Teacher Taryn Shelton's peer pressure activity for 8th grade students

1. 8th grade teacher Taryn Shelton’s peer pressure activity:
Directions:
1. Students are paired off with one other friend (to “go to the party” with)
2. Two pairs are set, across from each other, at one of six stations.
3. Students first read the Drug Facts Sheet & Diagrams and complete their ​Dangers of Drugs and Alcohol
student sheet for that station.
4. Students then read the Scenario for that station.
5. A timer is set for 2 minutes. All of the pairs on the left side of the station tables are the “Pressurers” and all
pairs on the right side of the station tables are the “Resisters”. The Pressurers spend the full 2 minutes trying
to convince the Resisters to try that particular drug. The Resisters spend the time trying to get out of it.
6. At the end of the 2 minutes, the left side kids rotate counterclockwise and the right side kids rotate
clockwise. Each pair should be at a new station with a new pair of kids across from them.
7. Repeat steps 3-5, but this time the roles change. So those who were Pressurers are the Resisters, and vice
versa. At the end of the 2 minutes rotate again in the same pattern as in step 6.
8. Repeat, having them switch roles with every rotation, until everyone has rotated through all six stations.
9. After completing the activity, have a class discussion on how difficult it was to resist peer pressure and have
students share creative ways they avoided being pressured. Encourage discussion on why teens and young
adults even try drugs and alcohol despite knowing the dangers. Correct any misconceptions. For example,
vaping has seen a significant increase in teen use because most teens believe that it is safe and not really
damaging to their health. They also believe that vaping marijuana is much safer than smoking it. Address
these misconceptions, as well as others.
* Role-playing activities are shown to better prepare individuals for real-life scenarios. Students are engaged
with each other, without the influence of adults. Not only do students get to feel the pressure of saying no to
their peers, but instructors also have the benefit of hearing the ideas and perceptions of our youth on different
drugs and the ways in which they influence each other.
Note: For classes with greater than 24 students, each station could be have a “Judge” who determines which
side (Resisters or Pressurers) won. Judges could remain at the same station, or rotate stations as well.