grade 8 substance abuse assignment

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Lesson Plans and Activities

Search for free lessons and activities on the science and consequences of drug use. All lessons are based on national science and education standards and were developed by scientists from leading universities and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Cannabis: The Facts You Need to Know

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Is This Legit? Accessing Valid and Reliable Health Information

Opioids: What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About Prescription Stimulants

Stressed Out?

Nurturing My Mental & Emotional Health

Mind Matters: Drugs and the Brain

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Prescription Stimulants

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Opioids

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Nicotine, Tobacco and Vaping

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Methamphetamine

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Marijuana

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to K2/Spice and Bath Salts

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Inhalants

Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Cocaine

How Nicotine Affects the Teen Brain

NDAFW Activity Ideas: Community, School-wide, and Online

• The Foundation
• Science of Addiction
• Do i have a Problem

• Lesson Plans

As an educator, you play an important role in educating your students about how drugs affect their body, brain, and behavior. National Institute of Drugs Abuse has a range of age-appropriate curricula and activities designed to help you in this challenging role and support your efforts in the classroom. The lessons and activities promote an understanding of drug abuse and addiction and a curiosity about Neuroscience.

Courtesy National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health

Mind Matters

“Mind Matters” series, developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. “Mind Matters” includes nine engaging printed materials designed to help students in grades 5 – 8 understand the biological effects of drug misuse on the brain and body, along with identifying how these drug-induced changes affect both behaviors and emotions. There is no more important time to address these issues with adolescents than in the middle school years when they are forming opinions about the health risks of drugs. These educational materials are also easy to print and use.

When used in combination with the printed materials, the background information and lesson plans contained in this guide will help students understand the physical reality of drug use and inspire curiosity about neuroscience. Some activities to reinforce the topics are suggested at the end of the guide. You can also develop some of your own. These files are in PDF format.

Mind Matters: Teacher's Guide

Mind Matters: Drugs & The Brain

Mind Matters: Marijuana

Mind Matters: Nicotine

Mind Matters: Opioids

Mind Matters: Cocaine

Mind Matters: Inhalants

Mind Matters: K2/Spice & Bath Salts

Mind Matters: Methamphetamine

Mind Matters: Prescription Stimulants

Use these lessons to teach the effects of drug abuse on the body and brain

View Lesson Plan

Expand your drug education curriculum with these units about the brain and the effects of drugs on the body.

Share these articles and activities about drug abuse from National Institute on Drug Abuse and Scholastic with your students.

LifeSkills Training: Designed for: Elementary/Middle/Junior/High school students

Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) is a research-validated substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors. This program provides adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations.

NIDA for Teens is an online educational initiative that provides science-based information about teen prescription drug abuse prevention.

The trusted source for science-based information on teen drug use and its effects.

• Naloxone Toolkit
• Mental Health Colleges
• Opioids: What You Need To Know
• Teen Brochure
• Prescription Drugs
• Teen Drug Use

• Curriculum Kits

Too Good for Drugs - Grade 8

Too Good for Drugs for Grade 8 lays the groundwork for drug-free living through a fun and interactive journey of setting reachable goals, communicating effectively, making responsible decisions, managing emotions, and refusing negative peer pressure.

Equipped with the skills developed throughout the course, students can better prepare, plan, and evaluate their choices. By differentiating impulsive behavior and thoughtful decisions and examining how goals, media, peers, and family influence their decisions, eighth graders will be better prepared to take actions consistent with their short-term and long-term goals.

Incorporating their emotional management, effective communication, and social awareness skills, students practice applying their empathy with their friends to provide the healthy qualities their friends need in a variety of predicaments in “The Buddy System.” Lessons also explore the risks and harmful effects alcohol, tobacco, THC, and marijuana have on the developing brain and body as well as the dangers associated with the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Home Workouts and cross-curricular activities follow each lesson so students can practice and apply the concepts developed in each lesson at home and with their peers

The Too Good for Drugs Grade 8 Curriculum Kit is available in two sizes.

• Standard Curriculum Kit - for classrooms of up to 24 students. 
• Large Curriculum Kit - for classrooms of up to 30 students. 

Additional Student Workbooks are sold separately. Scroll down the page to view replenishment products.

2019 Edition

is back-ordered. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days.

Featured Products Grade 8 Middle School Program Kits Program Materials

• What's Included
• Scope and Sequence
• How It Works
• Recognition & Awards

The Too Good toolkit includes everything you need to teach the lessons:

• Teacher Manual
• 30 Student Workbooks
• Goal Setting Poster

Goal Setting Scramble Puzzle

• Decision Making Poster and Accessories
• Healthy, Alcohol Impairment, and THC Impairment Brain Scan Cards

Stroop Test Poster

• Role Play Script Card Set
• At Your Own Risk, 1 Activity Set
• Party Smart Activity Set
• Spend or Save? Activity Set
• The Operating System, 1 Activity Set
• The Buddy System Activity Cards
• The Blunt Truth Activity Cards
• That's Life, 1 Activity Set
• Listen Up!, 1 Activity Set

Curriculum Features include:

• Scripted Design - Ten 50-minute fully scripted, research-based lessons conveniently presented in a tabbed 3 Ring Binder, making them easy to use and enjoyable to teach.
• Comprehensive Lesson Planner with clearly-stated, measurable objectives, topic rationale, and allotted activity times.
• Parent Component - “Home Workout: Exercises for Adults and Kids,” to extend prevention skills and messages into the home.
• Looking for More? - Each lesson includes cross-curricular lesson extenders with suggestions for infusion, recommended reading, and additional activities for reinforcing important concepts and skills.
• Assessment Materials to measure student outcomes and process outcomes including implementation effectiveness and fidelity of implementation as well as student knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.
• Comprehensive Pre-Delivery Training Component covering Character Education and Normative Education concepts, Fidelity of Implementation, as well as guidance for facilitating discussions about various conflict and peer influence topics.
• Logic Model including the program’s theory of change and the proven strategies incorporated into the lessons.
• Strategies and methods to build family and school connections to reinforce the healthy social and emotional development of the students.

Lessons Overview                      RTI / PBIS Alignment              Lessons Sample

How does too good work.

Too Good offers separate, developmentally appropriate curricula for each grade level in grades six through eight. Each grade level builds on the previous by continually developing skills and addressing common issues faced in middle school life, teaching students how to manage situations in a positive and healthy way.

Mitigates risk factors and builds protective factors

Too Good uses skill development to mitigate the risks associated with problem behaviors including:

• Poor Social Skills
• Peer Rejection
• Inappropriate Social Behaviors
• Favorable Attitudes Toward Drug Use
• Low Perception of Harm
• Friends Who Engage In Problem Behaviors

Too Good builds protection within the student by:

• Providing Opportunities for Pro-Social Involvement
• Establishing No-Use Norms
• Promoting Bonding to Pro-Social Peers
• Increasing Personal and Interpersonal Skills Associated with Positive Behaviors and Student Success

Understanding the Logic Model

The Mendez Foundation developed Logic Models for Too Good to map out the Theory of Change and demonstrate graphically the assumptions that drive the learning and behavior change in Too Good. The logic model communicates an "if-then" message of what changes the program intends to produce. It helps to make the connections among the target group, goals, strategies, objectives and planned program results and lays out what the program is expected to achieve and how it is expected to work.

Logic Model

Research Design

Each of the Too Good evaluation studies were conducted by third-party researchers and used randomized treatment-control group designs (pre-test/post-test, 20-week post-test, or one-year follow-up). The Researchers examined pre-test equivalence between treatment and control groups; potential bias of loss of student data over time; quality of program implementation; and estimates of reliability and validity of assessment tools.

The award-winning Too Good programs have undergone rigorous, independent evaluation studies to measure their effects on students' skills, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. Studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national evaluation conferences. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of Too Good.

Research Reports

2000 Summary 2000 Full Report 2001 Summary 2001 Full Report 2003 Summary 2003 Full Report

2007 Summary 2007 Full Report   2013 Summary 2013 Full Report

Too Good programs have earned recognition and acclaim for their impact in promoting safer and healthy youth and communities. 

• Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association's (FADAA) Best Practices Award
• The American Medical Association's National Congress on Adolescent Health
• The President's Child Safety Partnership
• Southeast Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities Shining Star Award
• Our programs received a high rating in "Drug Strategies"

Other Recognition

Recognition for Too Good for Drugs™ in Drug Strategies "Making the Grade": "Some very strong elements in this very detailed, 10 session per year curriculum. Provides developmentally appropriate information about alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Normative education activities creative and compelling, new ideas for games. Includes no-use pledge."

Recognition for Too Good for Violence in Drug Strategies "Safe Schools, Safe Students": "A delightful package of materials (that) complements this highly interactive 4-9 session program. Strongly focused on critical skill areas. Extremely detailed instructions for teachers. Very complete."

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Too Good for Drugs Grade 8 Teacher's Manual 2019 Edition

The Teacher's Manual layout and design makes implementation easy with quick set-up and guided materials preparation and lesson objectives and activity timing.  The layout...

A3830 - TGFD Grade 8 Student Workbook 2019 Edition English - Pack of 30

The Student Workbook is an integral part of the interactive lessons. Workbook activities apply lessons on setting reachable goals, making...

A3880 - TGFD Grade 8 2019 Edition Student Workbook Spanish - Pack of 5

Scan of Healthy Brain (Top)

SPECT Scan of the surface of an active, healthy brain. Item #A4847 

Scan of Brain Damaged by Marijuana Use (Underside)

SPECT Scan of the underside of a brain damaged by marijuana use. Item #A4850 

Scan of Healthy Brain (Underside)

SPECT Scan of the underside of an active, healthy brain. Item #A4849 

Scan of Brain Damaged by Alcohol Use (Top)

SPECT Scan of the brain of a chronic drinker. 11" x 17" Full Color Poster. Item #A4848 

Grade 8 Role Play Script Cards

Charlie and James Role Play This interactive role-play teaches students how to identify and understand their feelings and learn to...

Goal Setting Model Poster - Grade 8 & High School

Setting a reachable goal is the first step to building confidence, self-esteem, and positive expectations for the future. The Goal...

Students learn that reaching their goals is a lot easier when they have a plan in place and know what...

Set of 6 Goal Setting Scramble Puzzle Set

This economical set contains six Goal Setting Scramble Puzzle sets. The Goal Setting Scramble displays the criteria for students to...

Decision Making Model Poster

Students learn the steps to making responsible decisions and how their decisions can take them closer or further away from...

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. The Stroop Test illustrates the challenge of processing two conflicting messages simultaneously...

Decision Making Poster Accessories

Students are reminded that influences can affect their decisions and learn how to avoid choices that will keep them from...

The Buddy System

I have not finished the science project that is due tomorrow. What do I need from you? Advice? A magic...

The Operating System 2019 Edition Card Set

Students practice and recall the skills they've learned in Too Good for Drugs Grade 8 in this quick paced cooperative...

The Blunt Truth 2019 Edition

Grade 8 Students may think they know a whole lot about marijuana, but do they really know the truth? This...

That's Life...

Teenagers face many challenges whether at school, at work, on a team, or with peers. Are there healthier ways to...

Is your message getting through? In this cooperative learning activity, students practice their Active Listening and Assertive Speaking skills as...

Party Smart Game Cards

Party Smart teaches students that drinking alcohol isn't necessary to have a good time. Students learn how underage drinking affects...

Party Smart Game Board

Students learn firsthand to party smart as they explore the consequences of drinking alcohol through the experiences of other partygoers...

Spend or Save? Cards

In Spend or Save?, students learn that each decision to save or spend affects their ability to reach their goal....

Spend or Save? Game Board

Students examine the influences behind their decision to save money or spend it as they work together to earn enough...

At Your Own Risk Activity Cards

Life is full of risk. Some risks are healthy and make life more rewarding. Others are unhealthy and have negative...

Game Pieces with Die

Set of six game pieces in six bright colors and one die for use with various in class activities and...

Poster Hanger Dots

Hang posters on most vertical surfaces with ease. 12 dots per sheet. 2 sheets included. Item #PR1002

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Social Perspectives Grade 8 - 2019 Edition Expansion Unit

Combine Too Good for Drugs and Social Perspectives into one integrated 15 lesson program. When implemented together, Too Good for...

C9860 - Grade 8 Expansion Unit 2019 Edition Student Workbook Pack of 30

The Social Perspectives Expansion Unit Student Workbooks pick up where the Too Good for Drugs Student Workbooks leave off. These...

• Implementation Design and Planning
• How it Works
• Implementation Center
• Core Components
• Fidelity Model
• Implementation Resources
• Web Based Resources
• Evidence Base
• Evaluation Studies
• Academic Alignment
• National Health Education Standards
• American School Counselors Association
• State Health Education Standards
• State SEL Standards
• Substance Use Prevention
• Too Good for Drugs K-12
• Violence Prevention Character Education
• Too Good for Violence K-12 • A Peaceable Place • Social Perspectives
• Nutrition Education
• Seeds of Nutrition
• Out of School Activities
• Too Good OST
• School Climate
• Celebrating Healthy Choices K-5
• Training and Staff Development
• Curriculum Training
• Training of Trainers Workshop
• Implementation Planning Workshop
• Curriculum Bundles
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Gr. 8 Substance Abuse Project: Assignment and Citations

• Assignment and Citations
• Energy Drinks
• Addiction and Community Support
• Research Assignment Document
• Drugs: Introductory Presentation

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Substance Abuse Prevention-DECISIONS: Grade 8

The third program in our substance abuse prevention continuum, DECISIONS,   has our Educators lead students in a discussion on more complex topics like polysubstance use, the impact of substance use on short/long term goals and a deeper understanding of brain development. Taught through the use of characters and scenarios students are able to explore difficult situations involving peer pressure, alcohol and drug use hopefully before they are faced with them in real life. Small groups are utilized to help spur discussion and engagement.

Our substance abuse prevention programs incorporate a comprehensive, blended learning approach to substance abuse prevention education. Tied to both SEL and Health Standards our program structure includes an interactive e-learning lesson prior to the classroom visit from the Candor Health educators, whole and small group work infused with games, activities and discussions and post activities to help assessments for teachers. Watch a short video and learn more:

Candor Health educator facilitates a classroom program that includes:

• interactive story-based program to outline realistic situations and the decisions that follow
• exploring the decision tree and the impact of decisions on goals
• understanding how alcohol, vaping, marijuana, opioid pain medication, and polysubstance use (combination of substances) affect the brain and body
• question and answer opportunities with a health educator

Program Fee: See Complete Program Fee Grid >

Aligns to National Health Standards and Illinois Health and SEL Standards. See Complete Details >

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Funded in whole or in part by:

Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas