Slide Deck
Welcome to The Social Compass!
Today, we'll learn to navigate the pressures and influences of our peers to make choices that are right for us.
Welcome students and introduce the lesson's topic: navigating peer influence. Explain that today's lesson will help them understand how their friends and classmates can impact their choices, both positively and negatively.
What Comes to Mind?
What does "peer pressure" mean to you?
Ask students: 'When you hear the words "peer pressure," what comes to mind?' Allow a few moments for silent reflection, then invite students to share their thoughts. Write down their ideas on the board. This helps activate prior knowledge and gauges their current understanding.
Defining Peer Influence
Peer Influence:
The way people your age (your "peers") affect your feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Peer Pressure:
When you feel urged to do something, or not do something, to fit in with your friends or other groups of people your age.
Transition from their initial thoughts to a more formal definition. Explain that peer influence isn't always negative. It's about how people their age affect their feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Types of Peer Pressure: Spoken
Spoken Peer Pressure
When someone directly tells you or asks you to do something.
Examples:
- "Come on, just try it! Everyone else is doing it."
- "If you don't come to the party, you're not really our friend."
- "Don't be a chicken!"
Introduce the idea of different types of peer pressure. Start with spoken pressure – when someone directly asks or tells them to do something.
Types of Peer Pressure: Unspoken
Unspoken Peer Pressure
When you feel pressure without anyone saying a word.
Examples:
- Seeing others wear certain clothes and feeling like you need them too.
- Everyone in a group is silent when someone makes a joke you don't find funny, but you feel like you should laugh.
- Wanting to try something because you see your friends doing it.
Move on to unspoken pressure, which is often more subtle. Ask students if they've ever felt this type of pressure without anyone saying a word. Emphasize body language, trends, and the desire to fit in.
Types of Peer Pressure: Positive
Positive Peer Pressure
When your peers encourage you to do things that are good for you or others.
Examples:
- Encouraging you to study for a test.
- Inviting you to join a sports team or club.
- Standing up for someone who is being bullied.
- Inspiring you to try new, healthy activities.
Highlight that not all peer influence is bad. Introduce positive peer pressure and give examples of how friends can encourage good choices.
Types of Peer Pressure: Negative
Negative Peer Pressure
When your peers encourage you to do things that you know are wrong, harmful, or against your values.
Examples:
- Ditching class.
- Spreading rumors.
- Cheating on a test.
- Trying something dangerous or unhealthy.
Explain negative peer pressure and why it's important to recognize it. Connect this to the idea of making choices aligned with personal values.
Standing Strong: Assertive Communication
How to Respond to Peer Pressure
It's okay to say NO! Assertive communication helps you express yourself clearly and respectfully.
Key steps:
- Be Direct: State your refusal clearly and calmly.
- Use "I" Statements: Focus on your feelings and choices.
- Offer Alternatives (Optional): Suggest a different, positive activity.
- Walk Away: If the pressure continues, remove yourself from the situation.
Introduce the concept of assertive communication. Explain that it's about respecting yourself and others while clearly stating your boundaries. This leads into the activity where they will practice these skills.
Activity: Navigating Scenarios
In your groups, you will:
- Read the Peer Pressure Scenario Cards.
- Discuss how each scenario represents spoken, unspoken, positive, or negative peer pressure.
- Brainstorm and practice assertive responses for negative pressure scenarios.
- Think about how to make choices that align with your values.
Explain the upcoming group activity. Distribute the scenario cards and emphasize the importance of discussing effective responses. Remind them to think about 'The Social Compass' and navigating these situations.
Sharing Our Strategies
Let's hear from some groups!
- What was one scenario you discussed?
- How did you decide to respond?
- What makes an assertive response effective?
- Were there any challenges in coming up with responses?
After the group activity, bring the class back together. Ask a few groups to share one scenario and their assertive response. Facilitate a discussion on what made the responses effective and any challenges they faced.
Your Social Compass: Values
Your values are like your personal compass. They guide you to make choices that feel right for YOU.
We will now complete the My Values, My Choices Worksheet.
Think about:
- What is important to you?
- What kind of person do you want to be?
- How do your values help you stand strong?
Introduce the 'My Values, My Choices' worksheet. Explain that understanding their personal values is like having a compass that guides them when facing difficult social situations. Encourage thoughtful reflection.
Navigating Your Path
Remember, you have the power to make choices that align with your values.
Your social compass will guide you!
Be confident, be assertive, and always be true to yourself.
Conclude the lesson by reiterating the main takeaways. Encourage students to use their 'social compass' (their values and assertive communication skills) in their daily lives. Thank them for their participation.
Activity
Peer Pressure Scenario Cards
Instructions: In your groups, read each scenario. Discuss if it's spoken, unspoken, positive, or negative peer pressure. Then, brainstorm and practice how you would respond using assertive communication. Remember to keep your values in mind!
Scenario 1: The Sneaky Shortcut
You are working on a group project, and one of your teammates suggests, "Let's just copy this section from the internet. The teacher will never know, and we'll get it done faster!"
Scenario 2: The "Cool" Party
Your older sibling's friend, who you think is really cool, invites you to a party where you know there will be older kids and activities that your parents wouldn't approve of. They say, "It's going to be epic! Everyone who's anyone will be there. You HAVE to come."
Scenario 3: The New Trend
Everyone in your friend group suddenly starts wearing a very specific brand of expensive sneakers. You really like your current shoes, but you feel like you're the only one not fitting in. Your best friend says, "You should totally get a pair! They're so comfy and everyone has them."
Scenario 4: Study Buddy!
You're struggling with a tough math concept, and a classmate who usually excels offers to meet up after school to study together and help you understand it better. They say, "Hey, I noticed you were having trouble with that problem. Want to meet up at the library? We can figure it out together."
Scenario 5: Online Drama
Your friend group is in a chat, and someone posts a mean meme about another student in your class. Everyone starts sending laughing emojis and adding negative comments. You feel uncomfortable, but you don't want to be the only one who doesn't participate.
Scenario 6: Trying a New Sport
A few friends are forming a new intramural soccer team and encourage you to join, even though you've never played soccer before. They say, "It'll be a lot of fun, and we need more players! You don't have to be good, just come hang out with us!"
Worksheet
My Values, My Choices Worksheet
Instructions: Reflect on what is truly important to you. These are your values. Then, think about how these values can help you make choices when faced with peer influence.
Part 1: My Core Values
Think about what matters most to you in life. What principles guide your actions and how you treat others? (e.g., honesty, kindness, courage, respect, loyalty, health, learning, creativity).
List at least three of your most important values:
Part 2: Values in Action
Now, let's think about how your values can help you navigate peer influence. For each scenario below, consider which of your values might be challenged and how you would respond using your assertive communication skills.
Scenario A:
Your friends are making fun of a new student for their accent. They look at you, expecting you to laugh along.
Which of your values might be challenged here?
How would you respond to this situation, keeping your values in mind?
Scenario B:
A group of classmates is pressuring you to skip an important study session for a movie. You know you need to study for a big test tomorrow.
Which of your values might be challenged here?
How would you respond to this situation, keeping your values in mind?
Scenario C:
Your friends are trying a new, exciting (but possibly risky) activity that makes you feel uneasy. They say, "Don't be a party pooper! Come on!"
Which of your values might be challenged here?
How would you respond to this situation, keeping your values in mind?
Discussion
Discussion Guide: Standing Strong
Instructions for Teacher: Use these prompts to facilitate a class discussion after introducing the different types of peer pressure and before the scenario activity. Encourage students to share their thoughts respectfully and actively listen to their peers.
Section 1: Exploring Peer Influence
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Can you think of a time when you felt influenced by your friends, either in a good way or a challenging way?
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What are some common reasons why people might give in to negative peer pressure?
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Why is it important to be able to say "no" even when your friends are pressuring you?
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How can positive peer pressure help you grow and try new things?
Section 2: Assertive Communication
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What does it mean to communicate assertively? How is it different from being aggressive or passive?
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When someone is pressuring you, what are some specific phrases or actions you can use to say "no" respectfully but firmly?
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Why might it be difficult to use assertive communication in real-life situations?
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What are some ways you can support a friend who is trying to stand up to peer pressure?
Section 3: Values and Choices
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How do your personal values (what you believe is important) help you make decisions when you feel pressured by peers?
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Can you think of a time when your values helped you make a difficult choice, even if it meant going against what others were doing?
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Why is it important to stay true to yourself, even when it feels challenging?
Lesson Plan
The Social Compass: Navigating Peer Influence
Students will be able to identify different types of peer pressure, practice assertive communication skills to resist negative peer influence, and articulate strategies for making choices aligned with their personal values.
Understanding peer influence is crucial for middle school students as they navigate complex social environments. This lesson provides them with essential tools to recognize and respond to peer pressure, fostering self-confidence and promoting healthy decision-making.
Audience
High School Students
Time
50-60 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, role-playing scenarios, and reflective writing.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Social Compass Slide Deck, Markers or Pens, Peer Pressure Scenario Cards (Activity), My Values, My Choices Worksheet, and Discussion Guide: Standing Strong
Prep
Review Materials and Prepare Scenarios
15 minutes
- Print and cut out the Peer Pressure Scenario Cards (Activity).
- Make enough copies of the My Values, My Choices Worksheet for each student.
- Review the Discussion Guide: Standing Strong to prepare for facilitating conversations.
- Ensure you have markers/pens and a whiteboard/projector available.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is 'Peer Pressure'?
10 minutes
- Ask students to share their initial thoughts and associations with the term 'peer pressure.'
- Facilitate a brief class discussion, writing down key ideas on the board.
- Transition to defining peer pressure with Slide 3.
Step 2
Understanding Peer Influence
15 minutes
- Provide examples for each type and ask students to share their own (age-appropriate) examples.
- Emphasize that peer influence isn't always negative and can also be a positive force.
- Use the Discussion Guide: Standing Strong to prompt deeper thinking.
Step 3
Activity: Navigating Scenarios
15 minutes
- Distribute the Peer Pressure Scenario Cards (Activity) to each group.
- Instruct groups to read their scenarios and discuss how they would respond, focusing on assertive communication techniques.
- Encourage them to think about how they can 'say no' while still maintaining friendships (if appropriate).
- Circulate and provide guidance as needed.
Step 4
Sharing and Reflection
10 minutes
- Have a few groups share one of their scenarios and their planned response.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on common challenges and effective strategies.
- Distribute the My Values, My Choices Worksheet. Introduce this worksheet to students as a way to reflect on their values and how those values guide their choices.