Peer Pressure Lesson 1

Lesson #1:
Time: This lesson was designed for a 45-50 minute time period.

Materials: The materials needed for this lesson include several copies of the “Pressure Seat Situations” (See below). You will want to select five situations for each group.

Begin by saying: All of us are faced with situations when our friends or acquaintances invite us to do whatever they are doing. Some of these things are good for us and some can be harmful to us. We all want to have friends. We sometimes feel pressure to join the crowd and to do whatever they are doing.

Next, divide the students into groups of five and say “Let’s play a game called ‘Pressure Seat.’” Select one student in each group to choose a pressure seat situation of the five given to each group. The student will read the situation aloud and respond in one minute. The group will discuss the situation and tell if they agree or disagree with the decision made by the student. The student in the pressure seat then chooses another to take his or her place. This student selects from the remaining four situations given to the group and so on until each member of the group has been in the pressure seat.

Processing Activity: The activity concludes with a discussion with the entire class. Questions might include: How do you feel about the decisions you made? What are some of the factors you considered in making your decision? Some examples may be: peer pressure, consequences, and so forth. Peer pressure is part of everyday life. Being aware of the effects of peer pressure will help you make better decisions. Be aware of the effects peer pressure has on your daily decisions.

“Pressure Seat Situations”

* You are on your way home from school. Your best friend shows you a pack of cigarettes and says, “Let’s go over behind the building and smoke one.” What would you do? Why?
* You are at school taking a test. The person sitting next to you is cheating and offers the test answers to you. What would you do? Why?
* Three people in your room are wearing the most popular brand of athletic shoe. You really would like to have a pair and think your friends are cool. Your mother tells you she does not have the money to buy a pair. What would you do? Why?
* You are at your friend’s house on Saturday. Your friend shows you a marijuana joint and tries to get you to smoke with him. What would you do? Why?
* Your friends decide they are mad at the teacher and are not going to study for the social studies test. They also are not going to do homework for the rest of the year. What would you do? Why?
* You are going to the store for your mother and you see two of your older friends hanging around the store. They try to get you to steal a bag of chips for them and promise you a ride on their motorcycle in return. What would you do? Why?
* It is after dark and you are still playing outside. Some of your friends decide it would be fun to throw rocks at some cars. They want you to come along. What would you do? Why?
* You’ve learned that another student has brought a gun to school. What would you do? Why?
* You are home alone. Your mother has told you not to leave the house while she is gone. Your friend calls and wants you to come over and tells you that your mother will never know. What would you do? Why?
* You have permission to go skating with a friend. You are to be home by 9:00 pm. Your friend decides to go next door for a hamburger after skating and wants you to go along. You realize that if you go along, you’ll be late getting home. What would you do? Why?
* Your friend is passing notes in class which say ugly things about a classmate. Someone gives the note to you. What would you do? Why?
* Several of your friends are wearing makeup. Your parents think you are too young to wear makeup. What would you do? Why?
* Some of your friends have dyed their hair in a punk style. You really don’t think it looks good, but would really like to feel more a part of the group. Your parents do not approve of punk hair styles. What would you do? Why?
* You are invited to a friend’s house for a party. You get there and realize your friend’s parents are not there. Your friend is drinking beer and offers you some. What do you do? Why?
* One of the students in your room (classmates) tells you that if you don’t want to get beaten up after school, you had better give him your lunch money. What would you do? Why?

* Suggestions for Use with Younger Children:

This lesson/activity can be adapted to use with early elementary children by changing some of the “Pressure Seat Situations” to reflect situations or behaviors more typical of younger children (e.g., pretend that a good friend of yours from school asks you to steal a toy from a girl in your class, what do you do?) The process questions following the activity could also be modified to fit the age group. Children could be asked questions like what choices do we have when someone asks us to do something we don’t want to do? How can we let people know that we do not want to be a part of something? Why is it important that we do not follow others when we know that what they want us to do is wrong?