iMinds
iMinds is a way of thinking about health education. It encourages young people to develop drug and gambling literacy—the ability to live in the real world in a way that promotes well-being.
iMinds is a collection of resources for schools related to substance use and gambling. The lesson ideas fit well within the scope of BC’s K-12 curriculum with its emphasis on core and curricular competencies. The collection includes specific competencies for drug literacy and gambling literacy.
iMinds is not a program. There is no pre-set package of lessons to achieve drug or gambling literacy. The provided lesson ideas are samples designed to help teachers see multiple possibilities and opportunities to address health and well-being within the scope of various curricular subjects.
Big ideas and competencies
Lesson ideas
By grade
Kindergarten
Game of Pig - This lesson uses a simplified version of a dice game to teach students to think about decisions involving risk. In addition to developing decision-making strategies, students are encouraged to think critically about their emotional responses to situations involving choices and chance. The art activity at the end involves making dice they can take home to play with their families.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Wanting and Giving: Greed and The Giving Tree - This lesson uses a Shel Silverstein children’s story to expose students to important life concepts such as greed, wanting and giving. Students discuss the underlying themes of the book while exploring their own thoughts and feelings, and then get a chance to creatively express themselves through drama.
What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? - In this lesson, students play a game that allows them to be physically active while practicing in-the-moment decision making. Afterwards, students get a chance to talk about how it felt in their minds and bodies to play a game involving risk and choice.
Grade 1
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Game of Pig - This lesson uses a simplified version of a dice game to teach students to think about decisions involving risk. In addition to developing decision-making strategies, students are encouraged to think critically about their emotional responses to situations involving choices and chance. The art activity at the end involves making dice they can take home to play with their families.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Wanting and Giving: Greed and The Giving Tree - This lesson uses a Shel Silverstein children’s story to expose students to important life concepts such as greed, wanting and giving. Students discuss the underlying themes of the book while exploring their own thoughts and feelings, and then get a chance to creatively express themselves through drama.
What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? - In this lesson, students play a game that allows them to be physically active while practicing in-the-moment decision making. Afterwards, students get a chance to talk about how it felt in their minds and bodies to play a game involving risk and choice.
Under/Over 7 - This lesson uses a fun dice game to help students develop their math skills while making choices based on risk and chance. Students learn how to play Under/Over 7 and follow up by reflecting on how they felt while engaged in the game.
Grade 2
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
Under/Over 7 - This lesson uses a fun dice game to help students develop their math skills while making choices based on risk and chance. Students learn how to play Under/Over 7 and follow up by reflecting on how they felt while engaged in the game.
Grade 3
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
Grade 4
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Emotions, Metaphors and Gambling - This iMinds instructional outline and student handout uses a wonderful metaphor-laden children’s story, The Red Tree (2001) by Shaun Tan, to begin a conversation about the depth and complexity of human emotions.
Explorers All – in this 5-lesson unit from iMinds, students become “explorers” who seek out and examine the benefits, risks and harms related to drugs and a range of options for managing everyday problems. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
Probability and Games of Chance - Playing games of chance is an activity that can involve the use of mathematical concepts like probability. This instructional outline is meant to help students develop an understanding of basic probability concepts and how they can be applied to think critically about gambling.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Thinking about Bingo - This iMinds instructional outline uses Bingo as a teaching tool to discuss gambling and open up a conversation with students around how we need to learn how to be aware of our emotions and develop ways to manage them.
Tout Explorer – dans ce module de 5 leçons iMinds, les élèves deviennent des « explorateurs » qui recherchent et examinent les avantages, les risques et les inconvénients de la consommation de médicaments, de caféine et d’autres drogues. Les élèves explorent également une gamme d’options pour gérer les problèmes quotidiens et réfléchir à vers qui ils peuvent se tourner si ils ont un jour besoin d'aide. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Grade 5
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Emotions, Metaphors and Gambling - This iMinds instructional outline and student handout uses a wonderful metaphor-laden children’s story, The Red Tree (2001) by Shaun Tan, to begin a conversation about the depth and complexity of human emotions.
L’Île aux Gâteries – dans ce module de 5 leçons iMinds, les élèves participent à des tâches qui les encouragent à comparer le rôle du sucre dans notre société avec le rôle des médicaments et autres drogues. A la fin du module, les étudiants en savent plus sur les techniques de gestion autonome et sur la façon de trouver de l'aide pour résoudre les problèmes. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Probability and Games of Chance - Playing games of chance is an activity that can involve the use of mathematical concepts like probability. This instructional outline is meant to help students develop an understanding of basic probability concepts and how they can be applied to think critically about gambling.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Tales of a Gambling Grandma – this heartwarming story provides a foundation for an iMinds lesson idea on gambling. The story offers many opportunites to explore issues related to gambling in a gentle fun way.
Thinking about Bingo - This iMinds instructional outline uses Bingo as a teaching tool to discuss gambling and open up a conversation with students around how we need to learn how to be aware of our emotions and develop ways to manage them.
Treat Island – in this 5-lesson unit from iMinds, students compare the role of sugar in our society with the role of medications and other drugs. By the end of the unit, students know more about self-management techniques and how to find help with problems. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Grade 6
Becoming a Detective – through this 6-lesson module from iMinds, students learn how to be detectives. They examine “clues” about the potential influences on a young person’s behaviour in order to solve a case involving three students who keep falling asleep in class. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
The Breadwinner - Debra Ellis’s bestselling novel is the stimulus for lively discussion in this lesson. Students learn about a different culture and way of life while considering and exploring life skills and concepts related to gambling, including courage, decision-making and navigating risk.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
Devenir un détective – avec ce module de 6 leçons iMinds, les élèves apprennent comment être des détectives. Ils examinent des "indices" sur les facteurs qui peuvent influencer le comportement des jeunes afin de résoudre un cas impliquant trois étudiants qui n'arrêtent pas de s'endormir en cours. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d'apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
The Giver - this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
I Want to be Rich - In this lesson, students are invited to think about why people gamble and discuss the potential risks and benefits. Students also examine the concepts of chance, wealth, greed and how our pursuit of money and wealth can impact us and others.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers – this iMinds instructional idea is based on the story of Philippe Petit's daring high wire performance between the Twin Towers in New York City. It provides a great background for exploring several themes relevant to building drug literacy.
Probability and Games of Chance - Playing games of chance is an activity that can involve the use of mathematical concepts like probability. This instructional outline is meant to help students develop an understanding of basic probability concepts and how they can be applied to think critically about gambling.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Rat Park - this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Rolling with Life's Challenges - This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Thinking about Bingo - This iMinds instructional outline uses Bingo as a teaching tool to discuss gambling and open up a conversation with students around how we need to learn how to be aware of our emotions and develop ways to manage them.
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Grade 7
Ancient Peoples and Cannabis Use – This lesson uses the Drug History Timeline to help students explore the place of cannabis in human experience from early times to the present.
Ancient Peoples and Psychoactive Plants - this 6-lesson module from iMinds is designed to help students learn about the role alcohol and other drugs have played in human history and society. Module includes background material, lesson plans, black-line masters and a supplementary text.
Charles Barkley - In this lesson, students look into the life of retired basketball player and high-stakes gambler Charles Barkley. Using Barkley’s story as a stimulus, students creatively explore gambling-related themes, such as risk and loss, and consider factors that can help us keep our game playing and gambling healthy and fun.
The Gambler - a song made famous by country singer Kenny Rogers features a lifelong gambler who offers worldly advice, based on his experiences as a gambler, in exchange for a swig of whiskey and a cigarette. In this iMinds lesson idea students are encouraged to examine the song lyrics as a way to reflect on life and gambling.
The Giver - this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) - this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) - this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - this iMinds instructional idea is based on the story of Philippe Petit's daring high wire performance between the Twin Towers in New York City. It provides a great background for exploring several themes relevant to building drug literacy.
Ode to the Dice - In this lesson, students explore various gambling-related themes based on the lyrics of a beautifully written but tragic Indian poem—one of the earliest documented accounts of gambling in the world—found in the tenth book of the Rig Veda (c. 4000-1500 BCE). Students also get a chance to express their thoughts and feelings in imaginative ways.
Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives - ce module de 6 leçons iMinds est conçu pour aider les élèves à en apprendre davantage sur le rôle que l'alcool et d'autres drogues ont joué dans l'histoire humaine et la société. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans dⅱapprentissage, des documents à reproduire et un texte complémentaire.
Rat Park - this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges - This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Sticks, Stones and Broken Bones - This iMinds instructional outline gives students an opportunity to explore the meanings ancient peoples gave to gambling and reflect on what their early notions might tell us about gambling today.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
Thinking about Bingo - This iMinds instructional outline uses Bingo as a teaching tool to discuss gambling and open up a conversation with students around how we need to learn how to be aware of our emotions and develop ways to manage them.
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Grade 8
A Downside to the Printing Press? - this iMinds lesson idea encourages students to reflect on how technological inventions such as the printing press might be both a blessing and a curse. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Cannabis: Stories, Questions and Life - this iMinds lesson idea uses Deborah Ellis’s short story “Through the Woods” (in Lunch with Lenin and Other Stories) as a catalyst for conversation around questions that are useful in examining the impact of cannabis use and regulation on individuals and relationships.
Cannabis and the need for dialogue - this iMinds lesson idea uses Margaret Wheatley's poem, "Turning to One Another," to explore different aspects of dialogue and its significance in the context of shifting policies regarding cannabis.
Free Feeling: Tom Petty, Cannabis and Music as Craft - this iMinds lesson idea uses Tom Petty's song "You Don’t Know How it Feels" to explore issues like censorship and artistic freedom. And the history of Tom Petty and his long-time band, the Heartbreakers, provides further opportunity to explore the impacts drug use can have on life, work and relationships. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
The Gin Craze - this iMinds lesson idea encourage students to critically examine the complex of factors that led to a new pattern of drinking, associated with gin, in 18th-century London. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
The Giver - this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) - this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) - this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
King James Trash Talks and Taxes Tobacco - this iMinds lesson idea looks at how King James I tried hard to reduce tobacco usage, not only by writing A Counterblaste to Tobacco but also by introducing a massive tax increase in 1604. Students are encouraged to reflect on the various ways to influence drug use and prmote health. A teacher's guide is provided along with three student handouts: King James Trash Talks ..., Anti-Smoking: Then and Now and A Cash Crop for Virginia.
Leaves of the Land: A Quick History of Coca - this iMinds lesson idea explores how drugs and drug use can be linked to social and cultural status and identity. Students are encouraged to reflect on the role of alcohol and other drugs in their community and culture. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Leaving it up to Chance - This iMinds instructional outline aims to engage students in a dialogue about chance-based games and encourage them to think critically about gambling.
The Lightning Thief - an iMinds teacher's resource for engaging students in thinking about gambling based on the fantasy novel by Rick Riordan.
Médias et culture adolescente - un module de 6 leçons iMinds dans lequel les élèves deviennent des spécialistes du comportement qui étudient les médias et leur influence sur le comportement des adolescents. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans dⅱapprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
A Natural High - this iMinds lesson idea explores the high that can sometimes accompany jogging and has led to the creation of the term, runner's high. A teacher's resource provides discussion starters and suggestions for linking to a unit exploring students' feelings while engaging in physical activities.
The Outsiders - an iMinds teacher's resource for using S. E. Hinton's novel, The Outsiders, to address drug literacy.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges - This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
A Social History of Coffee - this iMinds lesson idea examines the history of attitudes toward coffee to explore how attitudes to drugs are culturally determined and to reflect on the significance of this. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
The Ups and Downs of Stress - this iMinds lesson idea suggests ways to help students both understand stress and develop skills in managing it. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Grade 9
Alcohol or What? - this iMinds lesson idea draws on excerpts from an historical text to critically assess commonly held beliefs about the role alcohol has played in unravelling Aboriginal cultures since first contact with European explorers and settlers. A teacher's guide and a student handout with excerpts from G. M. Sproat's memoir and one comparing Sproat's observations with those of Bruce Alexander are available.
An Alliance Betrayed - this iMinds lesson idea explores the role of Chief Crowfoot in leading the Blackfoot people and negotiating Treaty 7 with the Canadian government against the backdrop of the whisky trade and its destructive impact on his people. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Cannabis: Stories, Questions and Life - this iMinds lesson idea uses Deborah Ellis’s short story “Through the Woods” (in Lunch with Lenin and Other Stories) as a catalyst for conversation around questions that are useful in examining the impact of cannabis use and regulation on individuals and relationships.
Cannabis and Relationships - With the help of Cycles, a film about youth and cannabis use, this iMinds lesson plan aims to engage students to think critically about cannabis use and how it can impact different types of relationships.
Cannabis and the need for dialogue - this iMinds lesson idea uses Margaret Wheatley's poem, "Turning to One Another," to explore different aspects of dialogue and its significance in the context of shifting policies regarding cannabis.
Cycles - this film-based resource, developed at UBC, encourages teens to talk openly and honestly about why some young people use cannabis (marijuana). Resources include a 28-min video in English and a version with French sub-titles as well as a facitator's guide in both English and French.
Deal Maker or Deal Breaker - this iMinds lesson idea explores different historical perspectives on the role of alcohol in the North American fur trade. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Divergent - an iMinds teacher's resource that offers suggestions for using Veronica Roth's dystopian novel, Divergent, to address drug literacy.
Free Feeling: Tom Petty, Cannabis and Music as Craft - this iMinds lesson idea uses Tom Petty's song "You Don’t Know How it Feels" to explore issues like censorship and artistic freedom. And the history of Tom Petty and his long-time band, the Heartbreakers, provides further opportunity to explore the impacts drug use can have on life, work and relationships. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
From Probability to the Gambler's Fallacy (Grade 9) - this iMinds math lesson takes the study of probability back to its original roots in the exploration of games of chance. The lesson cannot make someone a more successful gambler. But it can help students develop an understanding of probability and its usefulness and limitations relative to gambling. Lesson includes a teacher's guide, a game sheet and a work sheet.
Health guidelines: Are they helpful? - this iMinds lesson idea introduces some of these guidelines and recommendations that can provide a springboard for critically reviewing particular behaviours (eating, physical activity, substance use) and exploring how such guidelines might be useful in making decisions about health and well-being.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) - this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) - this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
Listening to Sugar Man - an iMinds teacher's resource that explores drug-related themes in the folk music of Sixto Rodriguez. A student handout is provided.
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson's famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Lunch with Lenin - a 6-lesson module from iMinds that explores how drugs touch the lives of children. Lessons are based on Deborah Ellis' multi-cultural collection of short stories. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
The Many Wines - this iMinds teacher's resource and a student handout support the use of Rumi's famous poem to explore and build drug literacy.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post - this iMinds teacher's resource draws attention to and provides discussion questions related to several themes critical to the development of drug literacy in the coming-of-age teen novel by Emily M. Danforth.
Pain Medications: Benefits and Risks - this iMinds instructional outline invites students to think critically about how we perceive drugs in our culture and how that may impact the way we perceive the risks associated with different drugs. It begins with a consideration pain medication using an episode from Degrassi.
A Park or a Cage? - this iMinds lesson idea explores the Rat Park experiments conducted by Prof. Bruce Alexander at SFU in the 1970s to challenge common assumptions about addiction and to help students reflect on the social factors involved. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
The Perfect High - this iMinds teacher's resource suggests ways to use Shel Silverstein's poem, The Perfect High, to help students explore life, truth and drugs. A student handout is available.
The Power of Music - this iMinds teacher's resource suggests ways to engage students to consider the role that music has played - and continues to play - in the human experience - in society as a whole, as well as in their individual lives.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges - This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
Smokes for Soldiers - this iMinds lesson idea provides primary and secondary sources to help students explore tobacco propaganda during WW I. A teacher's resource and a student handout are available.
The Ups and Downs of Stress - this iMinds lesson idea suggests ways to help students both understand stress and develop skills in managing it. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Grade 10
A Solution without a Problem? - in this iMinds lesson idea, students are invited to explore a CBC article on how Canada’s anti-cannabis policy was created and to examine passages from The Black Candle, Emily Murphy’s collection of statistics and news commentary on drug use in North America in the early 1920s. The exercise prompts students to explore and assess factors that may have influenced drug policy in Canada in the past and consider those influencing drug policy today. A teacher's guide and student handouts (CBC article and The Black Candle) are available.
Bicycle Day's Dilemma - this iMinds instructional outline uses excerpts from Albert Hofmann's writings about his discovery of, and experiences with, LSD to challenge students to think critically about the benefits and risks associated with substance use and how we manage those in our society.
Cocoa-nomics: Who Benefits? Who Pays? - this iMinds lesson idea encourages students to explore issues related to the cocoa industry particularly in West Africa where over 70% of the cocoa comes from. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Debating Drug Policy - this iMinds 6-lesson module (including teachers guide and black-line masters) helps students develop their critical thinking skills while learning about and performing formal debates on the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Débattre la politique des drogues - ce module de 6 leçons iMindsaide les élèves à développer leur esprit critique tout en découvrant et en prenant part à des débats formels sur la consommation d'alcool et d'autres drogues. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans dⅱapprentissage et des documents à reproduire.
Examining Gambling - this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a number of commercial marketing pieces related to gambling as well as a social marketing site to engage students in thinking critically about social messages and concepts and their influence on individual and community well-being. A set of teaching slides with images and dialogue questions is provided.
Gambling in Canada This iMinds instructional outline and handout uses 2009 data from Statistics Canada to explore the gambling landscape in Canada. Students are encouraged to think about the factors that might explain the relative popularity of different forms of gambling in different regions and among different populations in Canada. What might our gambling tell us about ourselves?
Gambling and Stigma - This iMinds instructional outline aims to engage students in exploring various issues related to gambling and stigma and challenge them to consider the potential impacts stigma might have on different groups of people: those who gamble, those with gambling problems, and the people around them.
Health guidelines: Are they helpful? - This iMinds lesson idea introduces some of these guidelines and recommendations that can provide a springboard for critically reviewing particular behaviours (eating, physical activity, substance use) and exploring how such guidelines might be useful in making decisions about health and well-being.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
Is the Stock Market Gambling? - Some people suggest, ↑Investing in the stock market is just like gambling at a casino. Investing and gambling both involve risk and choice. This iMinds lesson idea explores the similarities and differences between gambling and the stock market at the core of our economic system.
Lahal Game -This traditional Indigenous gambling game is used in this iMinds lesson outline to explore attitudes and ideas related to gambling. Using reflection, video and inquiry the lesson explores ethical and cultural issues related to gambling.
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson's famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Material Wealth and Gambling - This iMinds instructional outline aims to encourage students to critically think about issues such as wealth inequality and our relationship to material goods, and social values and how these may impact gambling behaviour.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rum and Spirits - this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Selling Tobacco to Women - this iMinds lesson idea challenges students to think about the way tobacco and other psychoactive substances are marketed and, in particular, to consider the role of gender in both marketing and social attitudes. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
True Stories: BC voices on gambling - Based on two true stories written by young people impacted by gambling, this lesson invites students to think, speak and/or write about gambling and its effect on individuals and families. Students also get a chance to reflect on their biases and assumptions related to gambling and broaden their understanding of key issues.
Women and Alcohol - this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a CBC documentary and other marketing pieces to explore social concepts and health issues related to women and alcohol. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Grade 11/12
Court Trial: Digital matter - This lesson gives students an opportunity to learn about gambling and digital matter through their own research as well as experience and contribute to a mock trial. Students also get a chance to develop critical thinking skills that may help them reduce their risk of problematic gambling in the future.
Does War Cause Addiction - For many people, it makes sense that a surge of drug addiction follows the return of soldiers whoⅱve been physically and mentally traumatized by war, but ... This iMinds lesson idea explores the arguments and considers other possible causes. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Drugs and relationships in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” - this iMinds lesson idea offers some strategies and ideas that teachers can use to help students explore themes related to drug use and wellbeing as part of a study of Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Examining Gambling - this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a number of commercial marketing pieces related to gambling as well as a social marketing site to engage students in thinking critically about social messages and concepts and their influence on individual and community well-being. A set of teaching slides with images and dialogue questions is provided.
Friendly Fire - this iMinds lesson idea uses a series of excerpts from the book War and Drugs to examine the role drugs played in the 2002 friendly fire incident in which four Canadian soldiers were killed by American bombers in Afghanistan. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Gambling and Addiction in Nineteen Eighty-Four - This iMinds instructional outline engages students in a critical examination of the social and economic structures of our own time and explore how they influence peopleⅱs excessive pursuits of happiness or oblivion.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
Lahal Game -This traditional Indigenous gambling game is used in this iMinds lesson outline to explore attitudes and ideas related to gambling. Using reflection, video and inquiry the lesson explores ethical and cultural issues related to gambling.
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson's famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Material Wealth and Gambling - This iMinds instructional outline aims to encourage students to critically think about issues such as wealth inequality and our relationship to material goods, and social values and how these may impact gambling behaviour.
Opioid Use: Deconstructing Media Messages - this iMinds instructional outline explores the topic of opioid use and the media. Students compare and contrast two media reports about overdose deaths in two BC communities and then, working with a small group of peers, try to write a fictional report. In the process they reflect on how language shapes our thinking.
Philosophy of Money: Marx and alienation - In this lesson, students explore the concept of money through the lens of Karl Marx’s materialist theory and the notion of ‘alienation.’ Students reflect on how money affects them, others, and the world around them, and think critically about issues that may impact gambling behaviour. Understanding what money is, and how it can influence our sense of connectedness or disconnectedness to ourselves and the world, can help us be more mindful about the ways we both see and use money.
Rum and Spirits - this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Smoking the Pipe-Peace or War - this iMinds lesson idea looks at how ceremonial smoking pipes and tobacco were used by many First Nations peoples in North America in relation to both building alliances for war and in making peace. Students reflect on peace-making processes and the role of symbolic objects and actions. A teacher's guide and a student handout as well as a History of Treaty-Making in Canada are available.
True Stories: BC voices on gambling - Based on two true stories written by young people impacted by gambling, this lesson invites students to think, speak and/or write about gambling and its effect on individuals and families. Students also get a chance to reflect on their biases and assumptions related to gambling and broaden their understanding of key issues.
The Whisky Rebellion - this iMinds lesson idea, in looking at the opposition to the imposition of a tax on whisky to help finance the debt incurred during the American War of Independence, explores issues of fairness, alcohol taxation and the financing of war. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Why do we feel so bad about feeling good? - this iMinds lesson idea aims to engage students to think more critically about the concepts of pleasure, pain and risk related to drug use and to explore why pleasure is often missing from the conversation about drugs. This helps equip students to make more informed choices in their pursuit of pleasure.
Women and Alcohol - this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a CBC documentary and other marketing pieces to explore social concepts and health issues related to women and alcohol. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
By subject
Arts Education
Charles Barkley (Grade 7) - In this lesson, students look into the life of retired basketball player and high-stakes gambler Charles Barkley. Using Barkley’s story as a stimulus, students creatively explore gambling-related themes, such as risk and loss, and consider factors that can help us keep our game playing and gambling healthy and fun.
Charlotte’s Web (Grades 3-5) - This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Game of Pig ( Kindergarten-Grade 1) - This lesson uses a simplified version of a dice game to teach students to think about decisions involving risk. In addition to developing decision-making strategies, students are encouraged to think critically about their emotional responses to situations involving choices and chance. The art activity at the end involves making dice they can take home to play with their families.
The Gambler (Grade 7) – a song made famous by country singer Kenny Rogers features a lifelong gambler who offers worldly advice, based on his experiences as a gambler, in exchange for a swig of whiskey and a cigarette. In this iMinds lesson idea students are encouraged to examine the song lyrics as a way to reflect on life and gambling.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game (Kindergarten-Grade 3) - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
The Lottery (Grades 9-12) – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Ode to the Dice (Grade 7) - In this lesson, students explore various gambling-related themes based on the lyrics of a beautifully written but tragic Indian poem—one of the earliest documented accounts of gambling in the world—found in the tenth book of the Rig Veda (c. 4000-1500 BCE). Students also get a chance to express their thoughts and feelings in imaginative ways.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (Grades 2-3) - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
Raffles (Grades 4-6) - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Rat Park (Grade 6/7) – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Wanting and Giving: Greed and The Giving Tree (Kindergarten-Grade 1) - This lesson uses a Shel Silverstein children’s story to expose students to important life concepts such as greed, wanting and giving. Students discuss the underlying themes of the book while exploring their own thoughts and feelings, and then get a chance to creatively express themselves through drama.
Composition, Creative Writing and Spoken Language
True Stories: BC voices on gambling (Grades 10-12) - Based on two true stories written by young people impacted by gambling, this lesson invites students to think, speak and/or write about gambling and its effect on individuals and families. Students also get a chance to reflect on their biases and assumptions related to gambling and broaden their understanding of key issues.
Éducation physique et santé
Tout Explorer (4e année) – dans ce module de 5 leçons iMinds, les élèves de quatrième année deviennent des « explorateurs » qui recherchent et examinent les avantages, les risques et les inconvénients de la consommation de médicaments, de caféine et d’autres drogues. Les élèves explorent également une gamme d’options pour gérer les problèmes quotidiens et réfléchir à vers qui ils peuvent se tourner si ils ont un jour besoin d'aide. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
L’Île aux Gâteries (5e année) – dans ce module de 5 leçons iMinds, les élèves participent à des tâches qui les encouragent à comparer le rôle du sucre dans notre société avec le rôle des médicaments et autres drogues. A la fin du module, les étudiants en savent plus sur les techniques de gestion autonome et sur la façon de trouver de l'aide pour résoudre les problèmes. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Devenir un détective (6e année) – avec ce module de 6 leçons iMinds, les élèves apprennent comment être des détectives. Ils examinent des "indices" sur les facteurs qui peuvent influencer le comportement des jeunes afin de résoudre un cas impliquant trois étudiants qui n'arrêtent pas de s'endormir en cours. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d'apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives (7e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds est conçu pour aider les élèves à en apprendre davantage sur le rôle que l'alcool et d'autres drogues ont joué dans l'histoire humaine et la société. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, des documents à reproduire et un texte complémentaire.
Médias et culture adolescente (8e année) – un module de 6 leçons iMinds dans lequel les élèves deviennent des spécialistes du comportement qui étudient les médias et leur influence sur le comportement des adolescents. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Débattre la politique des drogues (10e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds aide les élèves à développer leur esprit critique tout en découvrant et en prenant part à des débats formels sur la consommation d'alcool et d'autres drogues. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage et des documents à reproduire.
English Language Arts
English Language Arts 1
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Wanting and Giving: Greed and The Giving Tree - This lesson uses a Shel Silverstein children’s story to expose students to important life concepts such as greed, wanting and giving. Students discuss the underlying themes of the book while exploring their own thoughts and feelings, and then get a chance to creatively express themselves through drama.
English Language Arts 2
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
English Language Arts 3
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
English Language Arts 4
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Emotions, Metaphors and Gambling - This iMinds instructional outline and student handout uses a wonderful metaphor-laden children’s story, The Red Tree (2001) by Shaun Tan, to begin a conversation about the depth and complexity of human emotions.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
English Language Arts 5
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Tales of a Gambling Grandma – this heartwarming story provides a foundation for an iMinds lesson idea on gambling. The story offers many opportunites to explore issues related to gambling in a gentle fun way.
We Are All Change Makers – this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
English Language Arts 6
The Breadwinner - Debra Ellis’s bestselling novel is the stimulus for lively discussion in this lesson. Students learn about a different culture and way of life while considering and exploring life skills and concepts related to gambling, including courage, decision-making and navigating risk.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (drugs) - this iMinds instructional idea uses Roald Dahl's famous book to explore "drugs that excite our brains." Students will explore the reasons we sometimes lose control when doing things that have both benefits and risks and how to build their capacity to enjoy the benefits without experiencing harm.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (gambling) - Roald Dahl's famous story provides a great entry for discussing issues related to gambling. This iMinds instructional idea provides teachers with everything they need to begin the conversation including a visual and a student worksheet.
The Giver - this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers – this iMinds instructional idea is based on the story of Philippe Petit's daring high wire performance between the Twin Towers in New York City. It provides a great background for exploring several themes relevant to building drug literacy.
Raffles - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
We Are All Change Makers – this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
English Language Arts 7
Charles Barkley - In this lesson, students look into the life of retired basketball player and high-stakes gambler Charles Barkley. Using Barkley’s story as a stimulus, students creatively explore gambling-related themes, such as risk and loss, and consider factors that can help us keep our game playing and gambling healthy and fun.
The Gambler – a song made famous by country singer Kenny Rogers features a lifelong gambler who offers worldly advice, based on his experiences as a gambler, in exchange for a swig of whiskey and a cigarette. In this iMinds lesson idea students are encouraged to examine the song lyrics as a way to reflect on life and gambling.
The Giver – this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) – this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) – this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers – this iMinds instructional idea is based on the story of Philippe Petit's daring high wire performance between the Twin Towers in New York City. It provides a great background for exploring several themes relevant to building drug literacy.
Ode to the Dice - In this lesson, students explore various gambling-related themes based on the lyrics of a beautifully written but tragic Indian poem—one of the earliest documented accounts of gambling in the world—found in the tenth book of the Rig Veda (c. 4000-1500 BCE). Students also get a chance to express their thoughts and feelings in imaginative ways.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
We Are All Change Makers – this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Youth Voices on Marijuana – this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
English Language Arts 8
Cannabis: Stories, Questions and Life - this iMinds lesson idea uses Deborah Ellis’s short story “Through the Woods” (in Lunch with Lenin and Other Stories) as a catalyst for conversation around questions that are useful in examining the impact of cannabis use and regulation on individuals and relationships. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Cannabis and the need for dialogue - this iMinds lesson idea uses Margaret Wheatley's poem, "Turning to One Another," to explore different aspects of dialogue and its significance in the context of shifting policies regarding cannabis. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Free Feeling: Tom Petty, Cannabis and Music as Craft - this iMinds lesson idea uses Tom Petty's song "You Don’t Know How it Feels" to explore issues like censorship and artistic freedom. And the history of Tom Petty and his long-time band, the Heartbreakers, provides further opportunity to explore the impacts drug use can have on life, work and relationships. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
The Giver – this iMinds instructional idea uses the popular dystopian novel by Lois Lowry to explore ideas about pain and joy and invites students to think about ways we can manage pain and joy for the benefit of both the individual and community. Useful in addressing current fentanyl crisis.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) – this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) – this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
The Lightning Thief – an iMinds teacher's resource for engaging students in thinking about gambling based on the fantasy novel by Rick Riordan.
The Outsiders – an iMinds teacher's resource for using S. E. Hinton's novel, The Outsiders, to address drug literacy.
Youth Voices on Marijuana – this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
English Language Arts 9
Cannabis: Stories, Questions and Life - this iMinds lesson idea uses Deborah Ellis’s short story “Through the Woods” (in Lunch with Lenin and Other Stories) as a catalyst for conversation around questions that are useful in examining the impact of cannabis use and regulation on individuals and relationships. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Cannabis and the need for dialogue - this iMinds lesson idea uses Margaret Wheatley's poem, "Turning to One Another," to explore different aspects of dialogue and its significance in the context of shifting policies regarding cannabis. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Divergent – an iMinds teacher's resource that offers suggestions for using Veronica Roth's dystopian novel, Divergent, to address drug literacy.
Free Feeling: Tom Petty, Cannabis and Music as Craft - this iMinds lesson idea uses Tom Petty's song "You Don’t Know How it Feels" to explore issues like censorship and artistic freedom. And the history of Tom Petty and his long-time band, the Heartbreakers, provides further opportunity to explore the impacts drug use can have on life, work and relationships. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Hunger Games (drugs) – this iMinds instructional outline exploits the numerous references to drugs in this popular novel to help students reflect on how we use different drugs in our communities. Different activities focus on opioids (like fentanyl), hallucinogens (like LSD) and alcohol.
The Hunger Games (gambling) – this popular book by Suzanne Collins provides young readers an opportunity to think about gambling and reflect on the emotional appeal and complex roles it plays in society. This iMinds lesson idea provides teachers with instuctional strategies to facilitate this exploration.
Listening to Sugar Man – an iMinds teacher's resource that explores drug-related themes in the folk music of Sixto Rodriguez. A student handout is provided.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Lunch with Lenin – a 6-lesson module from iMinds that explores how drugs touch the lives of children. Lessons are based on Deborah Ellis' multi-cultural collection of short stories. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
The Many Wines – this iMinds teacher's resource and a student handout support the use of Rumi's famous poem to explore and build drug literacy.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post – this iMinds teacher's resource draws attention to and provides discussion questions related to several themes critical to the development of drug literacy in the coming-of-age teen novel by Emily M. Danforth.
Pain Medications: Benefits and Risks – this iMinds instructional outline invites students to think critically about how we perceive drugs in our culture and how that may impact the way we perceive the risks associated with different drugs. It begins with a consideration pain medication using an episode from Degrassi.
The Perfect High – this iMinds teacher's resource suggests ways to use Shel Silverstein's poem, The Perfect High, to help students explore life, truth and drugs. A student handout is available.
The Power of Music – this iMinds teacher's resource suggests ways to engage students to consider the role that music has played – and continues to play – in the human experience – in society as a whole, as well as in their individual lives.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
English Language Arts 10
Bicycle Day’s Dilemma - this iMinds instructional outline uses excerpts from Albert Hofmann's writings about his discovery of, and experiences with, LSD to challenge students to think critically about the benefits and risks associated with substance use and how we manage those in our society.
Debating Drug Policy – this iMinds 6-lesson module (including teachers guide and black-line masters) helps students develop their critical thinking skills while learning about and performing formal debates on the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Examining Gambling – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a number of commercial marketing pieces related to gambling as well as a social marketing site to engage students in thinking critically about social messages and concepts and their influence on individual and community well-being. A set of teaching slides with images and dialogue questions is provided.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Rum and Spirits – this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
English Language Arts/Media Studies 11/12
Drugs and relationships in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” - this iMinds lesson idea offers some strategies and ideas that teachers can use to help students explore themes related to drug use and wellbeing as part of a study of Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Opioid Use: Deconstructing Media Messages - this iMinds instructional outline explores the topic of opioid use and the media. Students compare and contrast two media reports about overdose deaths in two BC communities and then, working with a small group of peers, try to write a fictional report. In the process they reflect on how language shapes our thinking.
Rum and Spirits – this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Why do we feel so bad about feeling good? - this iMinds lesson idea aims to engage students to think more critically about the concepts of pleasure, pain and risk related to drug use and to explore why pleasure is often missing from the conversation about drugs. This helps equip students to make more informed choices in their pursuit of pleasure.
Women and Alcohol – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a CBC documentary and other marketing pieces to explore social concepts and health issues related to women and alcohol. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
English Language Arts 11
Drugs and relationships in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” - this iMinds lesson idea offers some strategies and ideas that teachers can use to help students explore themes related to drug use and wellbeing as part of a study of Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Examining Gambling (coming soon) – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a number of commercial marketing pieces related to gambling as well as a social marketing site to engage students in thinking critically about social messages and concepts and their influence on individual and community well-being. A set of teaching slides with images and dialogue questions is provided.
Gambling and Addiction in Nineteen Eighty Four - This iMinds instructional outline engages students in a critical examination of the social and economic structures of our own time and explore how they influence people’s excessive pursuits of happiness or oblivion.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Why do we feel so bad about feeling good? - this iMinds lesson idea aims to engage students to think more critically about the concepts of pleasure, pain and risk related to drug use and to explore why pleasure is often missing from the conversation about drugs. This helps equip students to make more informed choices in their pursuit of pleasure.
English Language Arts 12
Examining Gambling (coming soon) – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a number of commercial marketing pieces related to gambling as well as a social marketing site to engage students in thinking critically about social messages and concepts and their influence on individual and community well-being. A set of teaching slides with images and dialogue questions is provided.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? - In this lesson, Leo Tolstoy’s short story provides the stimulus for interesting discussions around the concepts of need and greed. Students are invited to reflect on their own motivations for acquiring money and material goods and apply the lessons learned in the story to their own lives.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson’s famous 1948 short story can provide an opportunity for meaningful exploration of issues related to gambling even though, as Homer Simpson discovered to his chagrin, it is not about gambling or lotteries in our sense. This iMinds lesson provides teachers with ideas for facilitating learning opportunities.
Why do we feel so bad about feeling good? - this iMinds lesson idea aims to engage students to think more critically about the concepts of pleasure, pain and risk related to drug use and to explore why pleasure is often missing from the conversation about drugs. This helps equip students to make more informed choices in their pursuit of pleasure.
Français langue première
Devenir un détective (6e année) – avec ce module de 6 leçons iMinds, les élèves apprennent comment être des détectives. Ils examinent des "indices" sur les facteurs qui peuvent influencer le comportement des jeunes afin de résoudre un cas impliquant trois étudiants qui n'arrêtent pas de s'endormir en cours. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d'apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives (7e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds est conçu pour aider les élèves à en apprendre davantage sur le rôle que l'alcool et d'autres drogues ont joué dans l'histoire humaine et la société. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, des documents à reproduire et un texte complémentaire.
Médias et culture adolescente (8e année) – un module de 6 leçons iMinds dans lequel les élèves deviennent des spécialistes du comportement qui étudient les médias et leur influence sur le comportement des adolescents. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Débattre la politique des drogues (10e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds aide les élèves à développer leur esprit critique tout en découvrant et en prenant part à des débats formels sur la consommation d'alcool et d'autres drogues. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage et des documents à reproduire.
Français langue seconde - immersion
Devenir un détective (6e année) – avec ce module de 6 leçons iMinds, les élèves apprennent comment être des détectives. Ils examinent des "indices" sur les facteurs qui peuvent influencer le comportement des jeunes afin de résoudre un cas impliquant trois étudiants qui n'arrêtent pas de s'endormir en cours. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d'apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives (7e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds est conçu pour aider les élèves à en apprendre davantage sur le rôle que l'alcool et d'autres drogues ont joué dans l'histoire humaine et la société. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, des documents à reproduire et un texte complémentaire.
Médias et culture adolescente (8e année) – un module de 6 leçons iMinds dans lequel les élèves deviennent des spécialistes du comportement qui étudient les médias et leur influence sur le comportement des adolescents. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Débattre la politique des drogues (10e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds aide les élèves à développer leur esprit critique tout en découvrant et en prenant part à des débats formels sur la consommation d'alcool et d'autres drogues. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage et des documents à reproduire.
Law
Court Trial: Digital matter (Grade 12) -This lesson gives students an opportunity to learn about gambling and digital matter through their own research as well as experience and contribute to a mock trial. Students also get a chance to develop critical thinking skills that may help them reduce their risk of problematic gambling in the future.
Mathematics
Charlotte’s Web (Grades 3-5) - This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Class Market (Grades 1-3) -In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
From Probability to the Gambler's Fallacy (Grade 9) - this iMinds math lesson takes the study of probability back to its original roots in the exploration of games of chance. The lesson cannot make someone a more successful gambler. But it can help students develop an understanding of probability and its usefulness and limitations relative to gambling. Lesson includes a teacher's guide, a game sheet and a work sheet. This lesson cannot make someone a more successful gambler. But it can help students develop an understanding of probability and its usefulness and limitations relative to gambling.
Leaving it up to Chance (Grade 8) - This iMinds instructional outline aims to engage students in a dialogue about chance-based games and encourage them to think critically about gambling.
Probability and Games of Chance (Grades 4-6) - Playing games of chance is an activity that can involve the use of mathematical concepts like probability. This instructional outline is meant to help students develop an understanding of basic probability concepts and how they can be applied to think critically about gambling.
Raffles (Grades 4-6) - In this lesson, students are encouraged to think both critically and creatively about a commonly used method of fundraising—raffles. The lesson instructions feature discussion questions related to emotions and values, and project ideas with helpful handouts aimed at helping students calculate fundraising costs.
Under/Over 7 (Grades 1-2) - This lesson uses a fun dice game to help students develop their math skills while making choices based on risk and chance. Students learn how to play Under/Over 7 and follow up by reflecting on how they felt while engaged in the game.
Philosophy
Philosophy of Money: Marx and alienation (Grade 12) - In this lesson, students explore the concept of money through the lens of Karl Marx’s materialist theory and the notion of ‘alienation.’ Students reflect on how money affects them, others, and the world around them, and think critically about issues that may impact gambling behaviour. Understanding what money is, and how it can influence our sense of connectedness or disconnectedness to ourselves and the world, can help us be more mindful about the ways we both see and use money.
Physical and Health Education
Kindergarten
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? - In this lesson, students play a game that allows them to be physically active while practicing in-the-moment decision making. Afterwards, students get a chance to talk about how it felt in their minds and bodies to play a game involving risk and choice.
Physical and Health Education 1
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? - In this lesson, students play a game that allows them to be physically active while practicing in-the-moment decision making. Afterwards, students get a chance to talk about how it felt in their minds and bodies to play a game involving risk and choice.
Physical and Health Education 2
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
Physical and Health Education 3
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Class Market - In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating and “buy” food at a “market” they help to set up in the classroom using the handouts provided. The lesson begins with a conversation around the new Canada Food Guide recommendations. Then students are given a chance to engage in the math-oriented market activity and the follow-up discussion about how they made their choices.
Horse: A ball-and-hoop game - In this lesson, students learn how to play a fun ball-and-hoop game called Horse. They also get a chance to add to the stakes of the game and reflect on what it feels like in their minds and bodies in situations involving competition and choices.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! - Based on Dr. Seuss’s delightful book about the ups and downs of life, this lesson invites students to explore the concept of achieving and maintaining balance as an important life skill. The lesson outline highlights themes and offers questions for classroom discussions as well as ideas for extension activities that involve art and other forms of creative expression, collaborative work and physical movement.
Physical and Health Education 4
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Explorers All – in this 5-lesson unit from iMinds, Grade 4 students become “explorers” who seek out and examine the benefits, risks and harms of using medications, caffeine and other drugs. Students also explore a range of options for managing everyday problems and reflect on who they can look to if they ever need help. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
Physical and Health Education 5
Charlotte’s Web -This lesson, based on E.B. White’s award-winning novel, focuses on the sights, sounds and smells at the County Fair, featured in Chapter 17. Students are encouraged to think and talk about the human desire for fun and excitement as well as the role of self-regulation and safety when having a really good time. The lesson instructions include themed discussion questions and activity ideas that invite students to both express themselves artistically and develop their writing, math, decision-making, movement and social skills.
Treat Island – in this 5-lesson unit from iMinds, students engage in tasks that encourage them to compare the role of sugar in our society with the role of medications and other drugs. By the end of the unit, students know more about self-management techniques and how to find help with problems. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Physical and Health Education 6
Becoming a Detective – through this 6-lesson module from iMinds, students learn how to be detectives. They examine “clues” about the potential influences on a young person’s behaviour in order to solve a case involving three students who keep falling asleep in class. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Rolling with Life's Challenges – This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Physical and Health Education 7
Ancient Peoples and Psychoactive Plants – this 6-lesson module from iMinds is designed to help students learn about the role alcohol and other drugs have played in human history and society. Module includes background material, lesson plans, black-line masters and a supplementary text.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges – This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
We Are All Change Makers - this iMinds lesson idea explores school connectedness and student engagement through an applied inquiry based on a Margaret Wheatley poem. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Physical and Health Education 8
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Media and Teen Culture – a 6-lesson module from iMinds in which students become behavioural scientists who study media and its influence on teen behaviour. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
A Natural High – this iMinds lesson idea explores the high that can sometimes accompany jogging and has led to the creation of the term, “runner's high.” A teacher's resource provides discussion starters and suggestions for linking to a unit exploring students' feelings while engaging in physical activities.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges – This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
The Ups and Downs of Stress – this iMinds lesson idea suggests ways to help students both understand stress and develop skills in managing it. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Physical and Health Education 9
Cannabis and Relationships - With the help of Cycles, a film about youth and cannabis use, this iMinds lesson plan aims to engage students to think critically about cannabis use and how it can impact different types of relationships.
Health guidelines: Are they helpful? - this iMinds lesson idea introduces some of these guidelines and recommendations that can provide a springboard for critically reviewing particular behaviours (eating, physical activity, substance use) and exploring how such guidelines might be useful in making decisions about health and well-being. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Lunch with Lenin – a 6-lesson module from iMinds that explores how drugs touch the lives of children. Lessons are based on Deborah Ellis' multi-cultural collection of short stories. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
Pain Medications: Benefits and Risks - this iMinds instructional outline invites students to think critically about how we perceive drugs in our culture and how that may impact the way we perceive the risks associated with different drugs. It begins with a consideration pain medication using an episode from Degrassi.
A Park or a Cage? – this iMinds lesson idea explores the Rat Park experiments conducted by Prof. Bruce Alexander at SFU in the 1970s to challenge common assumptions about addiction and to help students reflect on the social factors involved. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Rolling with Life's Challenges – This iMinds instructional outline is meant to help students learn about and experience alternatives to the riskier ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... - Various studies have shown that having a pet can increase self-esteem, physical fitness, and social connectedness while decreasing loneliness and stress. This iMinds lesson idea uses this fact as a jumping off point to engage students in thinking about ways we might use to manage stress, the different impacts these strategies might have and how to make choices in using these tools to maximize our own well-being.
The Ups and Downs of Stress – this iMinds lesson idea suggests ways to help students both understand stress and develop skills in managing it. A teacher's resource and an optional student handout are available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Physical and Health Education 10
Debating Drug Policy – this 6-lesson module from iMinds helps students develop their critical thinking skills while learning about and performing formal debates on the use of alcohol and other drugs. Module includes background material, lesson plans, and black-line masters.
Health guidelines: Are they helpful? - this iMinds lesson idea introduces some of these guidelines and recommendations that can provide a springboard for critically reviewing particular behaviours (eating, physical activity, substance use) and exploring how such guidelines might be useful in making decisions about health and well-being. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs - This lesson invites students to reflect on their perceptions of cannabis use, alcohol use and vaping in their communities, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society. Students also explore the ways our ideas and attitudes about drugs influence our behaviour and the behaviour of those around us.
Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life - In this lesson, based on the Blunt Talk report by the McCreary Centre Society, students explore different aspects of risk and risky behaviours, strategies to manage risk, and their application to substance use.
Women and Alcohol – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a CBC documentary and other marketing pieces to explore social concepts and health issues related to women and alcohol. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis - This lesson uses Blunt Talk, a report by the McCreary Centre Society, to engage students in critical thinking and dialogue about why some young people choose to use cannabis, and ways to support them in finding alternatives or being more reflective about their use.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Sciences humaines
Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives (7e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds est conçu pour aider les élèves à en apprendre davantage sur le rôle que l'alcool et d'autres drogues ont joué dans l'histoire humaine et la société. Le module comprend des documents d'information, des plans d’apprentissage, des documents à reproduire et un texte complémentaire.
Médias et culture adolescente (8e année) – un module de 6 leçons iMinds dans lequel les élèves deviennent des spécialistes du comportement qui étudient les médias et leur influence sur le comportement des adolescents. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage, et des documents à reproduire.
Débattre la politique des drogues (10e année) – ce module de 6 leçons iMinds aide les élèves à développer leur esprit critique tout en découvrant et en prenant part à des débats formels sur la consommation d'alcool et d'autres drogues. Le module comprend le matériel de base, des plans d’apprentissage et des documents à reproduire.
Social Studies
Kindergarten
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Social Studies 1
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Social Studies 2
Choice and Responsibility - This lesson is based on Shel Silverstein’s colourful, interactive poem, “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” Students are invited to identify and reflect on their own chores and responsibilities at home, school, and in their community during a class discussion.
Hanukkah Dreidel Game - In this lesson, students learn a little about Hanukkah and are introduced to a fun, low-stakes gambling game that is typically played during the Jewish holiday. Students get a chance to express themselves through art and self-reflection related to emotions they felt while playing the game.
Social Studies 3
Social Studies 6
The Breadwinner - Debra Ellis’s bestselling novel is the stimulus for lively discussion in this lesson. Students learn about a different culture and way of life while considering and exploring life skills and concepts related to gambling, including courage, decision-making and navigating risk.
I Want to be Rich - In this lesson, students are invited to think about why people gamble and discuss the potential risks and benefits. Students also examine the concepts of chance, wealth, greed and how our pursuit of money and wealth can impact us and others.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Social Studies 7
Ancient Peoples and Cannabis Use – This lesson uses the Drug History Timeline to help students explore the place of cannabis in human experience from early times to the present.
Ancient Peoples and Psychoactive Plants – this 6-lesson module from iMinds is designed to help students learn about the role alcohol and other drugs have played in human history and society. Module includes background material, lesson plans, black-line masters and a supplementary text.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
Rat Park – this iMinds instructional idea uses popular presentations of Professor Bruce Alexander's "Rat Park" experiments to help students explore how the physical and social environment impact health and well-being, including drug use. Students are encouraged to be active in shaping these environments.
Sticks, Stones and Broken Bones - This iMinds instructional outline gives students an opportunity to explore the meanings ancient peoples gave to gambling and reflect on what their early notions might tell us about gambling today.
Social Studies 8
A Downside to the Printing Press? – this iMinds lesson idea encourages students to reflect on how technological inventions such as the printing press might be both a blessing and a curse. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
The Gin Craze – this iMinds lesson idea encourage students to critically examine the complex of factors that led to a new pattern of drinking, associated with gin, in 18th-century London. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
King James Trash Talks and Taxes Tobacco – this iMinds lesson idea looks at how King James I tried hard to reduce tobacco usage, not only by writing A Counterblaste to Tobacco but also by introducing a massive tax increase in 1604. Students are encouraged to reflect on the various ways to influence drug use and prmote health. A teacher's guide is provided along with three student handouts: King James Trash Talks ..., Anti-Smoking: Then and Now and A Cash Crop for Virginia.
Leaves of the Land: A Quick History of Coca – this iMinds lesson idea explores how drugs and drug use can be linked to social and cultural status and identity. Students are encouraged to reflect on the role of alcohol and other drugs in their community and culture. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
A Social History of Coffee – this iMinds lesson idea examines the history of attitudes toward coffee to explore how attitudes to drugs are culturally determined and to reflect on the significance of this. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Social Studies 9
Alcohol or What? – this iMinds lesson idea draws on excerpts from an historical text to critically assess commonly held beliefs about the role alcohol has played in unravelling Aboriginal cultures since first contact with European explorers and settlers. A teacher's guide and a student handout with excerpts from G. M. Sproat's memoir and one comparing Sproat's observations with those of Bruce Alexander are available.
An Alliance Betrayed – this iMinds lesson idea explores the role of Chief Crowfoot in leading the Blackfoot people and negotiating Treaty 7 with the Canadian government against the backdrop of the whisky trade and its destructive impact on his people. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
Deal Maker or Deal Breaker – this iMinds lesson idea explores different historical perspectives on the role of alcohol in the North American fur trade. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
Smokes for Soldiers – this iMinds lesson idea provides primary and secondary sources to help students explore tobacco propaganda during WW I. A teacher's resource and a student handout are available.
Social Studies 10
A Solution without a Problem? - in this iMinds lesson idea, students are invited to explore a CBC article on how Canada’s anti-cannabis policy was created and to examine passages from The Black Candle, Emily Murphy’s collection of statistics and news commentary on drug use in North America in the early 1920s. The exercise prompts students to explore and assess factors that may have influenced drug policy in Canada in the past and consider those influencing drug policy today. A teacher's guide and student handouts (CBC article and The Black Candle) are available.
Cocoa-nomics: Who Benefits? Who Pays? – this iMinds lesson idea encourages students to explore issues related to the cocoa industry particularly in West Africa where over 70% of the cocoa comes from. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Gambling and Stigma - This iMinds instructional outline aims to engage students in exploring various issues related to gambling and stigma and challenge them to consider the potential impacts stigma might have on different groups of people: those who gamble, those with gambling problems, and the people around them
Gambling in Canada This iMinds instructional outline and handout uses 2009 data from Statistics Canada to explore the gambling landscape in Canada. Students are encouraged to think about the factors that might explain the relative popularity of different forms of gambling in different regions and among different populations in Canada. What might our gambling tell us about ourselves?
Is the Stock Market Gambling? – Some people suggest, “Investing in the stock market is just like gambling at a casino.” Investing and gambling both involve risk and choice. This iMinds lesson idea explores the similarities and differences between gambling and the stock market at the core of our economic system.
Horse Racing - This lesson revolves around one of the world’s oldest sports—horse racing. Students examine the history of horseracing and its influence on gambling, past and present. Students also get a chance to share and explore different perspectives on horse racing and its place in today’s world.
Lahal Game – this traditional Indigenous gambling game is used in this iMinds lesson outline to explore attitudes and ideas related to gambling. Using reflection, video and inquiry the lesson explores ethical and cultural issues related to gambling.
Material Wealth and Gambling – This iMinds instructional outline aims to encourage students to critically think about issues such as wealth inequality and our relationship to material goods, and social values and how these may impact gambling behaviour.
Rum and Spirits – this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Selling Tobacco to Women – this iMinds lesson idea challenges students to think about the way tobacco and other psychoactive substances are marketed and, in particular, to consider the role of gender in both marketing and social attitudes. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Women and Alcohol – this iMinds lesson idea deconstructs a CBC documentary and other marketing pieces to explore social concepts and health issues related to women and alcohol. A teacher's guide with links to other resources is available.
BC First Peoples 11
Comparative Cultures 11
Social Justice 11/12
Does War Cause Addiction – For many people, it makes sense that a surge of drug addiction follows the return of soldiers who’ve been physically and mentally traumatized by war, but ... This iMinds lesson idea explores the arguments and considers other possible causes. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Friendly Fire – this iMinds lesson idea uses a series of excerpts from the book War and Drugs to examine the role drugs played in the 2002 friendly fire incident in which four Canadian soldiers were killed by American bombers in Afghanistan. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Material Wealth and Gambling – This iMinds instructional outline aims to encourage students to critically think about issues such as wealth inequality and our relationship to material goods, and social values and how these may impact gambling behaviour.
Rum and Spirits – this iMinds lesson idea explores the intersection of rum, religion and cultural identity in the Afro-Caribbean experience drawing on history and music. A teacher's guide and student handout are available.
Smoking the Pipe–Peace or War – this iMinds lesson idea looks at how ceremonial smoking pipes and tobacco were used by many First Nations peoples in North America in relation to both building alliances for war and in making peace. Students reflect on peace-making processes and the role of symbolic objects and actions. A teacher's guide and a student handout as well as a History of Treaty-Making in Canada are available.
The Whisky Rebellion – this iMinds lesson idea, in looking at the opposition to the imposition of a tax on whisky to help finance the debt incurred during the American War of Independence, explores issues of fairness, alcohol taxation and the financing of war. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Youth Voices on Marijuana - this iMinds instructional outline provides a variety of strategies for engaging students in meaningful conversations about cannabis. The lesson draws on the Blunt Talk report published by the McCreary Society and, in particular, quotes from students taking the Adolescent Health Survey.
Drugs and War Series
Does War Cause Addiction – For many people, it makes sense that a surge of drug addiction follows the return of soldiers who’ve been physically and mentally traumatized by war, but ... This iMinds lesson idea explores the arguments and considers other possible causes. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Friendly Fire – this iMinds lesson idea uses a series of excerpts from the book War and Drugs to examine the role drugs played in the 2002 friendly fire incident in which four Canadian soldiers were killed by American bombers in Afghanistan. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
Smokes for Soldiers – this iMinds lesson idea provides primary and secondary sources to help students explore tobacco propaganda during WW I. A teacher's resource and a student handout are available.
Smoking the Pipe–Peace or War – this iMinds lesson idea looks at how ceremonial smoking pipes and tobacco were used by many First Nations peoples in North America in relation to both building alliances for war and in making peace. Students reflect on peace-making processes and the role of symbolic objects and actions. A teacher's guide and a student handout as well as a History of Treaty-Making in Canada are available.
The Whisky Rebellion – this iMinds lesson idea, in looking at the opposition to the imposition of a tax on whisky to help finance the debt incurred during the American War of Independence, explores issues of fairness, alcohol taxation and the financing of war. A teacher's guide and a student handout are available.
By title (English and French)
Drug literacy (English)
- A Solution without a Problem? (Grade 10)
- Alcohol or What? (Grade 9)
- An Alliance Betrayed (Grade 9)
- Ancient Peoples and Cannabis Use (Grade 7)
- Ancient Peoples and Psychoactive Plants (Grade 7)
- Becoming a Detective (Grade 6)
- Bicycle Day’s Dilemma (Grade 10)
- Cannabis: Stories, Questions and Life (Grades 8-9)
- Cannabis and Relationships (Grade 9)
- Cannabis and the need for dialogue (Grades 8-9)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Grades 4-6)
- Cocoa-nomics: Who Benefits? Who Pays? (Grade 10)
- Deal Maker or Deal Breaker (Grade 9)
- Debating Drug Policy (Grade 10)
- Divergent (Grade 9)
- Does War Cause Addiction? (Grade 10/11/12)
- A Downside to the Printing Press? (Grade 8)
- Drugs and relationships in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” (Grade 11)
- Explorers All (Grade 4)
- Free Feeling: Tom Petty, Cannabis and Music as Craft (Grades 8-9)
- Friendly Fire (Grade 10/11/12)
- Gambling and Addiction in Nineteen Eighty Four (Grade 11)
- The Gin Craze (Grade 8)
- The Giver (Grades 6-8)
- Health guidelines: Are they helpful? (Grades 9-10)
- Highs and Lows: Cannabis use compared with other drugs (Grades 7-10)
- The Hunger Games (Grades 7-9)
- King James Trash Talks and Taxes Tobacco (Grade 8)
- Leaves of the Land: A Quick History of Coca (Grade 8)
- Listening to Sugar Man (Grade 9)
- Lunch with Lenin (Grade 8/9)
- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (Grade 6/7)
- The Many Wines (Grade 9)
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Grade 9)
- A Natural High (Grade 8)
- Opioid Use: Deconstructing Media Messages (Grade 11)
- The Outsiders (Grade 8)
- Pain Medications: Benefits and Risks (Grade 9)
- A Park or a Cage? (Grade 9)
- The Perfect High (Grade 9)
- The Power of Music (Grade 9)
- Rat Park (Grade 6/7)
- Rethinking Risk: Ways to assess and manage risk as a part of life (Grades 7-10)
- Rum and Spirits (Grades 10/11/12)
- Selling Tobacco to Women (Grade 10)
- Smokes for Soldiers (Grade 9)
- Smoking the Pipe - Peace or War (Grade 10/11/12)
- A Social History of Coffee (Grade 8)
- Stress: dogs, cannabis, exercise or ... (Grades 7-9)
- Treat Island (Grade 5)
- The Ups and Downs of Stress (Grade 8/9)
- We Are All Change Makers (Grades 5/6/7)
- The Whisky Rebellion (Grade 12)
- Why do we feel so bad about feeling good? (Grades 11-12)
- Women and Alcohol (Grade 10/11/12)
- Youth Perspectives: Reasons for using cannabis (Grades 7-10)
- Youth Voices on Marijuana (Grades 7/8/9/10/11/12)
l'Education aux drogues (En français)
- Tout Explorer (4e année)
- L’Île aux Gâteries (5e année)
- Devenir un détective (6e année)
- Peuples anciens et plantes psychoactives (7e année)
- Médias et culture adolescente (8e année)
- Débattre la politique des drogues (10e année)
Gambling literacy (English)
- The Breadwinner (Grade 6)
- Charles Barkley (Grade 7)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Grades 4-6)
- Charlotte's Web (Grades 3-5)
- Choice and Responsibility (Grades 1-2)
- Class Market (Grades 1-3)
- Court Trial: Digital Matter (Grade 12)
- Emotions, Metaphors and Gambling (Grades 4-5)
- Examining Gambling (Grades 10-12)
- From Probability to the Gambler’s Fallacy (Grade 9)
- The Gambler (Grade 7)
- Gambling and Addiction in Nineteen Eighty Four (Grade 11)
- Gambling and Stigma (Grade 10)
- Gambling in Canada (Grade 10)
- Game of Pig (Kindergarten-Grade 1)
- Hanukkah Dreidel Game (Kindergarten-Grade 3)
- Horse: A ball-and-hoop game (Kindergarten-Grade 3)
- Horse Racing (Grades 7-10)
- How Much Land Does a Man Need? (Grades 6-12)
- The Hunger Games (Grades 7-9)
- I Want to be Rich (Grade 6)
- Is the Stock Market Gambling? Grade 10)
- Lahal Game (Grades 10-11)
- Leaving it up to Chance (Grade 8)
- The Lightning Thief (Grade 8)
- The Lottery (Grades 9-12)
- Material Wealth and Gambling (Grades 10-12)
- Ode to the Dice (Grade 7)
- Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Grades 2-3)
- Philosophy of Money: Marx and alienation (Grade 12)
- Probability and Games of Chance (Grades 4-6)
- Raffles (Grades 4-6)
- Rolling with Life's Challenges (Grades 6-9)
- Sticks, Stones and Broken Bones (Grade 7)
- Tales of a Gambling Grandma (Grade 5)
- Thinking about Bingo (K-Grade 7)
- True Stories: BC voices on gambling (Grades 10-12)
- Wanting and Giving: Greed and The Giving Tree (Kindergarten-Grade 1)
- What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? (Kindergarten-Grade 1)
- Under/Over 7 (Grades 1-2)
Other resources
- Choices and Chances
- Drug History Timeline
- Factors: a game (drug use version)
- Factors: a game (gambling version)
What’s in it for students?
iMinds helps students understand drug use and gambling in the real world. They learn to engage with others about these phenomena and make choices that support their personal and collective well-being.
What teachers like about iMinds
iMinds is based on a constructivist approach to teaching and learning. It does NOT require teachers to be “experts” on drugs or mental health. Instead, teachers serve as facilitators who explore ideas and issues along with their students.
iMinds is consistent with the new BC curriculum. Rather than passively receiving information, learners are motivated to think critically and become actively involved in the pursuit of knowledge.
I’ve used the [materials] with my students and have been so impressed with how they engaged my students in substantial and meaningful learning.