On A Topic
General
One person is the sculptor the other person is clay. The sculptor sculpts the clay into a shape (a tree, a statue, a chicken etc.). At some point they shift. This would be good to apply this to tableaus. Have a group of people come up with a tableau and sculpt the other group into the tableau, then they switch. The tableaus could be related to the content of the workshop. ( create a tableau of some accepting drugs, now someone refusing… healthy activities and unhealthy ones etc.)
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Tableaus:
A tableau is a still picture that is created with people in a group. It’s as if someone came along and took a picture and the group then recreates that picture. usually a series of tableaus are created which shift into each other. For example:
Tableau 1 - A kid hanging with his friends
Tableau 2 - His friends start drinking
Tableau 3 - They offer him a drink
Tableau 4 - The kids walk away
Tableaus are a fun interactive way to get a message across. Use the sculptor and clay exercise above to lead into a tableau exercise.
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Pass the Story
You need paper and pens for this one. While sitting in a circle each person gets a piece of paper and pen. They then follow your direction on what to write. They are going to write a story. After each part everyone folds over the section they just wrote and passes it to the right for the person beside them to write the next section. An example story could be:
Part 1 - What is the main characters name? (Steve) What does he like to do? (Steve Like to play soccer)
Part 2 - The main character is somewhere.(He is at the video store) Someone offers him something. (an X-rated movie)
Part 3 - What does the main character do? what happens? (he eats it. It was tasty)
Part 4 - how does the story end (ride off into the sunset etc.)
You can relate the story to whatever the focus of the workshop is.
Nutrition
Divide the participants into teams. Lay out a bunch of ingredients on the table. Tell the teams that they have a short period of time to create a dessert using only those ingredients. Tell them that they will be judged on how it looks as well as how it tastes. Start the timer. After the time is up have one person from each team go around and try the desserts and give them a rating from 1-10. After the winner has been announced let everyone eat all the desserts. Fun game that could involve a nutrition lesson (how many calories, how many servings of fruit, etc.)
Alcohol & Drugs
Get some brooms. put one end of the broom on your forehead and the other end on the ground. Run around the broom in a circle. When you feel good and dizzy stand up and try to walk an obstacle course. You could make this a race or a tag game too. I was told this is what it’s like when you are drunk!
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Positives and Negatives (30 minutes)
Description: A frank and open discussion about what is good about drinking and drugs and what are some downsides.
Rating: I would use this exercise near the end of an Alcohol & Drugs section of a workshop. It is a good close and leaves the group with something to think about. I would pair it with the “Healthy Alternatives” lesson plan with this one first.
Goals: - To recognize the “positive” and “negative” aspects of alcohol intake and drug use.
- To compare the two aspects and see which one outwieghs the other
- To develop alternative options in order to gain the same positive aspects.
Materials Needed: A big piece of paper or whiteboard. Writing materials.
Procedure:
Step 1: Introduce the “positive” aspects by asking why people do drugs and drink. Maybe write down a few examples such as “fitting in” or “escaping boredom”. Write down any suggestions from the group.
Step 2: Ask about the downsides to drugs and alcohol. make sure to include health as well as social risks. Write down suggestions from the group.
Step 3: Take a look at the “positive” and “negative” aspects. Have the group compare the two lists and see if all the “negative” aspects make the “positive” aspects worthwhile. (is it ok to ruin your immune system in order to fit in). It is important not to preach. Allow the group to make their own conclusions. Keep this discussion very open.
Step 4: Take another look at the “positive” list and ask if there are any ways to achieve these without resorting to drugs and alcohol. For example to escape boredom you could start a sports team instead of drinking. Write down suggestions from the group.
Step 5: Close with a discussion about why people still do drugs when you can achieve the “positive” results in different ways. Talk about recreational use vs. addictive use. We aren’t saying “stop doing drugs, drugs will kill you”. We are just trying to show that there are others ways to have fun. Life doesn’t have to revolve around the next party.
Evaluation: Through this excercise the group should:
- have weighed the “positive” and “negative” aspects of drug and alcohol use.
- Come to their own conclusions if it is worth it.
- develop a list of healthy alternatives.
- Know that they don’t always need to go down the drug & alcohol route.
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Healthy Alternatives (60 minutes)
Description: To illustrate and create action plans based around alternatives to drug and alcohol consumption
Rating: This should be done near the end of the workshop. It could be done in conjunction with the Positive and Negative Lesson Plan.
Goals:
- To illustrate healthy alternatives to drug and alcohol consumption
- To create an action plans to address drug and alcohol issues
- To get the group to set goals
Materials Needed: Large paper to write on, paper to hand out, writing utensils. (worksheet?)
Procedure:
Step 1: Start talking about interests. What are the members of the group interested in? Soccer? Guitar? Painting? Write these down on a list.
Step 2: Talk about healthy alternatives to drug and alcohol consumption. Have a discussion on how their interests could help curb the need to party (get rid of boredom). Ask for more activities that they could get other people involved in.
Step 3: Break into smaller groups (depending on how large the original group is). Have them brainstorm an activity that interests them. Get them to write out: * What it is
* What do they need to make it happen
* What are the benefits of it happening
Step 3: Introduce the idea of setting long and short term goals in order to make their even happen. Use an example (A soccer tournament) to show examples of goals. Long Term Goal: Have a Yukon Wide soccer tournament. Short term goals: Get funding, get equipment, get a space. Under each short term goal get them to write down what they need to do to make that goal happen. It might be fundraising or talking to other members of the community.
Step 4: Now that they have a plan it is up to them to make it happen. Hand out the “Escape Boredom” books and point out the page where you can receive funding. Explain that if they really want to accomplish what they want to do all it takes is following through with each goal. A little hard work and they can do whatever they want. Suggest setting up meetings so that they can get together and focus on the idea more. See if they can incorporate and anti-drug/alcohol message into the event.
Evaluation: In this Lesson Plan the group will:
- Have a plan that they can continue to initiate
- Learn about setting goals
- become motivated with a common goal
- curb their boredom by working towards something
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Public Service Announcement
Description: The group will view a variety of different anti-drug and alcohol advertisements. They will discuss what makes them effective/ineffective and then will create on of their own.
Rating: This is a full day activity. Should be done on the second day of a three day workshop. It could be cut down to a half day if you don’t include the video aspect.
Goals:
- To create a fun an interesting activity that relates to drug/alcohol consumption.
- To allow the group to explore the topic themselves without holding their hand
- To open discussion on anti-drug and alcohol initiatives
Materials Needed:
- A TV with a vcr or a computer
- Anti-Drug/Alcohol Advertisements:
http://www.mediacampaign.org/mg/television.html - TV Ads
http://www.mediacampaign.org/mg/print.html - Print Ads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSIZQRi4M6c - The Snake (funny)
- Magazines
- Craft supplies
- Video Camera
- Computer with iMovie and internet connection
Procedure:
Step 1 (15 minutes): Ask the group what commercials or print ads form anti-drugs/alcohol have they seen? Did they like them? What did/didn’t they like?
Step 2 (45-60 minutes): Show commercials and pass around the print ads. After each one ask what they though was effective about the ad. What didn’t work? What would you change? Why?
Step 3: Explain to them that they will be making their own anti-drug/alcohol ad (If it’s a big group split them into smaller groupings). This can be a commercial, a print ad, a radio spot, anything they want it to be. It can involve anything they want. They have complete creative control.
Step 4(60 minutes): Have a brianstorming session where you think up ideas for the ad. maybe do storyboard for a commercial. Come up with a slogan. etc. Have them do some online research on the drug they choose or on alcohol. It is very easy to find some good information with a google search. Get them to check multiple sources for the best info.
Step 5(2-5 hours): The group then builds the ad. If it is a video ad they will need to edit the footage. It is good to have someone there who knows how to use iMovie (it’s fairly simple software) this will speed up the editing process.
Step 6(60 minutes): After the ads are complete have a presentation (can be done the next day). If done in one big group maybe suggest that they do an entire ad campaign using a commercial and a print ad with a common slogan and message. Maybe invite some special guests to view the ads. Have the groups explain why they made the ad the way they did.
Step 7(30 minutes): Have a closing discussion. Talk about the new ads compared to the ones on tv. What makes their ad more effective? Maybe offer to send them a dvd of their ad. Also talk about maybe getting the ad on tv (the community channel?). Maybe do some research on film competitions they can enter etc,
Evaluation: In this Lesson Plan the group would know:
- how to build an anti-drug/alcohol ad
- What makes those ads effective
- why some of them aren’t effective
- How to edit video
- more about drugs and alcohol