WORKSHEET ONE FIRST ACTIVITY. Peer Pressure

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1 WORKSHEET ONE FIRST ACTIVITY Write on opposite sides of the board the words and Encouragement. Then ask the group for examples of each and who normally is the one doing it. You may need to suggest answers such as bullying, verbal threats, trying to fit in or under encouragement parents saying do your homework etc. Use the peer pressure loop sheet to explain how peer pressure can become a continuing chain of events. When you have enough answers and have judged the groups understanding of what peer pressure is, move on to the next activity.

2 pressure loop Each teen acts cool to fit in with their peers and friends Cool acts become the normal behaviour for many teens Uncool teens are often singled out by teen peers and friends Teens think if you re not cool you re not normal

3 WORKSHEET TWO FIRST ACTIVITY Split the group into four smaller groups and provide them with some paper and a copy of the worksheet questions. Ask them to work as a small group and answer the questions on the sheet. Allow them about ten minutes for this exercise and then discuss the questions with the group. Ask them to feed back their answers: prompt them for how they would deal with this situation. Offer advice on the best way to deal with each and explain it is often harder to suffer the effects of giving in to peer pressure than it is to say no thank you in the first instance. Explain to the students that by following this simple advice it will help them to build confidence as well: 1. Look at the person, use a calm voice, say clearly one of the following: No thanks Laugh and say, you ve got to be kidding right? No way, then turn and walk away without looking back Sorry that s not for me Sorry I have somewhere else to be and again walk away and don t look back. 2. Suggest another activity. If they repeat the request you repeat one of the above answers. 3. If the person tries to convince you, keep saying No. 4. If someone heckles you, look straight ahead and walk away. Look forward, not up not down, this will let them know you won t change your mind. Try to finish the session on a lighter note and suggest the students could come up with an anti peer pressure logo for the school, or draw a cartoon. I tend to use the fact I started smoking through peer pressure from my brother and it has taken 30 years and three attempts to stop. Something along those lines works.

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5 Teacher notes/guidelines: Many of the students within the group would have already come under peer pressure and year 7 is a perfect chance to provide them with the methods to deal with any future pressure. Sometimes you may encounter a student who really regrets something they have already done, reassure them that as long as they have learnt from it then maybe it has had a positive effect. Assessment: Continual assessment of the student s responses during the session and their feed back sheets provide an excellent tool for assessment. As they allow you to judge not only their current level of understanding. They may also give, an insight in to the present levels of peer pressure being encountered. Method of and closing the session: It is best to close this session with a light hearted note and explain that everybody encounters peer pressure of some form at some time and the important thing is that you deal with it in a positive manner. Useful Hints Prior to running this workshop it is often best to ensure that any peer groups within the group are split up, so a simple exercise of making the students stand up and move seats often works. You may need to do this a couple of times to ensure they are split up. These peer groups if not split up could have a negative influence on the whole session. Notes: It is very important that you provide the students with methods of dealing with peer pressure and try to find out if they have any of their own. Make a note of these and use them in future sessions as examples.