Standard of Learning

6.4 The student will analyze the consequences of personal choices on health and wellness. Key concepts/skills include:

1. the connection between personal actions, self-image and personal success;
2. the importance of accepting responsibility for personal actions;
3. the use of resistance skills to avoid violence, gangs, weapons, and drugs;
4. identification and avoidance of risk-taking behaviors.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand the importance of accepting responsibility for their actions.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define responsibility.
• list individual responsibilities.
• provide examples of those who avoid responsibilities.
• define and explain responsible behaviors.
• determine importance of accepting responsibility:
  • reinforces respect for self and others;
  • increases accountability;
  • avoids blaming others for own mistakes; and
  • indicates a person of good character.

Sample Lessons

Discovery Education: Reality Matters, Big Decisions
Grade(s) 6-8
As the lesson goes on students will learn about influences of health, choices, and risk taking.  The middle-schoolers will be able to gain this knowledge by role-playing and answering questions amongst one another.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/bigDecisions/
Free

Group Rope Squares
Grades 5-12
This lesson will further reinforce group cohesion and communication skills as well as problem solving and cooperation. In teaching a drug prevention program, it is important to introduce activities like this that illustrate to students that Together they can help solve each other's problems, depend on one another, and communicate their needs to others.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – substance abuse prevention)
Free

Healthy B.A.S.I.C.S. Lesson Plan: "What to do when I’m Angry"
Grade(s) 6-8
Students will define anger as a normal emotion, then will list three behaviors that show when anger is out of control.  After finishing both of these activities the students will describe three positive ways to deal with anger.
http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/publications/HBLPanger.pdf
Free

Intel Education: "Don't Trash the Earth"
Grade(s) 6-8
In this lesson students learn how they can be a part of helping the environment and what their responsibility in doing so is.  Students will find a local area where they have places for individuals to place recyclable items.  In a final show of social responsibility, student entrepreneurs turn trash into treasure as they divert materials from the waste stream and turn them into attractive merchandise they sell at a holiday business fair.
http://www97.intel.com/en/ProjectDesign/UnitPlanIndex/DontTrashEarth/
Free

LifeSkills Training
Grades: 6-8
Model substance abuse prevention and competency enhancement program focusing on the major social and psychological factors causing substance use and abuse. Teaches drug resistance skills, personal management skills, and general social skills. Includes self-image, self-improvement, decision-making, anger management, assertiveness, communication, media, and conflict resolution issues.
Contact: http://www.lifeskillstraining.com
Cost

"Making Decisions"
Grade(s) 4-6
Children in grades 4-6 can learn to make decisions other than by default, by whim or chance, on the basis of emotions, or because of influence from others.  This lesson helps children develop tools that they can use in a variety of situations requiring decisions. When this approach is practiced and becomes familiar, it can provide a way for children to decide not to use drugs and or make other harmful choices in life.
http://www.sodat.org/Lesson%20Plan%204-6.htm
Free

Project Towards No Tobacco Use (TNT)
Grades 5-10
Model program to prevent or reduce tobacco use in youth. Ten core and 2 booster lessons. Includes effective refusal and coping skills; effects of media and advertisers; methods to build self-esteem; and strategies for advocating no tobacco use.
Sponsor: Department of Preventive Medicine, USC
Contact: http://www.etr.org
Cost

Social Emotional Learning Lesson
Grade(s) 5-8
Students will learn to recognize own anger and develop appropriate responses
http://www.dist102.k12.il.us/internal/SELWebPg/COP5-8Oregon.htm
Free

Substance Abuse Influences
Grades: 4-6
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.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – substance abuse prevention)
Free

Teaching Values: Self Determination
Grades: 4-6
This lesson will help students understand the value of self-determination. It demonstrates this value through role play.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – mental health)
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Accepting Personal Responsibility - http://www.coping.org/growth/accept.htm
• Accepting Responsibility - http://www.bridgework.org/accept_respons.htm
• Accepting Responsibility for Your Feelings - http://www.mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/chap13/chap13g.htm
• Character Education Resources
• Exercise & Lifestyle Choices – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (health & fitness 6-8)
• Guidance Counselors
• Health Textbooks
• Life Skills Program
• Responsibility - http://www.bridgework.org/nb_synopsis.htm

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• role-play situations in which individuals take responsibility for their actions.
• list qualities of friends and family members who take responsibility for their actions.
• list examples of situations in which they took responsibility for their actions.

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