Related Info & Pages D.A.R.E. America

1. Providing accurate information about alcohol and drugs; 2. teaching students decision making skills; 3. showing them how to resist peer pressure in drug & violence situations; 4. giving them ideas for alternatives to drug use.

The officers visit 5th and/or 6th grade classes for 45 minute lessons for 17 weeks. State- of- the-Art cooperative learning methods are utilized. This small group process allows students to discover information independently. It also permits the development of conflict resolution strategies, a life skill students can practice both inside and outside the classroom.

D.A.R.E. PROGRAM 5th and 6th Grade Curriculum

The following outlines the D.A.R.E. curriculum. One lesson is presented each week throughout a grade school semester.

1. Introducing D.A.R.E. - Acquaints students with role of police and practices for student safety.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF MIND-ALTERING DRUGS Helps students understand harmful effects of drugs.

3. CONSEQUENCES - Helps students understand the negative consequences of drug use and the positive consequences of saying no to drugs and avoiding violence.

4. CHANGING BELIEFS ABOUT DRUG USE - Makes students aware of kinds of peer pressure they may face and helps them learn to say no to offers to use drugs.

5. RESISTANCE TECHNIQUES - WAYS To SAY "NO" - Teaches students way to say no in resisting various types of pressure.

6. BUILDING SELF ESTEEM - Helps students understand that self-image results from positive and negative feelings and experiences.

7. ASSERTIVENESS: A RESPONSIBLE STYLE - Teaches that assertiveness is a responsible style that enables a person to state his or her own rights without loss of self-esteem.

8. MANAGING STRESS WITHOUT TAKING DRUGS - Helps students recognize stress and suggests ways to deal with it other than by taking drugs.

9. REDUCING VIOLENCE - Helps students identify nonviolent ways to deal with anger and disagreement.

10. MEDIA INFLUENCES ON DRUG USE AND VIOLENCE - Helps students develop the understanding and skills needed to analyze and resist media presentations about alcohol, drug use and violence.

11. MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT RISKY BEHAVIOR - Helps Sudan's apply the decisions-making process in evaluating the results of various kinds of risk-taking behavior, including that of drugs and violence.

12. SAYING `YES' To POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES - Helps students find out about activities that are interesting and in which they can achieve success.

13. POSITIVE ROLE MODELING - Older student leaders and other positive role models that do not use drugs talk to younger students to clarify the misconception and those who use drugs are in majority.

14. RESISTING GANG AND GROUP VIOLENCE - Helps students identify situations in which they may be pressured by gangs and evaluate the consequences of the choices available to them.

15. DARE SUMMARY - Helps students summarize and assess what they learned from the program.

16. TAKING A STAND - Students take a positive stand to be drug-free and to avoid violence by putting their commitment in writing and reading it aloud.

17. Culmination - Student graduation from the D.A.R.E. Program.

As scheduling permits, the officer may also visit younger grades to introduce them to the topics of drugs and to make them aware of safe and unsafe conditions which may be present in their homes or neighborhoods.

D.A.R.E. officers provide valuable role models who are accessible to the students during lunch and recess time for informal questions and discussions.

Parents are urged to cooperate in the learning process, by dialoguing with children about their lessons, by attending a parent information session and by supporting of the D.A.R.E. culmination ceremonies. This graduation-type event allows students to express what they have learned, to publicly take a stand against drugs and to be honored by receiving certificates of accomplishment.

Over 12,000 children receive the seventeen (17) week course in over 110 elementary schools each year.