow,” and follow the journey of Scott, David, and Lincoln—three young friends who discover a strange Shadow in the woods with a dangerous secret. Students enjoy the “Climb to Dreams” poster, “I Have a Dream” bookmark, “Hold on to Dreams!” music, and many more activities.
In Unit 2, students discover the adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on physical, intellectual, and emotional health. Learners are introduced to harmful facts about various substances, including cannabis, opioids, and others. Demonstrative activities and experiments take the learning of the core concepts to the next level. Through the “Drug Facts Crossword Puzzle,” “Take the Challenge Game,” and “Vital Signs Experiments”, students learn more about the harm of substances to their overall health and decision-making.
In Unit 3, the unit examines the harmful effects of substance abuse on self-management and self-concept. Learners discover prevention strategies to avoid substance abuse by exercising independence through responsibility and self-control. Unit 4 examines how substance use is detrimental to intra- and interpersonal relationships. Learners discover strategies to resist peer pressure to use alcohol and other drugs. Engaging materials such as “Break the Negative Code,” “Declaring My Independence,” and “Substance-Free Policy” Activity Sheets, and more reinforced the importance of positive actions and the dangers of substances.
In Unit 5, the lesson emphasizes that substance abuse negatively affects self-honesty. It examines how denial, signs of alcohol or other drugs, and media influence relate to substance use. Students understand the importance of telling themselves the truth to improve their health habits. The materials “I Tell Myself the Truth” bookmark and the “The Signs of Alcohol and Other Substance Use” poster teach students how being informed and honest about substance risks helps them make healthy choices and reach their dreams. In Unit 6, the series establishes alcohol and other drugs as a hindrance to self-improvement. It demonstrates how a positive self-concept serves as an invaluable tool in preventing substance use. To demonstrate this, students learn about the Saltwater and Fresh Water analogy.
In Unit 7, the lessons expose the path of alcohol or other substance use from experimentation to addiction and reinforce the positive action of preventing alcohol or other substance use. Students complete the “Stages of Substance Use and Misuse” Activity Sheet and play the “Choices and Consequences” Game. The final chapter of “Dream Wake” and the final act of “Escape from the Shadow” bring forth an important realization to students: negative health choices and habits have grave consequences to physical, intellectual, social, and emotional health. At the end of the unit, students carry out the “Dream Big and Live Healthy!” Celebration.
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