Aim Aim • I understand that I can choose not to do something that makes me feel uncomfortable. Success Criteria Success Criteria • Statement 1 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. • I can explain what a dare is. • Statement 2 • I can recognise when I am being pressured into doing something. • Sub statement • I know how to get help if I am being pressured into doing something I don’t feel comfortable with. This resource is fully in line with the Learning Outcomes and Core Themes outlined in the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study .
The Big Questions How do we know if we are being pressured to do something risky or dangerous? What do we do if we are being pressured to do something that makes us feel uncomfortable?
Read each statement and try to decide Let’s take a look at some statements. if they are true or false. Trying new things can be fun. It is important to show others we are cool, brave or strong. It is important We need to to fit in with think before your friends. we act. We should do what everyone else is doing. If we know something is wrong, we shouldn’t do it. It is hard to say no when friends tell you We must try hard to get others to like us. to do something.
First Thoughts Was it easy to decide which statements were true and which were false? These statements link to today’s lesson about feeling under pressure from others. Pressure to do things, try things, look a certain way or behave in a certain way can come from lots of people and places. Family and friends can pressure us to do things and we might also feel pressure from things we see on TV or in music videos.
It can be fun to try new things but sometimes we get dared by others to do something scary, wrong or dangerous. Strangely, when we are dared to do something we are not comfortable with, the bravest thing we can do is say no. No! We are going to look at a story all about a girl who was feeling under pressure to do something which didn’t feel right. We might think we need to do the dare to fit in with others, to show that we are brave or to prove others wrong.
Dare Devils ‘These notebooks are so cool,’ said Tan. ‘Yeah,’ agreed Barja, ‘and I love this pencil case! Look, it has secret compartments in it!’
Dare Devils ‘ Oooh , that is nice,’ said Eleiyah . ‘I want these pens. I asked for them for my birthday but I didn’t get them. Look at how many colours you get.’ ‘No wonder you didn’t get them for your birthday,’ replied Tan, ‘Have you seen how much they are? Why do they cost that much?’
Dare Devils ‘I know, right! They are so expensive, but they are so nice!’ replied Eleiyah, still holding the set of pens and gazing at them longingly.
Dare Devils ‘If I were you,’ said Barja , ‘I’d just take them. They’re overpriced anyway. The shop is being greedy charging that much for them.’ ‘There’s no one around,’ added Tan, ‘Go on, we won’t tell. It’ll be fun and you do really want them. I dare you!’
Dare Devils ‘We’ll look out. Just hide them under your coat,’ said Barja, nudging Eleiyah.
Dare Devils Eleiyah felt hot and dizzy and her heart started beating faster. She really wanted these pens – she had wanted them for ages – and at that price she couldn’t afford to buy them.
Dare Devils There was no one looking, so she could probably get away with hiding them under her coat and walking out of the shop unnoticed. Something didn’t feel right. She glanced at Barja and Tan, who looked at her expectantly.
Dare Devils ‘Come on,’ said Tan, ‘You’re not too scared, are you? It’s only a set of pens.’ ‘Yeah,’ said Barja , ‘Don’t be a baby. It’s not like you’re robbing a bank. If you get away with it, we’ll know we can get more stuff.’
Dare Devils Eleiyah didn’t like being called scared or a baby but even if she stole the pens and didn’t get caught, she knew it was the wrong thing to do. ‘No, I’m not a thief,’ said Eleiyah, placing the set of pens back on the shelf.
Tan started making chicken sounds and Barja laughed and joined in ‘Very funny!’ said Eleiyah, ‘But it doesn’t feel right to just take them, so I’m not going to.’
‘But no one would know, except us,’ said Barja. Barja shrugged. ‘Suit yourself,’ she said, looking at Tan and rolling her eyes at him. ‘I’d know,’ said Eleiyah, ‘and every time I used the pens I’d be reminded that I took them without paying for them. I’ll start saving up for them.’
Dare Devils Eleiyah took one last look at the pens and headed for the shop door. Her heart rate had calmed back down to normal and she felt much better.
Dare Devils Let’s discuss the story… Do you think Eleiyah In the story, who was feeling under pressure? acted bravely in the story? Who was putting the pressure on Eleiyah? Was it fair of Eleiyah’s How did Eleiyah feel friends to dare her to about the dare? steal the pens?
Listen to Your Heart In the story, we heard that ‘something didn’t feel right’ for Eleiyah when her friends dared her to steal the pens. Sometimes, deep down, we have a feeling that tells us things aren’t right. Some people call this ‘listening to your heart’. Sometimes, we need to listen to our heart and to our feelings in order to do the right thing. Do you think Eleiyah knew that it was a bad idea to steal the pens?
Listen to Your Heart By listening to our feelings and also by noticing how our body is reacting, we can be alerted to the fact that the situation we are in is risky or dangerous. What physical symptoms did Eleiyah notice in the story, which were a warning sign to her that stealing the pens wasn’t the right thing to do? This is how we know we are being pressured into doing something we are not comfortable doing. So, what should we do?
Listen to Your Heart Stop and focus on your 1. feelings and your body. Breathe – take a moment to think 2. about the consequences.
Listen to Your Heart Be brave – stand up to those 3. pressuring or daring you to do something. Explain why you do not want to 4. do it or simply refuse.
Listen to Your Heart If you are finding it hard to say 5. no, it might be time to get help. Speak to a trusted adult about 6. what you were dared or pressured into doing and ask their advice.
Listen to Your Heart Remind yourself that you never 7. have to do anything that someone else has pressured you into doing. Ask yourself if those who were pressuring or daring you to do something are really true 8. friends and people you want to hang around with. It might be time to move on.
Do the Right Thing Doing the right thing means making a good choice and acting responsibly. Doing the right thing means no one (including you) should get upset, hurt or in trouble. We all make mistakes – and we can learn from these – but if we take time to think before we act, we can stand up to pressure from others and say no when we do not want to do something that we know is wrong or that we are not comfortable doing. Pick 5 different scenarios and write a couple of sentences for each to say how you could do the right thing.
The Big Questions How do we know if we are being pressured to do something risky or dangerous? What do we do if we are being pressured to do something that makes us feel uncomfortable? How will you use what you have learnt today in your everyday life?
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