Teacher Process
I'm No Dope. Say No to Drugs and Alcohol Webquest Activity
In its entirety, this webquest should take one class period (about 50 minutes). This activity is geared to be used for student in middle and high school. The purpose of this activity is encourage thoughts, discussion and awareness about the indicators of drug and alcohol abuse and the negative impact that drugs and alcohol have on students. Students will also have the opportunity to demonstrate their comprehensive writing skills during this lesson.
Introduction
To introduce the lesson the teacher will supervise a balloon experiement to demonstrate to the students the effects of substances on the body.
Method: Classroom
Time: 20 minutes plus discussion time
Materials:
*One balloon for each person, plus a few extras (use balloons of varying colors)
*Forty feet of rope or heavy string
*Whistle
*5 chairs
Activity: Set the activity up as if you were playing four square. The rope represents the four square lines. However, instead of the lines being on the floor, place chairs at each of the four ends and one in the middle of the four square design. Tying the rope to the chairs allows it to be about two feet off the ground.
Divide your group into four equal teams. explain that the object of this activity is to keep the balloon out of your square by hitting the balloon over the rope, counterclockwise into the next square using only thier open hand. If a balloon hits the floor before the whistle has blown, a player may pick the balloon up and slap it into the next square. You may have the participants stand, kneel or sit on the ground during this activity. The lower the position the more difficult the activity. However, have everyone do the same thing. Do not have some people standing, while others are sitting. After each round have the participants rotate positions within their own square so everyone gets an opportunity to hit lots of balloons.
Begin by dropping or hitting one balloon into the game area. The kids will continue to hit the balloon into the next square until you blow the whistle. When the whistle blows, there is not more hitting. The balloon will be allowed to settle into whatever square it chooses. The team that has the balloon land in its square is given a point. The low score wins in this game. Repeat this activity a few times. Each round should last about fifteen to twenty seconds.
Now make it more interesting. Add three more balloons. et each team start with a balloon in their square. The same rules apply as before except that one color balloon (of your choosing) is worth more points than any other color. The teams will want o be sure that this color is kept out of their square. After trying this a couple of times, keep adding balloons each round until you have more balloon than people.
The first few rounds the kids will be able to keep the balloons moving from square to square without too many problems. As you add balloons, the action will become hot and heavy. You will have now created a situation that is very similar to what takes place in the brain when drugs have caused it to become over stimulated.
Variation:Have then change directions when hitting the balloons. This can be done before the hitting starts or when you blow the whistle in the middle of a round. If you use the whistle to indicate a change of directions, then use two short whistles to indicate that the round is over and hitting is to stop. another option is to let them hit the balloons in any direction during the round. This really causes some great action.
Exercise 1
After the introduction the students will print a worksheet that will serve as a guide for the duration of the Webquest activity. The Webquest will have a link for this worksheet. Web Quest Guide Worksheet
After students have printed the worksheet, they will be directed to serveral anti-drug websites to review and gather information.
Next, students will use a link in the Webquest to visit a website that details the drug usage by state. The website lists in order of most popular, the drugs most frequently used. Students will be directed to create a bar graph showing the usage of ten (10) popular drugs in their state.
Exercise 2
The next exercise will allow students to express their personal thoughts and attitudes regarding drug and alcohol abuse. Students will view two (2) sets of photographs. The first set of photos depict the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. The second set of photos shows students in thriving, positive situations. Students will then write a five paragraph essay discussing the negative impacts of drug and acohol abuse and the ways students can excel staying drug free.
PHOTO SET #1
PHOTO SET #2
Students will also create an colorful illustration using the theme "I'm No Dope."
Exercise 3
As the final part of the activity students will create an "I'm No Dope" anti-drug and alcohol campaign book. The students will be directed to use the illustration as a cover and combine the bar graph, essay, guide worksheet and any additional, pertinent information obtained from the websites in the exercise into an anti-drug campaign book.
Conclusion
To pull the exercise together students will use a link in the Webquest to take a Zoomerang survey. This survey will give the students the opportunity to express their feelings regarding the usefulness of the Webquest.
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2265V2D8U55
Teacher Resources
The Webquest also contains an evaluation rubric for teachers to use to grade to evaluate the students completion of the Webquest.
Variations - Although the Webquest activity is designed for students to complete on an individual basis, depending on the availability of computers, students can be partnered with another student or work in small groups to complete the assignement.