Making Choices (Year 7 & 8)

Outline This module focuses on improving our decision making skills by looking at the following aspects: choices, consequences (positive and negative), responsibility, facts, information and influences. We explore a variety of aspects of influence on our choices including the media and peer pressure. We are challenged to make choices based on their personal well-being rather than outside influences. We view a story about a girl being influenced to smoke and discuss her choices and what we think will influence her the most. Information is discussed about the effects of smoking and alcohol as the more known, the more informed the decision. Key messages: The best decision is an informed decision The choices we make have consequences, positive and negative The choices we make may affect others There are different influences on our choices Focus Looking at influences on our decision making such as peer pressure and advertising Exploring elements of decision making and realising that every individual is responsible for the choices s/he makes

We are learning to…

1. explain how people make decisions
Successful Learning will look like… children naming and explaining the decision making process i.e. choices, information, facts, influences, consequences, responsibility

2.  acknowledge what influences our personal choices
Successful Learning will look like… children will be able to list a range of outside influences and give examples of how our friends and media can influence our choices both positively and negatively.

3.  recognise the consequences of drug use on the body, in particular alcohol
Successful Learning will look like… children reporting factual information back about drugs and their impact on the body

4.  understand how our internal organs fit together and work to keep us alive
Successful Learning will look like… children identifying and explaining functions of various internal organs

5.  explain the importance of having good information in decision making
Successful Learning will look like… children articulating the sources that provide reliable information



The learning module delivered might look like this:

Part A

• Look at decision making strategies.
• Explore some influences on our choices.
• Decisions Decisions - explore aspects of peer pressure in a situation of smoking.

Part B

• Checking out the human body and seeing how all body parts work together to keep us alive, developing an understanding of the complexity of the human body.

Part C

• Fact and Fiction drug sort- looking at aspects of alcohol and nicotine in the human body.
• Advertising- exploring how advertising works and how it can influence our choices.