Curricula
Curricula & Lessons for Multiple
Ages and Needs
As the chart below demonstrates, only D.A.R.E. offers a comprehensive, yet flexible, program of prevention education curricula and lessons to meet your community’s needs.
Core lessons:
General life skills education to support good decision making for a
safe and healthy life
Early
Grades
3-4th Grade Lessons
Elementary
School
Elementary Curricula
Middle
School
Middle School Curricula
High
School
High School Curricula
Parent &
Community
D.A.R.E. Family Talks Elementary 5th to 6th grades
Substance Specific
Early
Grades
Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
K to 2nd grades
Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
3-4th grades
Elementary
School
Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
5-6th grades
Middle
School
Opioid & OTC/Rx
Lessons
7th & 8th grades
Vaping Prevention
Lesson
7th to 8th grades
High
School
Opioid & OTC/Rx
Lessons
9th to 12th grades
Vaping
Prevention Lesson
9th to 10th grades
Parent &
Community
Opioid & OTC/Rx Parent/ Community Lesson
Mental Health
Online and Social Media Safety
7th to 8th grades
Online and Social Media Safety
More Than Sad: Teen Mental Health
Reinforcing Skills
Celebrating Safely Lesson
Early Grade School Products
Early Grades | Core
Pre-K to 2nd grade D.A.R.E. Poster Visits
Overview:
.
About
Early Grades | Core
3-4th Grade Lessons
Overview: .
About
Early Grades | Enhancement
K-2nd Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
Overview:
The first lessons of the comprehensive Opioid series cover the identification of unsafe situations, calling 911, the difference between food and non-foods, and demonstrates how to recognize and be careful with medicines.
About
- Two poster-based classroom visits
- Each topic can be covered in about 15 minutes
- Each lesson is accompanied by a take-home Family Activity
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Brochure about D.A.R.E. K-12 Opioid & OTC/Rx Drug Prevention Curricula
[View .pdf]
Early Grades | Enhancement
3-4th grade Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
Overview:
These lessons in the comprehensive Opioid series acquaint students with the role of law enforcement, reviews safety practices, and identify the safe use and handling of medicines. The use of scenario-based training helps students apply their knowledge.
About
- Two lessons that cover concepts related to Opioid safety
- Each topic can be covered in about 20 minutes
- Accompanied by take-home Safety Tip Sheet and Family Talk lessons
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
Elementary School Products
Elementary School | Core
Elementary keepin’ it REAL Curriculum
Overview:
An effective multicultural curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and based on the powerful Social Emotional Learning approach. This curriculum teaches the foundational skills that youth need to be safe, healthy, and responsible in leading drug-free lives.
About
- Ten 45-minute lessons
- Designed for 5th-6th grade students
- Evidence-based
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Deep dive into material link
Elementary School | Enhancement
5th-6th grade Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
Overview:
These lessons in the comprehensive Opioid series helps students understand the difference between prescription and over-the-counter medicines, how to real labels on medication, use drug facts labels to understand medicine use and risks. Students engage in scenario-based activities that help them apply effective decision making skills related to medicine use.
About
- Two 45-minute lessons
- Designed for 5th-6th grade students
- Accompanied by take-home Be Safe booklet and Family Talk
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
Middle School Products
Middle School | Core
Middle School keepin’ it REAL Curriculum
Overview:
The acronym REAL is the central message of the curriculum and teaches youth four ways to refuse drug offers — Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave. These strategies help youth stay away from drugs by preparing them to act decisively and responsibly in difficult situations. The curriculum teaches students how to resist drugs offers by presenting practical strategies that are easy for them to remember and use.
About
- Ten 45-minute lessons
- Designed for 7th-8th grade students
- Evidence-based
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Deep dive into material link
Middle School | Enhancement
8th grade Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
Overview: Part of the comprehensive Opioid series, this lesson is primarily discussion-based and supported by an online module. Students will learn about the addiction cycle, brain development, and the potential for progression from prescription opioid use to misuse to illicit drugs like heroin.
About
- Approximately 80 minute lesson, can be broken into 2 class periods
- Designed for 8th grade students
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
Middle School | Enhancement
Middle School Vaping Prevention Lesson
Overview:
Vaping nicotine nearly doubled among high school seniors from 11 percent in 2017 to 20.9 percent in 2018. More than 1 in 10 eighth graders (10.9 percent) say they vaped nicotine in the past year, and use is up significantly in virtually all vaping measures among 8th, 10th and 12th graders. These are—by far—the biggest one-year increases ever seen for any substance in the history of the Monitoring the Future survey.
In this lesson, students will learn about the risks associated with vaping and understand how knowledge of risk factors increases over the lifespan of a product.
About
- 45 minute Enhancement lesson
- Designed for 7th-8th grade students
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Lesson Objectives
- Recognize and identify basic information about vaping.
- Understand that most people in their grade do not vape.
- Identify similarities between tobacco and vape use, attitudes, and effects.
- Identify risks associated with nicotine use.
- Understand that products initially appearing safe may later be considered harmful as research and user data are studied over time.
Middle School | Enhancement
Online and Social Media Safety
Overview:
An issue that has grown exponentially in importance to ALL families, schools, and communities is the ever-increasing risks associated with the use of the internet and social media by children and adolescents.
In response to this national crisis, D.A.R.E. America has partnered with the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSMS) to develop vital new lessons.
The lessons include information on social media and its harmful uses to sell drugs, bully, exploit, and inflict interpersonal violence. The lessons also provide tools to help guard children’s mental health, protect their identity, and avoid fraud and manipulation.
About
- 45 minute Enhancement lesson
- Designed for Middle or High School students
- Delivered by certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Identify risks associated with use of the internet and social media
- Discuss experienced, observed, and anecdotal consequences associated with use of social media in their communities
- Understand that people of all ages have to work to monitor and manage their use of social media, and that families and peer groups play a part in establishing group norms to use it in a safe and healthy way
High School Products
High School | Core
myPlaybook: Core High School Curriculum
Overview:
High school lesson content is aligned with D.A.R.E. Elementary and Middle school program concepts, continuing the focus on understanding risk behavior and making decisions that support safety and health. Concepts covered include norms, consequences, resisting pressure and intervening in dangerous or risky situations.
About
- Four 45 minute lessons
- Designed for 9th-10th grade students
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
High School | Enhancement
9th-12th grade Opioid & OTC/Rx Lessons
Overview:
These lessons in the comprehensive Opioid series develop student familiarity with the extent of the opioid epidemic in the United States and it’s origins in the misuse of prescription drugs. Students will learn about overdose, the specific risks teens face, how to keep safe in age-related contexts, and how to access help for self or others. Students will consider options for controlling this national crisis.
About
- Two 45 minute lessons
- Designed for high school students
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Parent Resource Available
High School | Enhancement
High School Vaping Prevention Lesson
Overview:
Vaping nicotine nearly doubled among high school seniors from 11 percent in 2017 to 20.9 percent in 2018. More than 1 in 10 eighth graders (10.9 percent) say they vaped nicotine in the past year, and use is up significantly in virtually all vaping measures among 8th, 10th and 12th graders. These are—by far—the biggest one-year increases ever seen for any substance in the history of the Monitoring the Future survey.
In this lesson, students will learn about the risks associated with vaping and understand how knowledge of risk factors increases over the lifespan of a product.
About
- 45 minute Enhancement lesson
- Designed for 9th-10th grade students
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- More link to: Lesson Objectives
- Recognize and identify basic information about vaping.
- Understand that most people in their grade do not vape.
- Identify similarities between tobacco and vape use, attitudes, and effects.
- Identify risks associated with nicotine use.
- Understand that products initially appearing safe may later be considered harmful as research and user data are studied over time.
High School | Enhancement
More Than Sad: Teen Mental Health
Overview:
1 in 5 U.S. adolescents aged 13-18 have experienced a serious mental health disorder. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in young people aged 10-24.
D.A.R.E. collaborated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to adapt this lesson for delivery by D.A.R.E. Officers. The purpose of the lesson is to teach teens to recognize the signs of depression in themselves and others, challenge the stigma surrounding depression, demystify the treatment process, and encourage students to talk to a trusted adult about mental health concerns.
About
- 45 minute Enhancement lesson
- Designed for 9th-10th grade students
- Delivered by certified D.A.R.E. Officers in partnership with local mental health contact
- Identify signs and symptoms of depression in self and others.
- Recognize that depression is an illness that responds to treatment.
- Recognize that alcohol and other drugs have a negative effect on mental health.
- Describe ways to seek help with mental health.
- Identify treatment that is available and effective.
High School | Enhancement
Online and Social Media Safety
Overview:
An issue that has grown exponentially in importance to ALL families, schools, and communities is the ever-increasing risks associated with the use of the internet and social media by children and adolescents.
In response to this national crisis, D.A.R.E. America has partnered with the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSMS) to develop vital new lessons.
The lessons include information on social media and its harmful uses to sell drugs, bully, exploit, and inflict interpersonal violence. The lessons also provide tools to help guard children’s mental health, protect their identity, and avoid fraud and manipulation.
About
- 45 minute Enhancement lesson
- Designed for Middle or High School students
- Delivered by certified D.A.R.E. Officers
- Identify risks associated with use of the internet and social media
- Discuss experienced, observed, and anecdotal consequences associated with use of social media in their communities
- Understand that people of all ages have to work to monitor and manage their use of social media, and that families and peer groups play a part in establishing group norms to use it in a safe and healthy way
High School | Enhancement
Celebrating Safely Lesson
Overview:
This presentation is designed for D.A.R.E officers to discuss underage drinking, legal and personal ramifications of alcohol use, and providing safety tips for celebrations. This presentation could be presented around the weeks of life celebrations such as homecoming, prom, and/or graduation.
About
- One video and discussion.
- Designed for High School students.
- Timely reinforcement of concepts around times of celebration.
- Can be delivered as stand-alone lesson.
- Delivered by Certified D.A.R.E. Officers.
ANSWERS TO FOUR COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT D.A.R.E. CURRICULA
IS D.A.R.E. STILL AROUND? Not only is D.A.R.E. still around, it’s growing with education programs in every state in America and many other countries. Since 2018, more than 250 communities throughout the United States launched a newD.A.R.E. program. Elementary, middle, and high school curricula, as well as critical enhancement lessons on subjects including opioid abuse prevention, vaping, and teen suicide, are now being taught in these communities by officers who attended one of the 75 two-week, intensive D.A.R.E. training courses conducted since 2018. More than 2,000 new D.A.R.E. Officers from virtually every state in America were graduated.
I HEARD D.A.R.E. DOESN’T WORK? Today’s D.A.R.E. curricula work! D.A.R.E. has partnered with prestigious educational institutions to adapt curricula proven to be effective. The D.A.R.E. keepin’ it REAL (kiR) middle school curriculum was developed by Pennsylvania State and Arizona State Universities with funding provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The two high school curriculums were developed by Rutgers University and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro respectively. These curricula have been proven effective through rigorous scientific evaluations. The D.A.R.E. kiR elementary curriculum is currently the subject of rigorous scientific evaluation, results of a preliminary evaluation of the curriculum conducted by Chapman University showed positive outcomes.
IS D.A.R.E. CURRICULA EVIDENCE-BASED? YES…D.A.R.E. curricula are science and evidence-based. Multiple studies have been conducted that have established that the keepin’ it REAL elementary and middle school curricula are effective. When someone asks if D.A.R.E. is “evidence-based,” what do they mean? They mean is research available showing that the curriculum is effective in reducing outcomes such as drug use, bullying and other problem behaviors by improving the decision-making and other skills of those who were exposed to the lessons compared to those who were not? And, the answer is YES.
ARE D.A.R.E. CURRICULA RELEVANT AND STATE-OF-THE-ART? D.A.R.E. offers the most comprehensive prevention curricula available for K-12 students anywhere. The curriculum meets multiple National Core Standards in the areas of Reading (Literature, Informational Text, and Foundational Skills), Writing and Speaking and Learning. The 10 lessons in D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL elementary curriculum are aligned with National Common Core 5th grade standards. D.A.R.E. curricula provide students the knowledge and skills to make good decisions for safe and healthy living. D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL elementary and middle-school curricula are based on Socio-Emotional Learning Theory which identifies basic skills and processes needed for healthy youth development. Beyond this, D.A.R.E.’s enhancement lessons include bullying, cyber security, a supplemental marijuana lesson, family talks, and the recently launched K-12 Opioid & & Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention lessons.
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PO Box 512090
Los Angeles CA 90051
USA