Trying to fit in
As teenagers, it’s normal for students to want to have friends and fit in with a group. However, sometimes when trying to fit in, they give in to peer pressure and find themselves doing things they don’t feel comfortable doing. This can be due to the perceived repercussions from their peer group if they don’t join in the group behaviour. Use this lesson to start the conversation with students about peer pressure.
Year level
7-8
Duration
5 minutes
Type
In class activity
Online learning
SEL Competencies
Relationship skills
Responsible decision-making
Learning intention
Students discuss peer pressure and explore the concept of fitting in.
Key outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
define peer pressure
identify common peer pressure situations
feel more confident about handling peer pressure.
Materials needed
Access to the ReachOut.com article ‘What is peer pressure?’
Access to the meme ‘Stop trying to fit into the wrong herd’
Whiteboard and markers
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Analyse the impact of changes and transitions, and devise strategies to support themselves and others through these changes (AC9HP8P02)
Examine the roles of respect, empathy, power and coercion in developing respectful relationships (AC9HP8P04)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and Social Capability:
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Social management
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Examines and evaluates strategies to manage current and future challenges (PD4-1)
Applies and refines interpersonal skills to assist themselves and others to interact respectfully and promote inclusion in a variety of groups or contexts (PD4-10)
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Evaluate strategies to manage personal, physical and social changes that occur as they grow older (VCHPEP124)
Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others’ health and wellbeing (VCHPEP127)
Activity 1
Instructions
5 minutes
Ask students:
What is peer pressure?
What types of things can individuals be peer pressured into doing?
If a young person doesn't want to do something, what might the result be?
Show students the following meme (or other meme of your choosing): ‘Stop trying to fit into the wrong herd’.
In small groups or individually, ask students to discuss:
What message is the creator trying to convey?
Why is this an important message?
Note: Emphasise to students that the point of the meme is to encourage people to be themselves and to find friends who value who they are and don’t try to pressure them into being someone else. Students may want to refer to the ReachOut.com article ' What is peer pressure?' for support answering questions in this activity.
