Less Drinking, More Thinking: Renewing a Curriculum of Alcohol Awareness

Krista House, Melissa Kemp, & Hale !oung

Miami "ni#ersit $%hio&
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A(stract
)*perimentation with alcohol relate+ pro+ucts affects e#er high school, -urthermore,
the risk of stu+ents +rinking increases +uring .rom season, /n or+er to com(at this, we
are proposing a one0week program (efore prom that will inform stu+ents of the +angers
of alcohol an+ the potential conse1uences,
The theme we focuse+ on is curriculum an+ instruction +e#elopment in regar+s to
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un+erage +rinking, as well as professionalism in the teaching profession, "n+erage
alcohol consumption is a wi+esprea+ pro(lem across the nation, Accor+ing to the
organi3ation 4tu+ents Against Drunk Dri#ing, or 4ADD, 56earl three 1uarters of
stu+ents $728& ha#e consume+ alcohol $more than 9ust a few sips& ( the en+ of high
school,: $4ADD 4tatistics&, /t is also common practice for man stu+ents to partake in
alcohol consumption on .rom night, Accor+ing to the law firm )+gar 4n+er an+
Associates, 5During prom, gra+uation, an+ homecoming weeken+s, ;78 of fatal car
crashes of '<0 to 2=0ear0ol+s in#ol#e+ alcohol,: $"n+erage Drinking /nformation &
Resources&, 4tu+ents e*periment with alcohol without full un+erstan+ing all of the
+angers that can come with it, which lea+s to stu+ents putting themsel#es in +angerous
an+ compromising situations, .rograms like D,A,R,), are (eneficial, (ut the +o not cater
to high school age stu+ents 00 the stu+ents who are most likel to partake in alcohol
consumption, /n or+er to com(at alcohol consumption in high school, we are proposing a
one0week curriculum that 9uniors an+ seniors will participate in, in or+er to e+ucate
themsel#es on the +angers of alcohol,
/n each of the stu+ents> Math, 4cience, )nglish an+ Histor classes, stu+ents will
learn a(out alcohol in a wa that is rele#ant to the content of that class, 4tu+ents will also
(e e*pecte+ to complete small pro9ects in the classes mentione+ a(o#e that re#ol#e
aroun+ alcohol, 4tu+ents will (e aske+ to relate the information the learn in their classes
(ack to themsel#es an+?or their communities, making connections an+ satisfing the
Connectionism Theor, The 4chema Theor will also (e use+ +uring the program,
4tu+ents will (uil+ off of their pre#ious knowle+ge an+?or assumptions of alcohol
consumption, making the learning process an+ creating connections easier, Asking
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stu+ents to recall their pre#ious e*periences with alcohol will make the matter more
personal an+ meaningful to the stu+ent, Also, interacting with their peers will satisf the
4ocial Constructi#ism theor, which states that learning is a result of chil+ren interacting
sociall with others, A listening to their peers share e*periences, stu+ents will (e a(le to
create stronger (on+s with the content as well as with one another, The pro9ects are
+esigne+ to (e informati#e (ut fun, keeping the stu+ents intereste+ an+ e*cite+ to learn,
A large part of schooling is preparing stu+ents for the outsi+e worl+ an+ gi#ing
them the tools to maneu#er that worl+, /t is no secret that stu+ents face peer pressure, Be
hope that this program will gi#e stu+ents the (ackgroun+ information the nee+ to make
informe+ an+ responsi(le +ecisions when pressure+ ( peers, )#er e+ucator wants their
stu+ents to ha#e a goo+ an+ successful life, an+ it is our 9o( as e+ucators to help lea+
chil+ren +own the right path, /nstea+ of ignoring the incessant peer pressuring that is
happening right un+er our noses, we shoul+ a++ress the issue an+ present to stu+ents the
+angers of succum(ing to peer pressure, as well as pro#i+e resources to stu+ents to help
them make the right +ecisions, /t is our 9o( as e+ucators to keep our stu+ents safe from
harm, an+ alcohol awareness +efinitel falls un+er that um(rella, /n or+er to con+uct
correct professionalism in the classroom, we must not (e negligent when it comes to
e+ucating our stu+ents on the +angers of alcohol,
The purpose of the program is to e1uall inform stu+ents on the +angers of
alcohol while still gi#ing stu+ents the chance to make meaningful connections with the
information the are learning, Be want the stu+ents to come out of the program with a
sense of responsi(ilit an+ accounta(ilit for their actions, The program is +emocraticC it
encourages stu+ents to raise their #oice an+ share their stories +ealing with alcohol
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consumption, 4tu+ents shoul+ walk awa from the program with a (etter un+erstan+ing
of how alcohol impacts their (o+ies an+ their 9u+gment, as well as, an un+erstan+ing of
how alcohol can affect their lo#e+ ones, A the en+ of the program, stu+ents shoul+ (e
e1uippe+ with enough information an+ personal connections to make responsi(le
+ecisions regar+ing alcohol consumption,
/n or+er to (est com(at this issue of alcohol consumption ( outh, we are
plaing the role of curriculum +e#elopers who are intereste+ in intro+ucing alcohol
pre#ention an+ e+ucation courses to high school stu+ents (ecause there are currentl onl
programs, such as D,A,R,), for elementar0age stu+ents who are not as affecte+ ( this
issue, To sol#e this pro(lem, we propose the i+ea of an 5Alcohol Beek: curriculum, as
mentione+ pre#iousl, that will (e a week long e#ent for all 9uniors an+ seniors in each of
the +istrict high schools, The program is +esigne+ to increase an+ e*pan+ on pree*isting
knowle+ge a(out alcohol an+ its conse1uences through focuse+ research in )nglish,
Math, 4cience, an+ Histor courses, as well as, a simulation?:e*perience: +a that
pro#i+es han+s0on, more personal e*periences for the stu+ents,
To (e most effecti#e, the planning for this e#ent will in#ol#e the three curriculum
+e#elopers, as well as, se#eral facult an+ a+ministration that ha#e first0han+ knowle+ge
of the school an+ on the stu+ents that the curriculum will (e focuse+, /n this wa, the
result will (e a tangi(le an+ real approach to the curriculum that coul+ trul (e
accomplishe+ an+ e*ecute+ in the school, /ts implementation will (egin in spring of ne*t
ear $2='<&, allowing for the planning an+ logistics of the e#ent to (egin in the summer,
an+ continue through the fall semester $2=';&, This a++itional planning time will ensure
that all necessar re1uirements for the specific week will (e sche+ule+ an+ prepare+ well
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in a+#ance, making the week itself run accor+ing to plan, 5Alcohol Beek: will thus
occur in the month of Ma, +uring the week +irectl (efore prom, which will fall on that
coming 4atur+a, +ue to the agreement (etween the curriculum0+e#eloping groups that
.rom is time of ear in which most cases of alcohol consumption an+ a(use occur, Thus,
this woul+ (e the optimal week to e+ucate the stu+ents, After the first ear of
implementation, this program will recur e#er other ear, so that all 9uniors an+ seniors
will participate in this e#ent at least once, $The following laout was +eci+e+ upon (
facult, a+ministration, an+ us $the curriculum +e#elopers&,&
%n the -ri+a (efore 5Alcohol Beek:, stu+ents will (e gi#en a han+out +uring
)nglish that e*plains the pro9ect the stu+ents will (e completing, an+ the laout for the
following week, This intro+uction will allow the stu+ents time to prepare, an+ will allow
teachers to +i#i+e their classrooms into groups, )ach group will (e responsi(le for
researching a #ariet of topics relate+ to alcohol, with either a focus on (eer, li1uor, or
wine, or a com(ination of the three, %n Mon+a of the following week, stu+ents will rea+
works of authors from +ifferent cultural (ackgroun+s that talk a(out alcohol, or authors
that ma ha#e struggle+ with alcoholism themsel#es, in )nglish, while +iscussing the use
of alcohol in the "nite+ 4tates in Histor, /n Math class, stu+ents will e*plore the
statistics of alcohol use in to+a>s societ, inclu+ing taking an anonmous sur#e a(out
alcohol use, an+ in science, stu+ents will learn (ackgroun+ information a(out what
specificall occurs in the (o+ as a result of alcohol consumption, an+ what happens that
causes in+i#i+uals to (ecome into*icate+,
%n Tues+a, stu+ents in )nglish will choose (etween writing a short stor or a
poem that is centere+ on alcohol, stu+ents in Math will e*plore what is consi+ere+ 5one
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+rink: for (eer, li1uor, an+ wine, an+ calculate how man +rinks impair 9u+gment?a(ilit
to +ri#e (ase+ on a stu+ent>s personal (o+ weight, an+ stu+ents in science will learn wh
a++iction occurs, or specificall what parts of the (o+ cause it, an+ what happens to the
(o+ +uring with+rawal, /n Histor, stu+ents will learn a(out alcohol>s histor an+ its
5tra#el:?sprea+ throughout +ifferent countries, %n Be+nes+a, all )nglish, Math,
4cience, an+ Histor classes will allow stu+ents to ha#e a research +a, )nglish classes
will peer re#iew?e+it their short stories or poems, Math classes will (egin their research
on (loo+ alcohol content $AAC& an+ graphing of +ata, 4cience class groups will research
a specific smptom of alcohol consumption, an+ e*plain wh sai+ smptom occurs, i,e,
what (o+ parts are affecte+ that result in alcohol consumption smptoms, an+ Histor
classes will research +ifferent countries an+ stu+ent groups will research how the specific
countr that the selecte+ uses alcohol?what it means to that culture,
Thurs+a will (e sche+ule+ as a presentation +a in all rooms, )nglish stu+ents
will share their short stories or poems with the classC math groups will present their
fin+ings a(out (loo+ alcohol content an+ what is consi+ere+ 5one +rink: using
mathematical language, each science group will present their fin+ings on which (o+
parts are affecte+ to result in a specific smptom of alcohol consumption, an+ histor
groups will present their research a(out the utili3ation?meaning of alcohol in +ifferent
countries, -inall, on -ri+a, the 9uniors an+ seniors will participate in a
4imulation?4tation Da, in which the ha#e the +a to participate in +ifferent sche+ule+
e#ents of their choosing, 4ome of these stations an+ e#ents inclu+e: using 5(eer goggles:
to tr an+ complete a #ariet acti#ities, ha#ing police officers share their stories an+
e*periences a(out inci+ents in#ol#ing alcohol, an+ ha#e speakers come in to share their
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stories a(out alcoholism an+ o#ercoming a++iction, Throughout the +a, a (ell will also
ring o#er the lou+speaker e#er time $statisticall& a person +ies from a +rinking an+
+ri#ing acci+ent, an+ at the en+ of that -ri+a, stu+ents will gather in the foot(all sta+ium
an+ #iew an acci+ent simulation of a +runk +ri#ing car crash,
Concept Map:
Question: Be ha#e the D,A,R,), program in elementar schools, (ut wh +o we not
ha#e alcohol e+ucation programs in high schools, where stu+ents are more prone to
5e*periment:, an+ are also reaching the age in which the are a(le to +ri#eE
Scenario:
Beek of prom $FMa&
Gunior an+ senior high school stu+ents
4tu+ents will (e put into groups in class, an+ then (e responsi(le for researching
their selecte+ topic relate+ to alcohol
Friday before Alcohol Week:
4tu+ents will recei#e a han+out e*plaining the laout an+ pro9ects?presentations
the will (e completing for the following week
Bill (e place+ in groups in Math, 4cience, an+ Histor classesC )nglish classes
will work in+i#i+uall
Monday:
)nglish :
o Rea+ works of authors $from +ifferent cultural (ackgroun+s& that +iscuss
alcohol or ma ha#e struggle+ with alcoholism
o Discuss how alcohol?alcoholism can affect one>s writing an+ career
o Discuss importance of talking a(out alcohol in literature, i,e, what +o these
pieces of literature offer to societE
Math :
o 4tu+ents will e*plore statistics of alcohol use in to+a>s societ
o 4tu+ents will take an anonmous sur#e (ase+ on personal alcohol use
an+ statistics will (e calculate+, organi3e+ in ta(les?plots, an+ +iscusse+
o Discuss increase or +ecrease of un+erage +rinking in the ",4, an+ graph
this +ata
4cience:
o 4tu+ents will learn the +ifferent chemical processes to make the @ main
alcohol tpes $(eer, wine, li1uor&
o 4tu+ents will learn what specificall occurs in the (o+ when a person
+rinks alcohol, i,e, what (o+ parts are affecte+
Histor :
H
o Discuss the use an+ histor of alcohol in the "nite+ 4tates
Tuesday:
)nglish :
o 4tu+ents will choose to write either a short stor or a poem centere+
aroun+ alcohol that is fictional or personal
Math :
o 4tu+ents will +etermine what amount counts as 5one +rink: for: (eer,
li1uor, an+ wine
o 4tu+ents will calculate how man +rinks woul+ raise their AAC to legall
into*icate+, using their own personal (o+ weight
o 4tu+ents will calculate the a#erage amount of +rinks for (oth males an+
females that result in legal into*ication, an+ +iscussion will occur
4cience :
o 4tu+ents will learn wh a++iction occurs, i,e, the long0term effects of
+rinking on the (o+ that cause a++iction, an+ parts of the (o+ that cause
it
o 4tu+ents will learn what happens to the (o+ +uring with+rawal
Histor :
o 4tu+ents will learn a(out the histor of alcohol glo(all, an+ how alcohol
was intro+uce+ to countries across the glo(e
o 4tu+ent groups will pick a countr to research an+ +etermine how that
countr uses alcohol, an+ what it means to those citi3ens
Wednesday:
)nglish :
o 4tu+ents will e*change papers with one another, complete peer re#iew,
an+ e+it
Math :
o 4tu+ents will (egin group research on the AAC pro9ect
o 4tu+ents must consi+er the AAC le#el that is legal to +ri#e, legal for those
un+erage, an+ compare +rink le#els for men an+ women
o 4tu+ents will (egin to organi3e information in ta(les an+ graphs
4cience :
o 4tu+ent groups will (e assigne+ a specific 5smptom: of +rinking
o 4tu+ent groups will research wh their specific smptom occurs in relation
to how alcohol affects the (o+
Histor :
o 4tu+ent groups will complete research on their specific countr>s use of
alcohol
Thursday:
)nglish :
o 4tu+ents will share their short stor or poem with the class
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Math :
o 4tu+ent groups will present their fin+ings a(out AAC le#els an+ 5Bhat is
one +rinkE: using mathematical language an+ clear presentation
techni1ues
o 4tu+ent groups shoul+ also +iscuss how the utili3e+ +ifferent
technologies for the pro9ect, an+ will +iscuss similarities an+ +ifferences
among groups
4cience :
o 4tu+ent groups will take turns presenting their 5smptoms: of alcohol, an+
wh these smptoms occur upon consumption of alcohol
o 4tu+ents will present in or+er of increasing 5smptom: se#erit, an+
+iscuss their fin+ings as a class
Histor :
o 4tu+ent groups will present their countr>s cultural uses an+ opinions on
alcohol consumption
o The class will compare an+ contrast
Friday:
4tu+ents will start off the +a in homeroom an+ participate in gui+e+ +iscussion
a(out the week
All 9unior an+ senior stu+ents will then (e gi#en the +a to participate an+ listen
to a #ariet of simulations an+ lectures
Station 1: Alcohol oles
4tu+ents will +ri#e a golf cart while wearing (eer goggles with a facult mem(er
in the passenger seat
o 4tu+ents will (e a(le to feel the effects of +ri#ing while un+er the
influence of alcohol
4tu+ents will (e a(le to take a so(riet test
o 4tu+ents can practice walking in a straight line, touching (o+ parts, one
leg stan+, while wearing (eer goggles
Station !: "olice officers
.olice officers share their stories an+ e*periences a(out inci+ents in#ol#ing
alcohol
.olice officers will (ring in their +rug sniffing +ogs an+ e*plain how the +ogs are
use+
.olice officers will partake in a 1uestion an+ answer session with the stu+ents
Station #: Testi$onials
4peakers share their stories a(out alcoholism an+ o#ercoming a++iction
4peakers will (e of +ifferent (ackgroun+s an+ ages
%ther:
The (ell will ring o#er the announcements e#er time a person +ies from a
'=
+rinking an+ +ri#ing acci+ent
Anonmous 1uestion?comment (o*es will (e place+ throughout school, allowing
stu+ents to ask 1uestions that the might not (e comforta(le asking in person
o 5Common: 1uestions will (e answere+ ( facult, an+ sent #ia email to
stu+ents 4atur+a morning to ser#e as a remin+er (efore prom
Car crash simulation will occur at the en+ of the +a in which current seniors,
selecte+ ( the facult, will pla the role of the 5#ictims: an+ police officers,
parame+ics, an+ firefighters from the local communit will participate in their
roles
o A pre#iousl wrecke+ car taken from a 9unkar+ will (e use+
o .re#ious recor+ings of the stu+ents, parame+ics, firefighters, police
officer, parents, etc, will (e plae+ o#er the lou+speakers to narrate the
e#ents that are unfol+ing, i,e, (eing acte+ out
An e*ample of how the core i+eas of our curriculum might look in practice is
liste+ a(o#e in the concept map, /n each su(9ect area, stu+ents +iscuss the (ackgroun+ of
alcohol use an+ then appl it in their content area, -or e*ample, in the )nglish classroom,
stu+ents will write a narrati#e poem or stor in which the use personal life e*periences,
or the can write a fictional piece, The point of the assignment is to inform the au+ience
of the conse1uences of alcohol use while +iscussing how it can affect those aroun+ ou as
well, 6e*t, in mathematics, stu+ents take a personal sur#e within their class, This +ata
can (e use+ to appl statistical proce+ures an+ graphical techni1ues, /n science, stu+ents
will learn a(out the effects of alcohol on the (o+, inclu+ing smptoms an+ the
with+rawal process, -inall, stu+ents in histor class will learn a(out the histor of
alcohol inclu+ing prohi(ition, an+ also the geographical use of alcohol, These specific
e*amples illustrate that the topic of alcohol pre#ention will (e incorporate+ to all aspects
of the school +a in meaningful was, in which truth is e*pose+ an+ open +iscussion is
encourage+,
/n regar+s to an inno#ati#e use of technolog, one wa this will (e present in the
math classroom, %n the first +a, stu+ents will use an online computer sstem to take
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their anonmous sur#e, -urthermore, stu+ents will use a computer software program
calle+ JeoJe(ra, in or+er to graph their fin+ings on a coor+inate gri+, This program will
help stu+ents to #isuall see the changing rates of alcohol use an+ the +ifferent alcohol
le#els that affect people to+a, -urthermore, technolog will (e present on -ri+a, +uring
the simulation +a for 9uniors an+ seniors, This can (e seen in the use of (eer goggles an+
go0carts, 4tu+ents will ha#e man han+s0on opportunities to interact with technolog,
6e*t, a ke commitment to a multicultural approach is reflecte+ in our curriculum
pro9ect, An important part of this weeklong curriculum is the final cumulati#e +a, The
5conference stle: +a, with +ifferent stations, will in#ol#e speakers from +ifferent
(ackgroun+s, This inclu+es ol+ an+ oung a+ults of +ifferent races, ethnicities, an+
e*periences, This wa, stu+ents will (e a(le to hear a(out alcoholism an+ pre#ention
from multiple perspecti#es, while hopefull e*periencing a presentation from someone
the can relate to, /t is important for stu+ents to (e aware that alcoholism can affect all
tpes of people, not 9ust from one sector of our societ, This +iscussion will can also (e
foun+ in the Histor classrooms, with knowle+ge of geographical (ackgroun+s an+
groups of users e*plore+,
6e*t, our team will assess stu+ent progress of our curriculum throughout the
week, -irstl, stu+ents will (e completing assignments an+ acti#ities Mon+a through
Be+nes+a, in each su(9ect area, /n )nglish, the stu+ents will (e assesse+ on their
narrati#e or poem, 4tu+ents will (e e#aluate+ on their a(ilit to inform the au+ience
while also +iscussing personal opinions of the topic, in a++ition to partaking in the peer
re#iew process, /n math, the stu+ents will (e assesse+ on their alcohol graph,
mathematical computations, an+ a(ilit to organi3e their +ata logicall, 6e*t, the science
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stu+ents will (e assesse+ on their e#aluation of an alcoholic smptom in regar+s to its
effects on the (o+, -inall, stu+ents in histor class will complete an assignment on
research of specific countr an+ the effects that it has in this area, %#erall, in each su(9ect
area, teachers will (e a(le to easil assess their stu+ents un+erstan+ing an+ knowle+ge of
the topics (ase+ a ru(ric the create for each of their assignments turne+ in, -urthermore,
stu+ents will (e assesse+ on Thurs+a when presenting their fin+ings to the class,
Teachers will e#aluate stu+ents on their a(ilit to rela their information properl to the
class, as well as reflect on the topics +eepl an+ criticall, More important than content is
the a(ilit for these high school stu+ents to think +eepl a(out their actions an+ future
conse1uences that can occur, -inall, stu+ents o#erall un+erstan+ing can (e e#aluate+ on
-ri+a when the participate in the +ifferent work stations, Through hearing testimonials
an+ participating in han+s0on acti#ities, stu+ents will (e a(le to gain knowle+ge an+
engage in +iscussions with their peers an+ e+ucators, Thus, stu+ents will (e assesse+
perio+icall throughout the week, an+ there will (e man opportunities for stu+ents to
+ispla their knowle+ge, make connections, an+ 1uestion the worl+ aroun+ them,
As mentione+, un+erage alcohol consumption is a ma9or an+ rele#ant issue in our
societ to+a, )speciall for high school stu+ents, the temptation to participate in
un+erage +rinking is high, an+ is especiall pre#alent aroun+ .rom season, Be hope that
through our reconstructe+ curriculum, stu+ents an+ teachers will (e a(le to openl
e*plore a topic that is rele#ant to their +ail li#es, an+ +o so in a real an+ tangi(le
approach to the su(9ect, Hopefull, through participation in 5Alcohol Beek:, stu+ents
will gain a greater knowle+ge on the effects of consuming alcohol, especiall in large
amounts, an+ (ecome more aware to the numerous an+ #arie+ conse1uences that ma
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occur as a result, Be want stu+ents to (e in#ol#e+ in more thinking, an+ less +rinking,
when situations, such as .rom, occur,
Works Cited
4ADD 4tatistics, $n,+,&, SADD Statistics, Retrie#e+ April 2', 2=';, from
http:??www,sa++,org?stats,htmKun+erage
"n+erage Drinking /nformation & Resources, $n,+,&, edgarsnyder.com, Retrie#e+ April
2', 2=';, from http:??www,e+garsn+er,com?car0acci+ent?teen?un+erage0
+rinking,html
';