Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 5

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco.
• Understand why nicotine is addictive.
• Learn how to resist peer pressure.
• Know where to find help in your community.
• Recognize the legal age for buying alcohol and tobacco.

Lesson summary

This week, we will be exploring the topic of substance abuse, specifically focusing on alcohol and tobacco. This is an extremely important topic for all young South Africans to understand. Knowing about the dangers and consequences of alcohol and tobacco use can help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being, protect you from peer pressure, and empower you to live a healthy and productive life. Unfortunately, substance abuse is a significant issue in many South African communities, contributing to various social and health problems. By learning about these substances now, you can contribute to creating a healthier future for yourselves and your communities.

Lesson notes

What is Substance Abuse? Substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and tobacco. Psychoactive substances affect the way your brain works and can change your mood, thinking, and behavior. Using these substances can lead to dependence, where your body needs the substance to function normally, and addiction, where you crave the substance and struggle to stop using it even when it causes harm. Alcohol Alcohol is a depressant drug. This means it slows down the functions of the brain and central nervous system. It is found in drinks like beer, wine, and spirits (like brandy or vodka).

Harmful Effects of Alcohol: Brain Damage: Alcohol can damage brain cells, leading to problems with memory, learning, and thinking.

Liver Damage: The liver processes alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).

Heart Problems: Alcohol can weaken the heart muscle and increase the risk of heart disease.

Accidents and Injuries: Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents, falls, and injuries.

Addiction (Alcoholism): Regular heavy drinking can lead to alcohol dependence and addiction, which is a serious health problem.

Social Problems: Alcohol abuse can lead to problems at school, with family and friends, and can even lead to legal issues.

Example: Imagine Sipho, a Grade 5 learner whose older brother started drinking heavily. Sipho notices his brother is often angry, struggles to concentrate on his schoolwork, and sometimes gets into arguments with their parents. This illustrates how alcohol can negatively affect someone's behavior, studies, and relationships. Tobacco Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug. It is typically smoked in the form of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or used as snuff.

Harmful Effects of Tobacco (Nicotine): Addiction: Nicotine is extremely addictive, making it very difficult to quit smoking or using tobacco products.

Lung Cancer: Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.

Heart Disease: Nicotine raises blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Respiratory Problems: Smoking damages the lungs, leading to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.

Other Cancers: Smoking increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.

Secondhand Smoke: Even being around someone who is smoking (breathing in secondhand smoke) can be harmful to your health, especially for children.

Example: Think about Zola's grandmother, who has been smoking cigarettes since she was a teenager. Now, she struggles to breathe, coughs a lot, and has been diagnosed with a lung disease. This shows the long-term health consequences of smoking. Peer Pressure and How to Resist It Peer pressure is when people your age try to influence you to do something, even if you don't want to. This can be a big factor in young people starting to use alcohol or tobacco.

Strategies to Resist Peer Pressure: Say "No" Firmly: Be clear and confident in your refusal.

Give a Reason: Explain why you don't want to use alcohol or tobacco (e.g., "It's bad for my health," or "I don't want to disappoint my parents").

Suggest an Alternative Activity: Propose something else to do that doesn't involve alcohol or tobacco (e.g., play a game, watch a movie, or go for a walk).

Surround Yourself with Supportive Friends: Choose friends who share your values and don't pressure you to do things you're not comfortable with.

Walk Away: If you feel uncomfortable or pressured, remove yourself from the situation. Legal Age Restrictions In South Africa, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy alcohol or tobacco products. This law is in place to protect young people from the harmful effects of these substances. The brain is still developing during adolescence, and alcohol and nicotine can interfere with this development. Community Resources There are many resources available in your community to help with substance abuse issues.

These include: Clinics and Hospitals: Offer medical treatment and counseling for addiction.

Support Groups: Provide a safe space for people struggling with addiction to share their experiences and support each other. (e.g., Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous - though aimed at adults, they can provide valuable information)

School Counselors: Can provide information, support, and referrals to other resources.

Community Centers: Often offer educational programs and support services related to substance abuse prevention. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: List two ways in which alcohol can harm your body.

Solution: Alcohol can damage your liver. Alcohol can impair your judgment and coordination, leading to accidents.

Commentary: This question assesses understanding of the physical effects of alcohol. The answer needs to identify specific organs or functions affected.