Finding Resources for Alcohol Awareness Day

VIDEOS

Sites for TEACHERS

Sites for STUDENTS

FOR TEACHERS :

Understanding Alcohol: Investigations into Biology and Behavior: The National Institutes of Health have developed a curriculum for grades 7-8. Learn about the science underlying the effects of alcohol on human biology and behavior.

Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has developed science education materials for second- and third-grade students on the brain and the effects of drugs (including alcohol) on the brain. The curriculum is titled Brain Power! The program consists of six modules. The goal of the curriculum is to lay the foundation for future scientific learning and substance abuse prevention efforts by providing an early elementary school-age audience with a basis of knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Reach Out Now Reach Out Now is a collaboration by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Scholastic Inc., to provide school-based, underage alcohol use prevention materials in time for Alcohol Awareness Month each April. These materials are designed especially for use by fifth- and sixth-grade students, their families, and their teachers, and is sent to fifth- and sixth-grade classroom teachers nationwide each year.

Alcohol: A True False Quiz: http://www.teachin.samhsa.gov/media/teachin/alcohol_quiz.pdf

Building Blocks for a Healthy Future: This early childhood substance abuse prevention kit includes fun, colorful, interactive materials for parents and caregivers to use with their children. The materials—which come in a game board-style box—are designed to help children make decisions, gain confidence, and improve self-esteem. Includes:
• Building Blocks Family Guide This guide contains ideas for fun activities and discussion starters, as well as advice and guidance on topics such as active listening, rule making, and being a good role model. It also can be used as a guide to the rest of the Building Blocks materials.
• Activity Book Through fun activities, children will learn to make good decisions, explore their emotions, and discover how enjoyable physical activity can be.
• Character Cards These Character Cards introduce children to the Building Blocks “friends” and provide details on each of their dreams, fears, and favorite activities.
• Building Blocks Music CD This CD includes songs that provide positive messages, encourage physical activity, and help children feel good about themselves. A CD booklet filled with all the words to the songs allow children to sing along with the “friends."
• ABC Coloring Book The ABC Coloring Book, which uses pictures to teach the alphabet, helps children develop their creative sides, practice their reading skills, and learn alliteration with the accompanying text.
• Know Kit Cards The Building Blocks Know Kit Cards provide discussion topics for parents and caregivers to use as they talk to children about the world and their bodies and minds. Age-appropriate questions help children expand their thinking and practice making decisions. The cards also offer suggestions for activities related to the questions.

FOR STUDENTS:

The Cool Spot This site is geared towards teens and focuses on getting the facts about underage drinking. The website contains frequently asked questions about underage drinking, a quiz on youth pop culture, a role play activity that allows youth to make decisions when faced with using alcohol and to learn the consequences of those decisions. and links to youth oriented sites.

National Association for Children of Alcoholics: The "Just for Kids" page of the NACOA site contains activities and information for Children of Alcoholics.

Tips For Teens: The Truth About Alcohol: This brochure provides facts and dispels myths about alcohol. Other brochures are also available in this series. Brochure in HTML | PDF

The newly created Youth Alcohol Prevention Project for addressing local marketing practices is suitable for any school youth group interested in a pro-active role in combating underage drinking in their community. This project raises local awareness about the marketing of alcohol to youth and provides a specific way for local retailers to partner with the youth to change marketing practices. Youth groups are encouraged to work with local retailers to adopt the Maine Alcohol Retailer’s Local Marketing Code of Conduct, a tool to raise awareness and change actual marketing practices. YEP will provide interested youth groups with: 1) a youth produced video, 2) copies of the code of conduct, 3) instructions for engaging retailers, and 4) signs to reward cooperating stores. Please go to www.neias.org/YEP/ or contact Adrienne Gallant at 626-3615.

VIDEOS from the Information & Resource Center :

If You Think Most Kids Drink--Think Again
See the video online: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/prevention/youth/thinkvideo.htm
Audience: 6-12 ; 10 min.

Synopsis: This video featuring the voices of Maine youth was produced as part of the media campaign: "If You Think Most Kids Drink--Think Again." The "Think Again" campaign was a series of 4 television ads featuring Maine youth. The conceptual model represented by the theme "Think Most Kids Drink? Think Again!" is grounded in research that demonstrates the importance of perceived social norms in young people's decisions about alcohol use. For a variety of reasons, including a barrage of media messages that glamorize alcohol use, young people often over perceive these norms. Their mistaken belief that "everybody else is drinking" leads to a subtle pressure to conform to a norm that doesn't exist in reality. The fact is that most middle and high school students in Maine are not using alcohol. This expanded video incorporates additional footage with the ads to delve into some of the issues around underage drinking. The accompanying guide can be used to stimulate a discussion about underage drinking.

Youth Voices IV
Audience: 6-12 ; 30 min.

Young people from the communities of Eastport, Jonesport, South Portland, and Standish from the ages of 12 to 22 produced public service announcements aimed at reaching their peers. Each group identified a message that would offer their perspective about issues relating to alcohol use and what role social norms play in underage drinking in Maine's communities. Their messages address issues such as misguided assumptions that alcohol is more popular than it is in reality, and the false belief that the majority of the youth population uses alcohol.

Find More:

The Information & Resource Center has a variety of curriculum resources and videos to loan to Maine teachers for Alcohol Awareness Day. Due to high demand, we encourage you to call us for information on available titles. 1-800-499-0027 or contact us via e-mail at osa.ircosa@maine.gov

Our catalog is online at: http://maineosa.org/irc/

To find alcohol videos by grade level:

From the introductory screen, click on the word COMBINATION under the enhanced searching options.

On the combination search screen, enter alcohol as a subject. Enter the grade level (ex: elem) as a note.

view of online search screen

The search example above produces a list of videos about alcohol geared to an elementary level. Use the grade level abbreviations defined here: prim (for k-2), elem (for 3-5), jr (for 6-8), sr (for 9-12) Some videos may be suitable for more than one audience level.

You can also read select comments from previous borrowers at our Media Comments Page.

Information and Resource Center
Maine Office of Substance Abuse
41 Anthony Ave.
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0011

1-800-499-0027 or 207-287-8900
TTY: 1-800-606-0215

E-mail: osa.ircosa@maine.gov