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HomeDrug Free Me - Preschool Education Unit
Drugs, Now why would I want to do that? - Preschool Activity
Drug-free Me Activity 9
Tell the children they are going to do a walking story. This story is called, "Now why would I want to do that?" Have the children stand in place and act out what's happening in the story as you tell it.
I was walking along, enjoying my great body and how it moves so well when I want it to. All of the sudden, I smelled something. Phew! (Pinch your nose.) If was a cigarette on the ground, sending up dirty, smelly smoke, into my nose! I thought to myself, I love my body. (Hug yourself.) My lungs are in my body. (Have children point to chest.) And I know (point to head) that cigarettes are bad for my lungs (shake your finger). Now why would I want to smell smoke? (Put your hands on your hips and shrug your shoulders). So, I walked away from there.
In a few minutes I saw a big kid that I didn't know. This big kid wanted to give me a pill to put in my body. I said "No way!" (Children say "no way") "Now go away!" (Point away from yourself). I thought to myself, I love my body (hug yourself). My brain is in my body. I know (point to head) that some drugs are very bad for my brain (point to head). Now why would I want to take any drugs from another kid? So I walked away very fast (Have children speed up pace.)
Now I was safe so I slowed down a little. (Have children adjust pace.) I kept on walking and I saw some older kids smoking. They asked me if I wanted a puff. I said "no way!" (children say no way!) and I walked away. I thought to myself, I love my body (hug themselves). I know (point to head) that smoking is not good for my body, my heart, or my lungs (point to selves). And I love walking (walk proud) and I know (point to head) that my heart and my lungs don't work right if I breathe in smoky air. The smoke makes it harder for my body to walk or do any exercise or play fun games. Now why would I want to smoke a cigarette or breathe that smoke? So I walked away very fast until I was safe. Then I slowed my pace and enjoyed my great body that could walk for a long time without getting tired. I enjoyed my great brain and let my body think and move. I enjoyed my great lungs that let my body breathe. I enjoyed my great heart that pumped blood and air around my body and helped me to keep on walking.
Throughout the story, you and the children should keep marching in place according to the pace of the story.
After the walk, ask the children:
What were the things that they decided not to do in the story? (not to stand around and smell the smoke; not to take anything from someone who is not a grownup that they trust; and not to take any puggs or stay near people who smoke.)
What were the things that they did do in the story? (They walked away from the burning cigarette, they said no way to anyone who tried to get them to take anything like pills or cigarettes or anything that they did not know what it was; they moved away from people who were smoking cigarettes; they loved their great bodies, lungs, hearts, and brains.)
Ask the children:
What are some different parts of your body that sometimes get sick? (head, stomach, ears, throat, etc...)
For each answer, ask what the name for that is: (head - headache, throat - sore throat, ears - earache, etc...)
Ask the children if they sometimes have more than one part of their body hurting when they are sick. (Sometimes only one thing feels bad, but the body is one big wonderful machine. If one part of it is not working right, lots of other parts "break down" too. Many times when you are sick, lots of things don't feel well.)
Show the puzzle or game. Have a discussion about what happens to the puzzle or game when a piece is broken or lost.
Ask the children:
Why do we have to be sure to take care of every part of our bodies? (so that the whole body can work right.)
What can you do if you are not feeling well or if any part of your body hurts? (Tell an adult that you trust, tell whoever is taking care of you.)
If the person taking care of you takes you to a doctor or nurse, what is it impoartant to do? (Tell the doctor or nurse everything that hurts or does not feel well.)
If the doctor or nurse tells you that you need to take medicine, what is it important to do? (Take the medicine in the right amount and at the right time.)
How will you know what is the right amount and the right time? (The adult taking care of you that you trust will always give you the medicine. Never try to do it alone.
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