October 2020

Lesson Objectives:

  • Students will learn about the different types of drugs & alcohol.

  • Students will learn about the symptoms of using the drugs & alcohol.

  • Students will be able to understand why teens are pressured to do drugs.

Pre-Test

  • I know why we celebrate Red Ribbon Week.

  • I know the difference between drugs and alcohol.

  • I know the symptoms of using certain types of drugs.

What is Red Ribbon Week Anyways?

Red Ribbon Week is one of the oldest campaigns in the United States to spread awareness about drugs and alcohol prevention. Every year, Red Ribbon Week is observed throughout the United States to share how drugs and alcohol have affected young teens, and the ways that we all can do to prevent drug and alcohol use. This week, Vista Verde Middle School will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week on Monday, October 26th - Friday, October 30th virtually.

Here is a video on "Student Drug and Alcohol Awareness," created by Teachings in Education, that talks about the different drug and alcohol use and the symptoms of using the different drugs and alcohol.

Take the Pledge to Stand Against Drugs!

Post-Test

  • I know why we celebrate Red Ribbon Week.

  • I know the difference between drugs and alcohol.

  • I know the symptoms of using certain types of drugs.

Resources:

LGBTQ Hxstory Month

Lesson Objectives

  • Students will learn about the origin and importance of LGBTQ Hxstory Month.

  • Students will recognize the need for the creation of safe spaces.

  • Students will reflect on the language they utilize on and off campus.

Pre-Test

  1. When is LGBTQ Hxstory Month celebrated?

  2. Why is LGBTQ Hxstory Month important?

  3. What does the rainbow flag signify?

  4. What is one way we can create a safe space for LGBTQ youth at VVMS?

Vocabulary

bullying (noun) The act of purposely causing harm to others, through verbal harassment, physical assault or other more subtle forms of meanness.

homophobia (noun) Fear, dislike or hatred to homosexual (also bisexual or transgender) people.

prejudice (noun) Negative judgment or opinion, often of a specific group of people, formed without knowledge of the facts and sometimes leading to hatred or suspicion.

The Origin of LGBTQ Hxstory Month

LGBTQ History Month originated in the United States as Lesbian and Gay History Month, and was first celebrated in October 1994. October was chosen as the month for the celebration because the first and second LGBTQ Marches on Washington, in 1979 and 1987, were in October; and National Coming Out Day is on 11 October, chosen to mark the date of the Second March of Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987.

The Importance of LGBTQ Hxstory Month

Similar to the hxstories of people of color (Blacks, Latinxs, Asians, and Natives), the hxstory of the LGBTQ community and their impact on this country is underrepresented in textbooks and the curriculum you must learn from Kindergaten through 12th Grade. Celebrating LGBTQ Hxstory Month is intended for members of the LGBTQ community (especially youth like you!) to feel proud of being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, etc. and encourage honesty and openness.

The Rainbow Flag

Did you know? The first time the rainbow flag was used as a pride month symbol was at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. Harvey Milk, an American politician and the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, asked Gilbert Baker to design a unifying symbol for the gay community, and the rainbow flag was the result.

In June 2017, the city of Philadelphia adopted a revised version of the flag, which added the black and brown stripes to the top of the standard six-color flag, to draw attention to issues of people of color within the LGBTQ community.

Making VVMS a Safe Space for EVERY GRIZZLY

As you learned during National Suicide Prevention Week, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. LGBTQ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost 3 times the rate of heterosexual youth. LGBTQ youth who come from families who reject them are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide.

For this reason, we as a VVMS community, need to do a better job at making sure our LGBTQ students feel SAFE and WELCOME on our campus (and online). We can start by checking the language that we use...

Checking the language that we use, for example, "that's so gay"

First, take a minute to reflect on the following questions: Have you ever been called a name? How did that name-calling make you feel?

Many students at VVMS use the word "gay" to tease or bully other students. Answer the following questions:

  • What do you think of when you hear the word “gay”?

  • In what ways have you heard the word “gay” used?

  • Why do you think people sometimes use the phrase “that’s so gay”?

  • How would you feel if someone said “that’s so gay” about something you were doing or about something you liked?

  • What would you do if you heard someone say “that’s so gay” or another unacceptable remark?

It is important for us to stop name-calling others in general. Name-calling affects the mental health of our students, causing them difficulty to focus in school and just feel okay about who they are, what they like, and what they want to be.

Post-Test

  1. When is LGBTQ Hxstory Month celebrated?

  2. Why is LGBTQ Hxstory Month important?

  3. What does the rainbow flag signify?

  4. What is one way we can create a safe space for LGBTQ youth at VVMS?

  5. How can you personally make sure VVMS is a safer space for LGBTQ youth?

Resources for LGBTQ Youth and Allies

  • The Trevor Project -- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

    • The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

  • GLSEN -- https://www.glsen.org/

    • GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.