Grade 5 Life Skills – Understanding Substance Abuse and its Effects on Health

Lesson Plan Title: Grade 5 Life Skills – Understanding Substance Abuse and Its Effects on Health


1. Materials Needed

  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Chart paper and markers
  • Printed fact sheets about common substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, drugs)
  • Role-play cards (scenarios related to peer pressure and substance use)
  • Age-appropriate video clips illustrating the effects of substance abuse
  • Projector (for video clips)
  • Evaluative worksheets for reflection
  • Local helpline contact numbers and support resources

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:
– Define substance abuse and identify common substances.
– Recognize the effects of substance abuse on physical and mental health.
– Communicate the risks associated with substance use and develop strategies to resist peer pressure.
– Reflect on personal values and choices regarding substance use, fostering a healthy lifestyle.


3. Vocabulary

  • Substance Abuse
  • Addiction
  • Health
  • Peer Pressure
  • Consequences
  • Support Systems

4. Previous Learning

Learners should already have an understanding of basic health concepts, including:
– The importance of making healthy choices.
– Recognizing safe and unsafe behaviors.
– Understanding friendship and social interactions.


5. Anticipated Challenges and Solutions

  • Challenge: Learners may have preconceived notions or personal experiences with substances.
    • Solution: Create a safe and respectful classroom environment that promotes open discussion, reassuring learners that sharing thoughts or questions is welcome.
  • Challenge: Some learners may struggle with the emotional aspects of substance abuse.
    • Solution: Provide emotional support and clarify that it is okay to express feelings or experiences without fear of judgment. Have resources available for further help.

6. Beginning Activities (10% of time)

  • Introduction (10 minutes):
    • Initiate a brief class discussion with the prompt: “What do you know about substances like alcohol and drugs?”
    • Record answers on the whiteboard to gauge prior knowledge and concerns.
    • Introduce the topic of substance abuse, emphasizing its relevance to their lives and health.

7. Middle Activities (80% of time)

  • Interactive Presentation (20 minutes):
    • Show age-appropriate video clips about the effects of substance abuse on health.
    • Discuss key points from the videos, allowing for questions and clarifications.
  • Group Discussion (15 minutes):
    • Divide learners into small groups. Assign each group a different substance (e.g., alcohol, tobacco). Provide fact sheets for reading and discussion, prompting them to answer:
    • What is this substance?
    • What are its effects on health?
    • What are the potential social and legal consequences of its use?
  • Role-Play Activity (25 minutes):
    • Distribute role-play cards with scenarios about peer pressure and substance use decisions.
    • In groups, learners prepare short role plays to demonstrate their scenarios and proposed solutions.
    • Each group performs for the class, with the audience encouraged to provide positive feedback.
  • Reflection (20 minutes):
    • Facilitate a reflective discussion post-role plays:
    • How did peer pressure affect the characters?
    • What strategies can you adopt to say no to substance use?
    • What support systems can you rely on (e.g., family, teachers, friends)?

8. End Activities (10% of time)

  • Closure (10 minutes):
    • Summarize key points discussed during the lesson.
    • Encourage learners to consider their choices regarding substances as an integral part of their personal growth and health journey.

9. Assessment and Checks for Understanding

  • Evaluate learners’ understanding through:
    • Participation in class discussions and activities.
    • Observations during role-plays and group discussions.
    • Completion of a reflective worksheet where they answer prompts about what they learned and how they will apply this knowledge to their lives.

10. Differentiation Strategies

  • For struggling learners:
    • Provide simplified fact sheets or visuals that highlight key points regarding the effects of substances.
  • For advanced learners:
    • Encourage them to research additional substances and their societal impacts, leading to an extension project or presentation.
  • Kinesthetic learners:
    • Incorporate more physical movement through activities like charades, focusing on the consequences of substance abuse in a fun, engaging way.

11. Teaching Notes

  • Emphasize the importance of a supportive atmosphere where all emotions and thoughts can be expressed without fear of judgment.
  • Be prepared to address sensitive topics, with a plan to refer to school or community resources if personal experiences with substance abuse arise.
  • Reinforce a lifelong commitment to health awareness and the implications of substance abuse, encouraging students to take proactive steps for their well-being.

This enhanced lesson plan conforms to the South African CAPS curriculum by integrating life skills and health education into an interactive format aimed at Grade 5 learners, promoting critical thought and personal reflection.

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