K-5 Prevention Lessons Parent Information with Follow-Up Questions
Dear Parents,
Wewant you to know what your child(ren) will be learning during P.E. on Thursday. Here is the latest information on the spring lessons with follow-up questions and answers to reinforce their learning. Thank YOU!
All K-5 students receive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention education lessons twice a year as part of Leander ISD’s health goals and state health TEKS.
The K-4th grade lessons are taught by the campus PE teacher on the topics of drug awareness and refusal skills related to medication safety, alcohol, and refusal skills.
The 5th grade lesson is taught by the Student and Family Support Team (SFST) coordinator or the campus PE teacher. A review will be done of all of the K-5 lesson topics including marijuana, alcohol, tobacco products (including vaping), medication safety and refusal skills.
When a video clip was used in the lesson, the link is included below.
If you would like to see the PowerPoint that accompanies the lesson, please contact Tammie Guthrie.
Follow-up questions at home are very helpful for reinforcing the learning in the classroom. Below is a short list of follow-up questions you may want to use with your child(ren). Feel free to ask them more questions.
K & 1st grade - Is it safe or dangerous? Medicine Safety and more! (Continuation from the Fall lessons)
Video clip used in the Fall and review STOP! Ask First song in the spring: STOP! Ask First! Actual link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZO-drzD1_M
What were some things that you reviewed in the lesson that were safe? (Answer: food: milk, apples, sandwiches, cereal, fruits and vegetables, tacos, pancakes.)
What were some things in the lesson that were dangerous to you? (Answer: medicine, cleaning products, drinks with alcohol in them.)
Why do you need to stop and ask first before you smell, touch, or pick up something when you do not know what it is? (Answer: It might not be good for you. It might be dangerous or poisonous.)
Some things might look alike, but they are not. Some medicine can look like candy. Who do you need to ask before taking any medicine? (Answer: Ask an adult first. Never take medicine on your own.)
2nd grade - Alcohol & Refusal Skills
What is alcohol? (Answer: Alcohol is a drink for grown-ups/people over age 21 that can cause kids to make bad decisions.)
How does alcohol affect the brain? (Answer: It slows it down and makes it harder to think, feel, and act normally.)
Role play with your child(ren) how to refuse an offer of alcohol or if they are in any kind of unhealthy or unsafe situation (**See Role Play Refusal Skill Process below.)
3rd grade - Alcohol & Refusal Skills
What is alcohol? (Answer: Alcohol is a drink for grown-ups/people over age 21 that can cause kids to make bad decisions.)
What are some reasons to not drink before age 21? (Answer: you can get sick to your stomach and throw up; you can have memory problems; learning new things is hard; and you may have problems with alcohol later in life.)
Role play with your child(ren) how to refuse an offer of alcohol or if they are in any kind of unhealthy or unsafe situation. (**See Role Play Refusal Skill Process below.)
4th grade - Alcohol & Refusal Skills Video: Ask. Listen. Learn - How Alcohol Affects Your Developing Brain 3:37 - Scroll down page to a green box on the left with a brain wearing a baseball cap https://asklistenlearn.org/teachers/teaching-effects-alcohol-brain/
***There are parent resources on the asklistenlearn.org website and more brain videos.***
Why is alcohol called a gateway drug? (Answer: Because if you use alcohol before age 21, it can lead to using other drugs.)
There are many reasons people use alcohol, such as to deal with stress, escape problems, or relax. What are some better ways to deal with problems? (Answer: Take a walk, talk to a friend, journal, exercise, meditate, enjoy nature, and more.)
Role play with your child(ren) how to refuse an offer of alcohol or if they are in any kind of unhealthy or unsafe situation. (**See Role Play Refusal Skill Process below.)
5th grade - A Review of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, Medication Safety & Refusal Skills
What are some of your goals and dreams? What do you want to do in life?
What would change in your life and with your goals and dreams if you started using tobacco products, alcohol, or other drugs? (Answer: for example their relationships with family, and friends, getting in trouble at school or home, mood changes, trouble with school work, etc.)
What would you say or do if someone offered you a cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, or alcohol? (Answer: Say No!, No thanks! I don’t want to drink or vape or smoke marijuana. Stop asking me! It’s illegal. We could get into trouble. Let’s go do something else. Walk away if necessary. See **refusal skills process below for details.)
Role play with your child(ren) how to refuse cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol and other drugs or if they are in any kind of unhealthy or unsafe situation (**See Role Play Refusal Skill Process below.)
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**Roleplay Refusal Skill Process - practice using the S.T.O.P. method to be ready to say NO! In any unhealthy or unsafe situation:
“S” - SAY NO in a firm voice with good eye contact. (Look directly at the person asking, say No,! No, thank you. I don’t want to smoke.)
“T” - TELL them why you refuse to be pressured. (It’s illegal, harmful, and/or against the rules. Make an excuse: I can’t. I’d be grounded for life.)
“O” - OFFER other ideas or positive suggestions of alternative activities. (Let’s go do...something else)
“P” PROMPTLY leave the situation if necessary. (Turn and walk away. I’m out of here. This isn’t right. If you change your mind, I’ll be at the basketball courts….)
