Overview: The Botvin LifeSkills Training Elementary School program is a comprehensive, dynamic, and developmentally appropriate substance abuse and violence prevention program designed for upper elementary school students. This highly effective curriculum has been proven to help increase self-esteem, develop healthy attitudes, and improve their knowledge of essential life skills – all of which promote healthy and positive personal development.
According to a recent study, published in the Journal of Drug Education, more elementary schools in the US choose to use the LST program over all other evidence-based prevention programs.
Lesson 1: Self-Esteem
Objectives:
1. Teach students what self-esteem is and how it is developed
2. To make students aware of the fact that they can do things well, and to appreciate their abilities
3. To learn to feel capable
Lesson 2: Decision-Making
Objectives:
1. To teach students a simple step-by-step process for making decisions
2. Learn to evaluate possible outcomes
3. Apply this model to making good personal choices
Lesson 3: Smoking Information
Objectives:
1. To weigh the pros and cons of smoking by learning basic facts about their effects
2. Learn reasons why people may choose to smoke, or not smoke
Lesson 4: Advertising
Objectives:
1. To develop an awareness of how advertisers manipulate advertisements to try to entice people to buy their products
2. Apply this knowledge to ads to create smart consumers
Lesson 5: Dealing with Stress
Objectives:
1. To teach students to recognize stress symptoms and causes
2. Practice positive techniques to deal with stress
Lesson 6: Communication Skills
Objectives:
1. To teach students different types of communication
2. Discuss how important it is to convey accurate feelings
3. Practice using words and language to express feelings
Lesson 7: Social Skills
Objective:
1. To help students learn the characteristics and qualities
needed for building and maintaining friendships
Lesson 8: Assertiveness
Objective:
1. Teach students how to calmly and firmly stick up for themselves
2. Learn it is their right to say “no”
Your child will bring home the completed worksheets from guidance class at the end of each unit. Please discuss these topics with your child.
In addition, third graders will receive instruction on drug prevention via “The Great Body Shop Health Curriculum.” This issue is called “Saying No to Smoking, Drinking and Other Drugs.” |