Taking Alcohol Seriously

Year 5 lesson 1

Alcohol and its effects

Learning Objectives:

  • To know what an alcoholic drink is
  • To know that different alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of alcohol
  • To know some effects of excessive alcohol on organs/body parts
  • To know that alcohol is a legal drug
  • To know there is help for people who are affected by alcohol

Lesson:

1. Review groundrules

2. Share Learning Objectives

3. Activity One:What is an alcoholic drink?

Explain

  • Some drinks that adults drink contain a drug called alcohol which affects the way in which a person behaves.
  • The strength of an alcoholic drink is shown on the label by a number followed by % vol. The higher the number, the stronger the drink and if there is no alcohol, there is no % vol.
  • Alcohol can also be measured in units (these will be looked at in Y6 in more detail)
  • Alcohol is made from grains and fruits e.g. beer- grain, wine-grapes, cider-apples etc.

In small groups. Using the ‘Alcoholic drink’ picture cards or a selection of bottles, ask the children to sort the drinks into alcoholic and non-alcoholic.Early finishers could rank the alcoholic drinks from least to most potent.

A glass of Red Wine A can of Red Bull

A glass of lemonadeA glass of Gin

A cup of CoffeeA bottle of Water

A mug of TeaA pint of Beer

A tot of Whisky½ pint of Lager

A beaker of Orange JuiceA glass of Milk

A bottle CiderA can of Coke

Double VodkaA bottle of Alcopops

5.Activity 2: How does alcohol affect your body?

Explain

  • The government issues guidelines on how much men & women should drink.
  • Alcohol is a legal drug for adults
  • Too much alcohol can cause your body damage
  • The more alcohol you put in your body the greater effect it will have.
  • Alcohol is a poison that affects the brain

In small groups.Using the ‘How does alcohol affect your body?’ cards, children match the effect to the body organs/part. You may wish to use the body diagram provided.

Brain

Drinking too much alcohol can make you forget things and take risks

Heart

This organ pumps blood around the body. Drinking too much alcohol over years can damage this organ

Liver

This organ breaks down harmful substances in the body and over years too much alcohol can damage it

Kidneys

This organ breaks down waste in the body and too much alcohol makes you wee more often. This can dry your body out if you don’t drink a lot of water

Stomach

Too much alcohol can cause ulcers, give you indigestion and make you feel sick

Bowels

Too much alcohol can give you diarrhoea

Whole class. Discuss answers and address misunderstandings.

7. Plenary

How could you tell if a bottled drink contained alcohol?

Is alcohol a drug?

How can too much alcohol affect you?

This could be done as a round ‘If you drink too much alcohol it can cause.....’

Resources:

‘Alcoholic drink’ picture cards or a selection of bottles (A4 and small fro group work)

‘How does alcohol affect your body?’ picture cards

Body outline showing internal organs

‘What organ am I?’ cards or powerpoint

Links with the broader curriculum.

Literacy: How do the media portray alcohol?(Persuasion)

Collect adverts from magazines – adverts often emphasise wealth, beauty, happiness and strength.

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Taking Alcohol Seriously Year 5 lesson 1 Karen Errington & Bill Russell, HOST 2009