Gate - Middles School - Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

5th Grade Lesson Plans

The fifth Grade Program is designed to address gang issues, anger, drugs, and stress and school violence in easy to understand terms, age specific to 5th graders. The program is set up into 7-lesson format with each lesson lasting about 40 minutes. During each program there are in class exercises to illustrate the day’s lessons. These lessons are designed to make understanding simple and easy for the maturity level of fifth graders .

Lesson #1 Anger
In this lesson students’ will learn what Anger is. They will also learn how to recognize Anger Triggers and Anger Cues. The goal is to teach youths to control and express Anger in Healthy ways. An in class exercise will be performed to illustrate this.

Lesson #2 Responding to Stress
In this lesson students’ will learn ways to manage stress. The students will be provided information about what triggers stress and how to manage it properly. An in class exercise will be used involving the students to help them understand stress. A short video presentation will be shown regarding stress.

Lesson #3 Gangs What‘s the Allure?
Students’ will differentiate between people and groups who chose responsible behavior and people/gangs who are violent. Students will learn what a gang is and see a video about the dangers of gangs. Handouts about gangs will be passed out. An in class exercise will be conducted.

Lesson #4 Drugs Lead to Violence
Students’ will learn by using drugs can lead to an increase risk of violence. They will learn what drugs are and what violence is. An exercise in class will be done to demonstrate how drugs affect more people than they think.

Lesson #5, Drug Addiction
In this lesson plan students’ will learn about the risks of drug addiction, and addiction’s effects will have on them.  The students’ will also learn about long-term effects as well as the problems that you can affect their family, friends and loved ones.

Lesson #6 School Violence.
In this lesson violence and being a victim is explored. Youths are provided with tips on how not to be a victim. In addition, school assaults and violence at school are covered as this very hot topic is touched upon.

Lesson #7, Gateway Drugs
To help students identify what a Gateway drug is and to learn the dangers regarding gateway drugs.

6th Grade Program Format

This grade level program is set up in Seven (8) 40-50 minute classes, designed to be taught in either one week blocks or once a week for eight weeks.. This format is designed for schools that have a low instance of gang involvement and thus less of a need for long-term involvement.

Lesson #1, Cut the Bull
In this lesson Bullying will be addressed. Who Bullies are and what an impact they have on those that they bully. What to do if you are bullied and how to combat those that bully without resorting to violence. A short video segment will be shown on Bullying.

Lesson #2, Groups, Packs, Cliques and Clubs.
In this lesson the group dynamic will be addressed. Students will learn why certain individuals gravitate towards joining a group. Students will also learn about the group mentality which can turn simple acts of youth mischief into violent aggressive behavior.

Lesson #3, Where do you Want to be
In this segment students will discuss goal setting and how to make plans to reach those goals. An in-class exercise will be done to illustrate this as well as a homework assignment

Lesson # 4, Its No Longer Black and White
In today‘s society peoples appearances and differences are no longer as simple as black and white. Student will learn in this segment that each person is unique. The student’s will learn that their individualism should be celebrated and not seen as a detriment. A short video segment on tolerance will be shown.

Lesson #5, Media influences on youth.
Covered in this lessons are the influences of movies, television and music and how it affects youth is covered. Gangster Rap music is highlighted along with “first person shooter“ video games. An in-class exercise will be conducted

Lesson #6, Gateway Drugs
In this lesson students learn to identify what a Gateway Drug is and learn about the dangers of gateway drugs. Alcohol, Tobacco and Marijuana will be highlighted.

Lesson #7, Inhalants
In this lesson the objectives are to identify what Inhalants are, to teach about the dangers of inhalants and to recognize the signs of Inhalant use.

Lesson #8, Prescription Drug, OTC Drug Abuse
In this lesson students will learn about what a prescription drug is, what the dangers of prescription drug use is and what to do if you believe someone is abusing the drugs. The lesson will also touch on Over the Counter drug abuse and how to resist pressures to abuse these drugs.

7th Grade Program Format

This 7th Grade Program is designed to be taught in two different formats. It can be taught in a one week block of 5 lessons. One lesson per day for five days, or one lesson a week for a total of 7 weeks. Each lesson plan covers approximately 45 minutes of class time. In each lesson there is a class exercise and constant discussion regarding the days lesson.

Lesson #1 Gangs and Gang Subculture
In this lesson, students will learn what a gang is. What types of crimes and illegal activities gangs and its membership commit. The students will also learn about the gang violence cycle and how it affects everyone. Short video presentation and in class exercises will be conducted.

Lesson #2, Gang Recruitment and Decision Making
In this lesson students will learn what methods gang use to recruit them. Decision Making skills and in class exercises will be conducted. Students will learn about how making good decisions affects their everyday life.

Lesson#3 Anger Management
This Alternate lesson which may be substituted at the instructors wish. The purpose of this alternate lesson is to provide the instructor the ability to adapt the program to the needs of the class. Anger Management what triggers anger and how to control anger will be taught. As well as providing outlets to direct anger into positive expressions. An in class exercise is also done.

Lesson#4 Alternatives to Joining A Gang
In this lesson, students will learn about what they can do to stay out of the gang lifestyle. Students will learn what sports activities and social activities they can do to keep active and gang free. Students will also learn about laws and curfew and why society needs both. Video presentation

Lesson #5 The Law
In this lesson students will learn what a law is, what a legal guardian is. In addition why there are laws. Students will be asked to identify reasons for laws and what society would be like without laws.

Lesson# 6 School Assaults and Violence
In this lesson students would learn about the dangers surrounding firearms. The students will also learn about what triggers school violence and ways to reduce violence acts around them. Video presentation

Lesson #7, Drug Prevention - Saying No
In this lesson the objectives is to learn ways to say "No" using a variety of different methods. To provide ways to stay drug free. To heighten awareness regarding drug abuse.


8th Grade Lesson Plans

The 8th Grade Program is designed to be a refresher program to the 7th grade programs, 7 lesson plans. In this block of instruction the students will be given the over view of topics covered in the 7th Grade Program. This provides reinforcement to topics covered previously as well as providing opportunities for students who are approaching High School to realize the dangers of the gangs and violence.

Lesson #1 Street Gangs and Its Subculture
In this lesson students will learn what a gang is. They will also learn what gangs do and how they affect society. A short video presentation will be shown.

Lesson #2 Leadership and Problem Solving
In this lesson students will be provided basic understanding about critical thinking, working with a collective group for the betterment of the group. In addition, the lesson has several in class exercises that deal with leadership building exercises designed to build leadership skills and group dynamics.

Lesson #3 Alternatives to Joining a Gang
Alternatives to joining a gang are covered. Curfew and why laws are necessary is covered. In addition the influences of movies, television and music and how it influences youth is covered.

Lesson #4 Violence
In this lesson violence the behavior associated with violence and what causes violence are covered. The differences between normal and abnormal behavior relating to violence are covered. Video presentation will be used.

Lesson #5 Being a Victim
Students will learn what a victim is. How someone becomes a victim and how not to become a victim of violence. In addition self-esteem building exercises and techniques will be covered to help equip students in dealing with victimization.

Lesson #6 Drug Abuse: Altered States
In this lesson students will learn about the dangers of each drug group, through in class exercise done by the students. They will learn to promote positive mental attitude and group learning and to illustrate the impact that drugs can have on their lives.

Lesson #7 Peer Pressure
The objective for students will be to identify the aspects of peer pressure to which they may be most susceptible. This is accomplished through an in class exercise.