Opioids and Prescription Drugs

Lesson Plans

Grade level: 6-8
Includes 1 step-by-step module, resources for students, parent guides, and online activities
Teaches about the effects of prescription drugs; how these drugs affect the brain and body when not used properly; and, understanding why it is important to use medication as instructed
Duration: 1 class period (with additional activities (e.g. public service announcement) for subsequent periods)
Standards aligned with: National Science Education Standards

Grade level: 6-8
Includes Educator’s Guide, PowerPoint Presentation, and digital lesson
Teaches the effects of opioids on the body and brain and symptoms of addiction
Duration: 3+ class periods
Standards aligned with: National Health Education Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core English Language Arts
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

*Designed for 3^rd-5^th graders but can be adapted for 6^th graders
Includes Activity Guide PDF
Teaches students how to identify and explain the dosage instructions on a medicine label; and, how to conduct an experiment
Duration: 1-2 class periods
Standards aligned with: National Health Standards, Common Core English Language Arts, Common Core Mathematics
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

*Designed for 3^rd-5^th graders but can be adapted for 6^th graders
Includes Activity Guide PDF
Teaches the importance of storing medication properly through analyzing a scenario and making recommendations
Duration: 1-2 class periods
Standards aligned with: National Health Standards and Common Core English Language Arts
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

Grade level: 6-8
Includes Educator’s Guide, PowerPoint Presentation, activities, and videos
Teaches students about the opioid epidemic, effects of opioids on the teenage brain; how to identify and find credible sources; and, design a research plan
Duration: 3-4+ class periods
Standards aligned with: Common Core English Language Arts
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

*Designed for 3^rd-5^th graders but can be adapted for 6^th graders
Includes Educator Guide and PowerPoint Presentation
Teaches students about what medication is and the importance of responsibly consuming over-the-counter and prescription medications
Duration: 3+ class periods
Standards aligned with: National Health Standards (Grades 3-5) and Next Generation Science Standards
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

Grade level: 6-8 (also contains adapted lessons for 4-6^th grade reading level)
Includes lesson plan with student article, student worksheet, vocabulary list, critical thinking questions, and writing prompts
Teaches about epidemics and evidence to indicate an epidemic; that opioid medications should be used with extreme care; and, ways to stay safe if prescribed opioid pain medications
Duration: 1 class period
Standards aligned with: Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and National Science Education Standards
Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)/Scholastic

Grade level: 6
Includes four lesson plans with worksheets, posters/whiteboard images, videos, and family resources
Teaches about medicine; understanding drug labels; medicine measuring tools, storage, and disposal; and, medicines and misuse
Duration: 5 class periods
Standards aligned with: Common Core State Standards (ELA, Science, and Health) and Next Generation Science Standards
Source(s): Scholastic

Grade level: 6-8
Includes lesson plan with student article, quiz and answer key, discussion questions, and optional essay/writing assignments
Teaches about what opioids are and how they work; why opioid misuse is dangerous; and, critical thinking
Duration: 1 class period
Standards aligned with: National Science Education standards and McREL
Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)/Scholastic

Includes links below to related opioid and prescription drugs
Focuses on what opioid and prescription drugs are, their addictive properties, and their effects on the brain and body
Sources(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Includes two interactive videos, role-playing activities, fact sheets, and discussion questions, and additional activities
Teaches students about prescription drug misuse and reinforces refusal skills
Duration: 1+ class period(s)
Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Includes virtual field trip, classroom resources, self-paced module, parent toolkit, and video challenge
Teaches students about true impact of opioids and aids teachers in facilitation conversations in the classroom
Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education

Includes online documentary (Video password: Partnership)
Teaches about the dangers of misusing prescription painkillers and teen addiction.
Duration: 1 class period (video length: 26:52)
Source(s): Partnership for Drug Free Kids