Foundation for a Drug-Free World
The Truth About Drugs
Teenagers hear many messages about drugs from advertisements, their peers, their teachers, and their parents. But who is lying? What is the truth? A thorough, thoughtful unit takes a purposeful look at drug education, drug culture, and...
Curated OER
Anger, Aggression and Adolescents
Learners examine the relationship between anger, aggression and teenagers. As a class, they share a difficult situation in their own lives and review the techniques to properly deal with it. In groups, they discuss how they feel about...
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
Relationships and Sexuality
Adolescence is a tumultuous time for the learners in your class. Guide them through the rocky world of friendships, risks, personal health, and emotional turmoil with a set of lessons about teenager relationships and sexuality.
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
Safety and Managing Risk
Teenagers love to take risks to test their personal boundaries, but many risks are too dangerous to try. The set of exercises in this packet teach your class about the ways they can stay safe and protect themselves while still having fun.
Childnet International
Crossing the Line: Sexting
Technology may be changing every day, but peer pressure remains difficult for teenagers to resist. After watching a video about feeling pressured to text provocative pictures, middle schoolers learn about the laws and school policy...
Curated OER
Food Preferences and Healthful Eating
Pupils discuss healthy eating habits. In this food preferences activity, students read a scenario about teenagers visiting a restaurant. Pupils role play the story and complete a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Puberty
Introduce the topic of puberty. This presentation breaks it down into bite-sized pieces: physical changes, mental changes, emotional changes, and social changes. There is some basic information in each section, which hopefully opens it...
Scholastic
Think it Through
What does the media tell the teenagers about using marijuana? Help class members decipher what they are being told about drug use with a lesson on editorial cartoons, subliminal messages, and critical thinking skills.
Scholastic
Marijuana Facts
Can marijuana really hurt you? Three medical facts and three discussion questions prompt teenagers to consider the ramifications of using marijuana recreationally.
Scholastic
Consider the Source
Who is more trustworthy when it comes to marijuana: a high school student, or The National Institute on Drug Abuse? Sources matter when reading informational text. Help teenagers discern which facts are true with an activity that focuses...
Scholastic
Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz
Teenagers get the real information about marijuana use based on the history of tobacco legislation and research. As they read an educational passage about marijuana laws, science, and changing attitudes, they address their preconceptions...
Curated OER
Puberty
Eighth graders participate in a whole group discussion about their thoughts and feelings surrounding puberty. Students watch a video and view slides in order to describe the bodily changes that occur during adolescence.
Curated OER
Reading Club: Sex Ed
If you teach health, sociology, ethics, or a class that addresses controversial issues, this resource related to schools' sex education programs may be useful. The New York Times' Learning Network provides a lengthy article on a unique...
Curated OER
A Generation of Couch Potatoes
Students examine their personal lifestyle to evaluate it for healthy activities. They calculate the time they spend on healthy activities and read about teenagers and their lifestyles.
Curated OER
Coming of Age with H.I.V.
Students explore and examine some of the issues facing HIV positive teenagers. They research the lives of HIV positive teenagers.
Curated OER
Nutrition Decision
High schoolers act as decision makers and research and determine the nutritional needs of young children, teenagers, and adults. They compile their findings in a nutrition portfolio. Class groups assume the role of hospital dietician and...
Curated OER
Is There a Doctor in the House?
Students research the answers to their own health-related questions, and evaluate the various sources from which this information comes after read "Teenagers Find Health Answers With a Click."
Curated OER
Redefining Addiction
Students study about how addiction can have both physiological and behavioral effects. They synthesize their knowledge by creating a sensitivity training session for counselors working with teenagers who are addicted to drugs.
Curated OER
Prescriptions for Disaster?
Students share opinions about prescription drugs and prepare public service campaigns to inform peers and adults about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Their ads also offer prevention techniques and possible methods of treatment.
Curated OER
This Is Your Brain on Pot
Students explore the causes and effects of marijuana addiction and research how THC affects different areas of the brain. They synthesize their knowledge by creating print advertisements that inform teenagers about the physiologic danger...
Curated OER
Puberty
Eighth graders describe the changes their body undergoes during puberty. For this health science lesson, 8th graders explain how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland play a major role in the process. They identify the different parts of...
Curated OER
Getting Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed Every Day?
Students explore the effects of sleep deprivation in teenagers and pose reasons why sleep may not be a priority in their own schedules. They make changes to afford more sleep and then evaluate the impact.
Curated OER
Debating the Over-the-Counter Sale of the "Morning After" Pill
Young scholars examine the controversy at the F.D.A over Plan B. They read an article, answer discussion questions, conduct research, role-play a panel of experts at a mock conference, and write a letter to the editor their own opinion...
Curated OER
The Affects of Hormones on Human Development
Students examine the types of changes they are experiencing during adolescence. As a class, they are introduced to the physical changes in men and women and discover the functions of various glands. In groups, they research the affect...