Lesson Plan
Smart Choices Lesson Plan
Students will identify factors influencing drug-related decisions, practice refusal skills through scenarios and role-play, and demonstrate understanding via a short quiz.
Empowering 4th graders to recognize peer pressure, evaluate choices, and refuse substances builds lifelong healthy decision-making habits and aligns with TEKS character development standards.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive slides, hands-on scenarios, discussion, and quiz
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Smart Choices Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with content and key discussion points
- Print enough copies of the Decision Making Scenarios Worksheet for each student
- Cut and sort the Discussion Prompts Card Set into small stacks for groups
- Print the Responsible Choices Quiz and prepare answer key for quick grading
Step 1
Introduction & TEKS Connection
5 minutes
- Project the Smart Choices Slide Deck and display the lesson objective
- Briefly explain why making smart choices about substances matters (TEKS Health 4.4B: identify influences on health behaviors)
- Define key terms: ‘substance,’ ‘peer pressure,’ and ‘decision making’
Step 2
Scenario Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Decision Making Scenarios Worksheet
- Students read three brief scenarios involving substances (e.g., saying no to a suspicious pill handed by a friend)
- Individually, they circle the best choice and write one sentence explaining their decision (TEKS Health 4.4C: describe ways to avoid risks)
Step 3
Role-Play Discussion
10 minutes
- Divide class into small groups and give each group a stack of Discussion Prompts Card Set
- Groups take turns drawing a card with a prompt (e.g., “Your friend pressures you to try vaping. What do you say?”)
- One student role-plays refusal, another gives feedback on tone and clarity (focus on respectful but firm responses)
Step 4
Class Reflection
10 minutes
- Reconvene whole class and invite volunteers to share their scenarios and refusal responses
- Facilitate discussion: What made certain strategies effective? How did you feel practicing refusal?
- Emphasize respectful assertiveness and making choices aligned with personal values
Step 5
Quiz & Closure
10 minutes
- Hand out the Responsible Choices Quiz
- Students complete individually to assess understanding of influences, refusal skills, and consequence awareness
- Collect quizzes and briefly review answers, reinforcing key takeaways for healthy decision making
Slide Deck
Smart Choices: Understanding Substances
Why do people sometimes make unsafe choices with substances? Let’s learn how to decide wisely!
Welcome students! Today we’re going to talk about making smart choices when it comes to substances like pills, cigarettes, or vaping. Explain that "substance" can mean anything that goes into our bodies and can change how we feel or think.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will:
• Identify influences on our substance-related decisions
• Define key terms: substance, peer pressure, decision making
• Practice refusing unsafe offers through role-play
• Reflect on healthy choices and complete a short quiz
Read each objective aloud and point out the TEKS connections. Emphasize that we’ll practice refusal skills and learn why healthy decisions matter.
Key Terms
• Substance: Anything you put into your body (like medicine, tobacco, or vaping liquids)
• Peer Pressure: When friends or classmates try to influence your choices
• Decision Making: Thinking through options and picking what’s best for you
Go through each term one at a time. Ask students for examples of each from their lives or stories they’ve heard.
What Influences Our Decisions?
• Personal Values (your own beliefs)
• Peer Pressure (friends’ suggestions)
• Media & Ads (TV, internet, social media)
• Family & Rules
Show the slide and ask: “Who can name something that might influence your decision to try or refuse a substance?” Encourage responses like family rules, ads, or friends.
Scenario Activity Instructions
- Get your Decision Making Scenarios Worksheet
- Read each short situation involving a substance
- Circle the best choice and write one sentence explaining why
Explain that students will get a worksheet with three situations. They will choose the best answer and write why. Remind them of TEKS Health 4.4C.
Sample Scenario
You are at a friend’s house. Your friend offers you an unknown pill that they say will make homework easier. What do you do?
A. Take it to be helpful
B. Say “No, thank you” and tell a trusted adult
C. Ask another friend for advice
Quickly read one scenario example aloud. Then invite a volunteer to share which choice they circled and why.
Role-Play Discussion
• Form small groups and get a prompt card
• Student A reads the prompt and role-plays saying no
• Student B gives feedback on being clear and respectful
Guide students through group setup: 3–4 per group, each gets a prompt card. They take turns role-playing refusal and giving feedback.
Discussion Prompt Examples
• “My friend pressures me to try vaping. What can I say?”
• “Someone offers me a cigarette at lunch. How do I refuse?”
• “A classmate gives me a drink and says it’s just juice. What if it’s something else?”
Display a few discussion prompts. Encourage groups to think of additional ways to say no firmly but kindly.
Class Reflection
• Which refusal strategies felt natural?
• How did it feel to practice saying no?
• Why is it important to make choices that match our values?
Bring class back together. Ask volunteers what strategies worked best. Highlight respectful assertiveness. Tie back to personal values.
Quiz Time!
Complete the Responsible Choices Quiz:
• Identify influences on choices
• Demonstrate a refusal skill
• Recognize consequences of unsafe decisions
Explain quiz rules: no talking, do your best, we’ll review answers together. Remind students this is a check for understanding, not a big test.
Key Takeaways
• You have control over your choices
• Peer pressure doesn’t have to lead you to unsafe actions
• Respectful refusal keeps you safe and confident
Summarize key takeaways: know your influences, use clear refusal skills, and always choose health. Praise effort and remind them the skills apply every day.
Activity
Decision Making Scenarios Worksheet
Directions:
Read each scenario carefully. Circle the best choice (A, B, or C) and then write one sentence explaining why you made that choice.
Scenario 1
You are at a friend’s house after school. Your friend offers you a small, unknown pill and says it will help you concentrate on your homework.
A. Take the pill to be helpful and finish your homework faster.
B. Say “No, thank you,” and tell a trusted adult what happened.
C. Ask your friend for another pill to compare.
Your Explanation:
Scenario 2
During recess, one of your classmates pressures you to try vaping because they say it’s “cool.”
A. Try the vape to fit in with friends.
B. Say “No, I’m not interested,” and walk away.
C. Ask if you can watch them vape so you know what it’s like.
Your Explanation:
Scenario 3
At lunchtime, someone offers you a drink from a bottle and tells you it’s just fruit juice, but you don’t recognize the label.
A. Drink it so you don’t seem rude.
B. Say “No thanks,” and stick with your own lunch drink.
C. Shake the bottle and taste a tiny sip to make sure it’s safe.
Your Explanation:
Discussion
Discussion Prompts Card Set
Instructions for Teacher: Print and cut each card. Distribute to small groups. Students take turns reading the prompt, role-playing the situation, and practicing a refusal or safe-response. After each role-play, group members give feedback on clarity, tone, and effectiveness.
Card 1:
Your friend offers you a vape pen during recess and says it’s just flavored air. What do you say and do?
Card 2:
A classmate finds pills in their backpack and dares you to try one, saying it will make you feel “cool.” How would you respond?
Card 3:
Someone adds a powdery substance to your drink when you’re not looking and tells you it’s an energy boost. How do you refuse and seek help?
Card 4:
You’re at a sleepover and someone offers you a “special” gummy, claiming it’s harmless candy. What do you say and what would your next step be?
Card 5:
A popular older student pressures you to bring a tobacco product to school for them. How can you say no and protect yourself?
Card 6:
A friend says, “Promise you won’t tell anyone if I give you a pill to help with test anxiety.” What do you say, and whom would you inform?
Card 7:
You see a peer offering pills to other students in the hallway. What would you do to stay safe and help others?
Card 8:
Your cousin invites you to mix a mystery liquid into your soda at a family gathering and says it’ll be fine. How do you refuse and keep everyone safe?
Card 9:
Someone on social media tells you to buy a certain “study booster” online and share with friends. What questions would you ask, and how would you respond?
Card 10:
A student in your class says, “We’ll all laugh if you blow smoke rings like me.” How can you say no and stand up for yourself?
Quiz
Responsible Choices Quiz