Learning to Say No

Lesson Objectives:

Students will be able to say "no" using several different approaches.

Grade Level and Subject Area:

9-12

Materials:

"How to Say No" idea sheet

Activities and Strategies:

Have students read the "How to Say No" idea sheet.
Have students write a situation in which they would feel pressured to say "Yes" on a slip of paper.
While they do this, you should make slips of paper for each strategy listed on the "How to Say No" sheet. Fold them and put them in a "Strategies" container.
Have students fold their scenarios and place them in a container marked "Scenarios."
Have students volunteer to act out the scenarios or break them into smaller groups so they will all have turns to practice. Each student actor will pick a slip from the "Strategies" container as well as one from the "Scenarios" container.

A variation on this would be to have the student who draws the scenario and strategy read them and choose the cast to play out the scene.

Adapted from Substance Abuse Prevention Activities for Secondary Students. By Patricia J. Gerne and Timothy A. Gerne. Published by Prentice Hall in 1991.

"How to Say No" Idea Sheet

Strategy (Say no...)	Explanation (A)/Example(B)
with Directness	A. Be confident, look them in the eye B. "No, thanks!" (You don't need to offer an explanation!) "Nope, I'm not interested!" "Not tonight"
with Humor	A. Use a quick, witty comment that ends the conversation. B. When asked if you want to smoke say, "No thanks, I'm not a chimney!"
with a Friend	A. Plan with a friend beforehand what each of you will or will not do and stick together. B. "I'll pass" (you know your friend will also pass - this also creates peer pressure back to the other person NOT to do whatever they wanted you to do!)
with an Exit	A. Plan ways to physically relocate in case of an uncomfortable situation. B. Go to the bathroom, the next room, out on a walk, or home.
with an Excuse	A. Pass the responsibility off on someone else. B. "I'm going to the dentist and I don't want my breath to smell like cigarettes." "No thanks. The coach won't let me play if I do."
with an Invitation	A. Leave the door open for future activities. B. "I can't stay now, but how about if we go to a movie later."
with Imagination	A. Think of ways to totally change the focus. B. Change the topic; give a compliment; ask an unrelated question; etc.

This document was last updated 8/13/97 by Chandra Hawley.
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