Posibles soluciones

TOPIC AREAS: Problem Solving, Self Esteem

CONCEPT: Each person plays a special role in this world. None of us are the same and if any one of

us was missing, then someone’s life would be affected. We have to realize our own contribution to the world around us before we can truly feel good about ourselves. Our life affects the lives of others and their lives affect us.

METHOD: Classroom Activity

TIME FRAME: 10 minutes plus discussion time MATERIALS NEEDED: None

ACTIVITY: Have your group stand in a circle. Each person must hold hands and then move the circle

back until everyone is about arms length away from each other. This activity is a trust activity that demands that everyone contributes or it will not work. Have the group count off by two’s. Now, while holding hands tightly, all of the number ones will begin to lean into the circle while at the same time the number twos will begin to lean backwards out of the circle. Do this slowly so that everyone will have a chance to pick up pressure on their arms from the people on either side of them. If the entire circle leans at the same time, the pressure is spread throughout the circle and no one person feels much of the weight. Hold this position for a few seconds. Once you have accomplished this goal, begin to have the number ones lean back up and the number twos lean into the circle. This is a tremendous activity to show the strength that a group can have when they work together.

VARIATION:

If you want to contrast this activity with people who aren’t working together, have two people try to hold one person between them as they lean in and out. They will find that the person is heavier than when they were in the circle. They will also find out that the person can’t lean as far either direction with only two people holding them.

DISCUSSION IDEAS:

How did you feel when I first explained the activity? How did you feel when you were leaning into the circle? How did you feel when you were leaning out of the circle?

What would have happened if one person did not take their responsibilities seriously? What makes this activity work?

Why was it easier when the entire circle was leaning than when you were just holding one person between you?

What would have happened to the circle if one per son had decided to leave just when the leaning began?

How important was each person in this activity?

Describe a situation you have been in where others would be affected if you left the group or situation.

How does this exercise relate to your family?

What can this exercise tell us about our own impact on the groups that we belong to? What can this exercise tell us about working together?

UNKNOWN

TOPIC AREA: Drugs

CONCEPT: When you are dealing with drugs, there are so many variables that you really don’t know

what the reaction of your body will be. You may have a weak heart or some other internal defect that you don’t even know about. Then there is the uncertainty of the drugs themselves. Since street drugs are not made to conform with any federal laws, you don’t know what goes into them. There have been numerous reports of rat poison, talcum powder and other chemicals that have been used to cut or make a drug stretch farther in order to allow the drug dealers to make a larger profit. What you see is not always what you get, and there are no “truth in advertising” laws for the dealers to worry about.

METHOD: Classroom Demonstration

TIME FRAME: 8 minutes plus discussion time MATERIALS NEEDED:

5 water glasses 1 tablespoon

3 tablespoons of talcum powder 3 tablespoons of baking soda 3tablespoons of flour

3 tablespoons of powdered confectioners sugar 1 cup of vinegar

ACTIVITY: Before class put 3 tablespoons of each powder into 4 separate glasses. One type of

powder per glass. Crush the powders up so they look as much alike as possible. Also before class, pour approximately eight ounces of vinegar into the fifth glass. You don’t want anyone to see you do this or the mystery will be solved before you even begin. Begin the activity by showing all four powders to the class and ask them to decide which one will cause a chemical reaction when mixed with a liquid. Do not tell them what the liquid or powders are or in any way identify them other than to number them. Have the class vote by a raise of hands which powder they think looks the most likely to cause a chemical reaction. Keep a record of how many votes each glass of powder receives. One glass at a time, add a couple of ounces of vinegar to each of the four glasses. Arrange your glasses so you pour the vinegar into the glass with the baking soda in it last. When the vinegar and baking soda come into contact with each other, you will see a chemical reaction which will consist of a lot of foaming. Be sure that you have something under all of the glasses. This will protect the surface you are working on. The glass with the baking soda in it will cause the most reaction. The others will have minimal reaction. Take a look at the votes and see how well your class guessed which white powder was the one that would react.

How similar did the four powders look?

What happened when the vinegar was added to each of the four powders?

What criteria did you use to determine which powder you voted for before we added the vinegar? Was your criteria very useful?

Was the entire class any better at guessing the correct powder than you were? What can this activity tell us about knowing what is contained inside a drug?

Should we take the word of someone who gives us an illegal drug as to how safe it is? Why or why not?

What is the drug dealer’s reason for putting additional materials into a drug?

What would some of the reasons be that people could react differently to the same drug? Do we really know how each person will react before they try a drug?