Introduction

Peer pressure is a common challenge for middle school students. It can be difficult for them to say no when they feel pressured by their friends to do something they don’t want to do. This blog post will provide educators with a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills that can help students learn how to handle peer pressure and make their own decisions. By empowering students to stand up for themselves, we can foster a positive and supportive learning environment.

No-Prep Activity

This activity is called “The Pressure is Off.” The goal is to help students understand how to respond to peer pressure in a safe and supportive environment. No preparation or materials are needed from the educator.

1. Divide the students into small groups of 4-6.
2. Ask each group to come up with a scenario where someone might feel pressured by their peers to do something they don’t want to do.
3. Have each group take turns acting out their scenario in front of the class. One student should play the role of the person being pressured, while the others play the role of the peers applying pressure.
4. After each scenario, ask the class to identify what the person being pressured could have said or done to stand up for themselves and resist the pressure.
5. Encourage the students to practice saying “no” and offer alternative suggestions or solutions.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it’s important to be able to say no to peer pressure?
2. How can you tell if someone is pressuring you to do something you don’t want to do?
3. What are some ways you can support your friends when they are faced with peer pressure?
4. How can you handle situations where you feel pressured to do something you know is wrong or unsafe?
5. What are some strategies you can use to make your own decisions and resist peer pressure?

Related Skills

Handling peer pressure is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that educators can help students develop include:

• Self-awareness: Understanding one’s own feelings, values, and goals.
• Self-management: Effectively managing emotions and behaviors in different situations.
• Social awareness: Recognizing and empathizing with the feelings and perspectives of others.
• Relationship skills: Building and maintaining positive relationships with peers, family, and teachers.
• Responsible decision-making: Making choices that are ethical, safe, and respectful of others.

Next Steps

By teaching students how to handle peer pressure, you’re empowering them to make their own decisions and build their self-confidence. If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to support your students’ social-emotional learning, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can help you create a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel confident in their ability to handle challenging situations.