Drinks, Drugs and Choices

Kyla Clark

Professional School Counselor

MSUM Intern 1999-2000

South High School

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Description of the Lesson:

Drinks, Drugs and Choices is a series of classroom guidance lessons for middle school students (grades 6-8), which are intended to increase awareness of chemicals and chemical abuse.  The lessons emphasize making intelligent, informed choices, always taking into consideration the possible consequences of those choices.

A Sample Lesson:

Title: Wheel of Misfortune

Goal: Educate students about the variety of chemicals and the dangers associated with taking them.

Objective: Play the game Wheel of Misfortune

Materials Needed:  Chalkboard, Wheel of Misfortune wheel and instruction booklet.

Levels: 5 – 8

Procedure:

1. Divide the class into teams of 4 – 7 players.
2. For each turn, one team member spins the wheel.
3. This selects the type of drug about which two types of questions must be answered, and identification/effects question, and a values question.  (Questions are found in instruction booklet) 
4. Team members may confer with one another before answering a question.  If they answer the identification/effects question correctly, they immediately attempt to answer the values question.
5. After this question, play passes to the next team.  If the team members miss either question, other teams may attempt to answer if to gain extra points, but play then reverts to the original team, or to the next team in order if the original team has attempted both questions.
6. There are also “Wild Cards!” on the wheel, which represent situations where a team member mixes alcohol with another drug, or alcohol or drug use with driving.  These have a minus value, and in some cases may mean the team has to miss turns.  This represents time spent in jail or in the hospital.
7. Another component can be added to the game by having participants discuss what they think is the rationale behind the score allotted to each section of the value questions.  This can be done at the end of play to process the game

Connections to Related Standards, Competencies, and Domains:

Drinks, Drugs and Choices directly relates to Minnesota Graduation Standard Number 8 (Decision-Making Skills).  Specifically, the game Wheel of Misfortune is intended to increase students’ knowledge of chemicals and consequences of their use.  Discussion of values questions and point allotment serves as a tool for further investigation of the factors involved in decision-making.

Chemical awareness lessons such as this example relate to the Personal/Social developmental domain of the Minnesota School Counselor’s Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling.  The lesson promotes self-understanding by coupling follow-up values questions with general facts about chemicals.  There is also an emphasis on personal responsibilities and positive decision-making.

References and Resources:

The Wheel of Misfortune is a product of Health Edco, a division of WRS Group, Inc.  Waco, TX 76710.