KS3 Alcohol Teachers Notes
Introduction
This section covers several aspects of alcohol within the KS 3 Science and Personal, Social and Health Education syllabuses. The intention is to provide online content and activities for pupils, along with additional teacher support in the form of suggestions and ideas for classroom work and downloadable activity sheets.
The pupil content begins with an introduction on the basic facts about alcohol and leads the student through to consider how alcohol affects the body together with the legal implications concerning drinking and driving.
The content and structure of the unit has been designed to complement the National Curriculum for England and Wales and the DFES Schemes of Work. This flexible approach enables teachers to direct pupils to key content relevant to their teaching approaches but also, introduce pupils to new topics and extending activities for both online and offline work.
Curriculum references
National Curriculum
KS3 Science Sc2 Health (m)
KS3 PSHE 2. (d), (f), (g)
KS3 PSHE 4. (h)
DFES Standards Schemes of Work
KS3 Science Unit 9b 'Fit and healthy'
Classroom Applications
General introduction / discussion
Begin with a general discussion by tasking each student to provide a word/phrase which relates to their present understanding/connection with alcohol. A general discussion about their present emphasis/interest/knowledge can follow to establish their perception and attitude towards alcohol.
The Facts
This section is a brief overview of the concept of a UNIT of alcohol and its relationship to common alcoholic drinks, including safe limits of alcohol consumption. Data referring to the social distribution of alcohol-related problems which is tested by a drag and drop exercise.
Learning outcomes
- To provide students with the basic background information which has a direct bearing on their possible behaviour.
Extension work
Research the statistics about the age, gender and number of people who are arrested in A&E Departments on a Saturday night where you live.
How alcohol affects the body
This section establishes the fact that alcohol is a depressant drug. Short-term effects provide evidence of the accumulative effect of alcohol consumption, but that other factors also temper/enhance its effects.
Learning outcomes
- Students should be able to describe the effects of alcohol on behaviour and reaction time.
Extension work
Draw a strip cartoon of a character consuming 1-12 units of alcohol to illustrate general effects.
Drinking and driving
Many school students have a very sensible approach to drinking and driving and often jointly cover the cost to take a taxi, however, this attitude seems to wear off with age. Introducing the serious problems and outcomes associated with drink driving at this age may have more of a lasting impact.
The Breathalyser helps to put an image to an object that all students will have heard about.
The interactive helps to consolidate the previous concept of units with the new concepts of drinking, driving and responsibility for oneself.
Learning outcomes
- A reminder of the effects of alcohol and reaction time.
Extension work
UK law allows individuals to consume 5 units of alcohol and to legally drive. Scandinavian countries have a totally 'no drink and drive' policy. Set up a class debate on the case For or Against drinking and driving.
Long tem effects of alcohol
This graphic and associated images display the effects on the major body organs.
Learning outcomes
- Students should be able to describe the effects of alcohol on the liver, diet and foetus.
- Annotation of a diagram.
- Identification of key points.
Extension work
Annotate the body diagram (PDF in downloads section of this page) summarising the effects of alcohol consumption. Practical work could include igniting alcohol in a watch glass (behind a safety screen) to emphasise that it is full of energy i.e EMPTY CALORIES as far as the diet is concerned (no nutritional value). This can lead to malnutrition - the typical liquid lunch of beer and crisps, and obesity.
Alcohol dependence syndrome
The social and physical effects of long-term alcohol abuse.
Alcohol and the law
Emphasises the position the students are in legally.
Summary
A brief synopsis of the information covered.
The web game
A true/false game to consolidate the information covered and test student knowledge. If the facts have not been successfully processed, the student is guided back into the study topic.
Useful web links
Drinkline 0345 32 02 02 (calls charged at local rate or dial and listen on 0500 801 802) gives confidential information and advice and can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for one-to-one help. Mon-Fri 11am-11pm.
Alcohol Concern 0207 928 7377 offers general information about alcohol. Call to find your nearest alcohol advisory service. A factsheet on young people and alcohol is available from www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
Al-Anon Family Groups 0207 403 0888 provides self-help sessions for people whose lives are affected by someone else's drinking. www.hexnet.co.uk/alanon
The Portman Group is funded by the UK's leading alcohol producers. Its role is to promote sensible drinking and help prevent alcohol misuse. Information is available at: www.portman-group.org.uk
The Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Education is the leading national non-government organisation specialising in alcohol and drug education, health education and personal and social education. Information on TACADE is available at: www.tacade.com
Nottinghamshire Alcohol and Drugs Team is part of the Addiction and Forensic Directorate of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. This the main treatment service for people with substance misuse problems in the Nottingham area of the East Midlands of the United Kingdom. For more information visit the web site at: www.innotts.co.uk/~nadt/index.html
Drink Driving Campaign
The Government's drink driving campaign and statistics are available at: www.think.dtlr.gov.uk/drinkdrive/index.htm
Wrecked is a Health Promotion England website for young people. The content covers all aspects of alcohol, focusing on adopting a responsible attitude to drink. www.wrecked.co.uk
Downloads
Pupil Section Exe Files
These are versions of the pupil material for this topic that you can download and use offline. Simply save the .exe file to your desktop and double-click it.
Alcohol
PDF files
You may experience some problems downloading executable files (.exe files) and PDF files if your computer is part of a network (Local Area Network or LAN). Click here for help.