- Inform the
class that they are going to a party where alcohol and
other drugs are being used and where risks are being
taken. Their task will be to identify the risks and
potential harms and decide how to avoid or reduce the
risks.
-
Explain to the
class that this activity can be played out in two ways:
one way involves discussing a situation in small
groups, while the other involves acting the situation
out for their class. Briefly describe the two options
below and determine which option the students prefer.
Alternatively, decide in advance which of the two
options would be most beneficial to the students and
present that option.
Option 1: Small group work-Discussion Class
Divide the students into groups of three, each group taking on one scenario from Student Handout 9.J-The Party Scenarios. For each scenario, the groups will be asked to fill in the details of the scenario, consider what risks and potential harms are involved and what options are open to them, and make a group decision about what they would do. The groups then present their conclusion back to the larger class for open discussion.
Option 2: Class play-Acting Class
Divide the students into groups of three, each group taking on one scenario from Student Handout 9.J-The Party Scenarios. For each scenario, the groups will be asked to fill in the details of the scenario, consider what risks and potential harms are involved and what options are open to them, make a group decision about what they would do, assign parts, and practise acting the scenarios. After preparing, each group acts out their skit and facilitates discussion on the skit.
- Once
the option has
been chosen, ask the class to divide up into groups of
two or three. Have them draw a scenario from the slips of
paper. Depending on the size of the class, you may need
to make two copies of the scenarios and have two groups
work separately on the same scenario. Explain that the
scenario consists of a few words only and it is up to
them to turn that starting point into a realistic
incident. All of the scenarios are meant to be taking
place at the same time and in the same place. Indicate
that one group will be drawing the role of the police and
their arrival needs to be included in every other
scenario.
-
Write the
following directions on the board:
Each scenario currently consists of just a phrase. Develop a more complete scenario around the phrase, taking into consideration all “actors” involved in the incident. In other words, create your own “short story”.- Once the
complete scenarios have been developed, decide who
will play each of the roles involved.
- Identify
the risks and potential harms that are present in the
scenario.
- Discuss
the options for either avoiding harm or dealing with
it before it gets any worse.
- Discuss
the impact of the police arriving for your situation.
- Make a decision about what to do, and do it.
- Once the
complete scenarios have been developed, decide who
will play each of the roles involved.
- Whether
going with the
acting or the small-group discussion option, give the
class the remainder of the current session to discuss
and/or practise their scenarios. Acting classes will be
expected to present a skit of their scenarios, while
discussion classes will be expected to verbally summarize
their scenarios and the highlights of their discussion to
the class.
-
If going with
the acting option, have each of the groups act out
their scenario in the second class of the learning
theme. After each skit, ask the class the following
questions:
- What risk
was taken here?
- What did
or could have gone wrong?
- What
options were available for reducing the risk?
- What do you think about the decision that was made by the actors?
- What risk
was taken here?
-
If the class is going with the
small-group work option, their class presentation will
consist of the following:
- a brief
description of their scenario
- a recap
of the risks involved and options they considered
- the action they took
After each presentation, ask the class to comment on additional ideas and suggestions they have about what risks were present and what action could be taken.
- a brief
description of their scenario
- At the end of the class, distribute Student Handout 9.K-Case Studies as homework for the next class.
Extension opportunity
Students may want to practise the play and perform it for other students in the school.