Lesson 2

How Can I Say "NO"?

Instructional Objectives

In this lesson, students will learn how to distinguish between saying no in a passive, aggressive, or assertive way. Students will consider situations in which they must respond to negative peer pressure saying no.

Time Required

One fifty-minute lesson.

Procedures/Activities

Connecting to Prior Knowledge/Experience/Learning

In order to connect to students prior knowledge and increase desire to learn ways of saying "no", the teacher directs students to read articles on the About Health website in their cooperative groups and discuss the implications of not saying no. (In a classroom with limited or no internet access for students, the teacher may download several stories for student groups to discuss.) The teacher is then to have students share situations in which they had to say, "no", and ask students to share their feelings about how effective they were.

Teacher should also have students identify and explain the vocabulary they will be using in their "saying no" lesson.

Guided Practice

With the Response Form on the Averkey, teacher, together with students, will complete the first situation on the Situation Response Form.

Passive: "It doesn't fit." or "I'm saving it for a special occasion.",

Aggressive: "Why do you always buy me such ugly things?", or "That's a baby sweater, I hate it!"

Assertive: "No thanks Mom, I prefer to wear something a little more grown up.", or "No thanks Mom, it's a pretty sweater, but not my style."

Teacher may decide to model completion of the form for one or two more situations.

Individual Practice/Homework

Students will complete the remaining situations as individuals. During the final ten minutes of class, students will share with their cooperative groups. Groups will determine their "Best" example of the three ways to say no to share out with the class.

Extensions

Option 1: Teacher may provide students with the opportunity to practice their "Best" examples within their group to act out before the class.

Option 2: Teacher may ask students to watch and record at least ten people saying no and identify the type of response. Students would then write a paragraph sharing their thoughts about the effectiveness of the response.

Vocabulary

Passive: Allowing someone else to make your decisions.

Aggressive: Using confrontational behavior, loud, physical, rude or sarcastic.

Assertive: Says no, speaks clearly, usually followed by an "I" statement.

Assessment/Evaluation

You may assign points for this assignment which meet your needs.

When I use this assignment, it is worth a total of 30 points. Three points for each correct response.

Option 1 = 50 points for presentation

Option 2 = 50 points for written assignment

Advance Preparation/Prerequisite Knowledge/Skills/Illustrative Materials

Passive, Aggressive, Assertive Situation Response Form

Response form on computer/Averkey, projection device or overhead projector. Students should each have their own copy of the form.