Over the next few weeks, NIMCO will be sharing some "Attention Grabber™" ideas that you can use in class to help teach about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The “Attention Grabbers™” are designed to assist with teaching and speaking about the adverse effects alcohol and drugs cause to all who are exposed to these addictive drugs. We live in a visual society, making visual aids a needed resource to assist with speaking or teaching thus enabling you to reach your entire audience. The suggestions are designed to assist your alcohol and drug education programs. You may expound upon each scenario as your presentation or speaking time allows. Each “Attention Grabber™” is very cost effective to present with the suggested visual aids to reiterate the information given during your presentation. These "Attention Grabber™" ideas are also great for Red Ribbon Week!
Supplies:
• 2 Glass jars (a mayonnaise jar works great)
• 1 Ping Pong Ball
• Rice (uncooked)
Directions:
Put the Ping Pong Ball in the bottom of the jar. Hold the jar up so the audience can see.
Tell the students that the ping-pong ball represents them as a person. You realize that their life is filled full of activities such as school, sports, academics, possibly a part time job, homework, etc. Then on the personal side, you have your friends, family, and a lot of peer pressure. As you are talking, pour rice in the jar using the rice to simulate how all of these factors surround their life. When the jar is full put the lid on and hold the jar up so everyone can see.
Ask the group if they ever feel surrounded just like this ping-pong ball? After the audience responds, tell the group that the most important thing is to be like the ping-pong ball and put their well being first in their life. The ball went in the jar first which means that even though they feel surrounded at times they are still in charge if they use good judgment and make sure that they do not make unhealthy choices like drugs and alcohol.
Pick up the second jar and start pouring the rice from the first jar into the empty jar. Start explaining
to the group that when they put everything first instead of their personal health and safety bad
things can happen. You soon lose sight of your goals and dreams and many times you're influenced
by negative peer pressure. After you have filled the jar with rice, take the ping-pong ball and
ask the group where they will be if they let drugs, alcohol and negative peer pressure control their
lives. Put the ball on top of the rice and try to put the lid on the jar. It will not fit... Explain that only
when you put yourself first and practice healthy choices will you be in control of your life. Otherwise, you are out of control.
Suggested supplemental materials may be purchased at www.nimcoinc.com
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