SPEAKING: Older Elementary and Younger Middle School

Super Skills for a Super Life! Be the Best Me, Drug Free!

Sadly, we are discovering more and more children being exposed to THC and other substances starting even in 4th and 5th grade! This was quite a conundrum, because Johnny’s story made them too sad. So, we decided to focus on resilience skills to create a THC-free and substance-free life.

This new course from Johnny’s Ambassadors was created especially for late elementary (4th and 5th) and middle school (6th to 8th grade) students. It’s a bit too “elementary” for high school (in our opinion). The students love our awesome 20-something speakers! The presentation builds intentions to avoid high potency THC products such as vapes and gummies and all substances that damage the brain.

This assembly is followed by a 5-module, online follow up classroom curriculum at no charge, with discussion questions, quizzes, and games to reinforce learning (optional). It is perfect for health classes that are required for all students.

“Laura Stack’s youth marijuana education presentation was exceptional. Her skill in engaging students while presenting this information was remarkable. The session not only held the attention of our students but also provided them with research-based insights about the impacts of marijuana on young people. We highly recommend Laura Stack to any school seeking impactful marijuana education programs.”
– Amy Stuart, Head of School, Renaissance Secondary School

“I have just attended the Saltus Speaks with Laura Stack from Johnny’s Ambassadors. Wow. I thought I was kind of well-versed on marijuana with a teenager, but I knew NOTHING about 98% of what she spoke about. It was heartbreaking. Laura was inspiring. Her message is terrifying. Every parent and teacher needs to hear her speak. I cannot recommend that you go strongly enough. We have so much to learn about how this ‘innocent’ drug is damaging our children’s brains. Please go if you can. You won’t regret it. You will learn so much about such a readily available drug, which will scare the pants off you. Thank you to for bringing this talk to us (and for now giving me sleepless nights!), but we cannot continue to think of this drug as harmless. We dragged our daughter along, and she has since spent 25 minutes discussing the talk with us.”
– Samantha Willis, teacher, Saltus School, Bermuda

Course Goals

The goals of this presentation are to:

  1. Teach the qualities of choosing a true friend and being a true friend.
  2. Facilitate the process of setting long and short-term goals.
  3. Teach and explore personal rules and coping skills that enhance self-control and avoidance of substances.
  4. Explore scenarios that have a high probability of turning into a risky situation. 
  5. Facilitate healthy coping strategies between parents/caregivers and their teens.

Course Objectives

After this lesson, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify a minimum of 5 qualities of a true friend and list why friendship is important in their lives.
  2. Articulate at least one short and long-term goal for the following domains: Social, Academic, Recreation, Personal
  3. Identify at least 3 personal rules and 2 coping skills or wellness strategies. 
  4. Identify the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness.
  5. List wellness strategies they agree to abide by to avoid high potency THC and the negative consequences of early use/addiction during adolescents.

After the presentation (optional), the teacher will guide students through a review of the key skills in class and complete the following learning activities:

Follow-Up: Online Learning Curriculum

Lesson 1: Choosing a Friend/Being a Friend

Key Skills:

  1. Critical analysis identifying qualities of a true friend.
  2. Reflection on their own character qualities of true friendship.
  3. Recognize why friendship is important to our lives.

Learning Strategies:

  1. Interactive drag and drop activity that highlights the qualities of a true friend.
  2. What is a true friend? YouTube videos and discussion
  3. Are you a true friend quiz

Lesson 2: Setting Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

Key Skills:

  1. Timeline reflection of who they want to be in the next 6 months
  2. In the next year
  3. In high school.

Learning Strategies:

  1. Discussion board with peers and other classmates for each domain.
  2. Goal Setting YouTube video
  3. Finding your passion YouTube videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slp5h0dn9nI

Lesson 3: Self-Regulation and Boundaries

Key Skills:

  1. Analyze techniques to develop personal rules that support their future vision of who they want to be (their future self).
  2. Practice skills to support that vision by avoiding THC products during adolescence. 

Learning Strategies:

  1. Video testimony by peer mentor
  2. Share powerful true story
  3. Fill in the blank with rules and coping skills that others use. 
  4. Coping with depression/anxiety: Captain America YouTube video

Lesson 4: Recognizing Risky Situations and Communication Skills

Key Skills:

  1. Use verbal and non-verbal techniques from a repertoire of refusal skills others have used
  2. Analyze difference between aggressive and assertive techniques
  3. How to say no and still keep your friends.

Learning Strategies:

  1. Define drag and drop activity with strategies for success that develop mindfulness and intentions to avoid THC products.
  2. Journaling activity reinforces intentions to stay well.
  3. Develop an escape plan with parents.

Lesson 5: Communicating with Parents/Caregivers

Key Skills:

  1. Understand our personal risk factors
  2. Environment
  3. Genetics
  4. Other risk factors

Learning Strategies:

  1. Develop a wellness plan together (parent/caregiver and teen) with printed plan and pledge.
  2. Create a Plan for: Curfew, choosing friends, escape routes for risky situations, wellness, exercise, healthy risk taking, spiritual development.
  3. Exercise & Wellness YouTube video

“I am so grateful Laura Stack was willing to share her story with our students at FRA. Johnny’s Ambassadors had a huge impact on our students and parents alike! While it was a hard topic to share with our students, it was critically important. Laura conveyed it in such a way that was incredibly well-received by our students. You could have heard a pin drop in the room when she was speaking.  A number of parents followed up commenting their students came home that night talking about what she said. It is a message everyone needs to hear.”
– Sean Casey, Head of School, Franklin Road Academy, Nashville, TN

“I just wanted to say thank you for coming to Eaton Middle School today!! I am a parent of 5th and 6th grade boys as well as an educator. I was able to attend the assembly. Thank you for taking your pain and your story and allowing the Lord to use your pain for His good and glory! I am confident that what you are choosing to do will have an impact in so many lives; parents, educators and students! I learned so much as a parent and finally feel like I am not trying to play catch up to learn all this so that I can teach my boys about it. I no longer feel in the dark. I feel like I have the tools now to talk knowledgeably and comfortably with my boys about this topic. I am so thankful my 6th grader was able to hear all of this as well. We got in the car after school, and he immediately wanted to share it all with his little brother…so we did. Thank you!! I am so sorry for your loss in Johnny! Thank you for choosing to share and teach! I will be praying for your ministry!”
– Parent of Eaton CO Middle School student

“We had the pleasure of having Laura Stack from Johnny’s Ambassadors Youth Marijuana Prevention present to our school. The presentation by Laura was something all students need to hear. She detailed her son’s experience and the dangers of marijuana in general and in particular for adolescents. The program was pulled at the heartstrings, provided an incredible amount of scientific data, and kept our students engaged for over an hour. The students and staff in the room gained knowledge about marijuana, and more importantly, the skills to avoid starting marijuana use in the first place. After the presentation, Laura and her husband John answered questions and provided advice to students, staff, and parents who had additional questions. This is a wonderful program and a much-needed reality check for students and the community!”
– Jeff Clinton, Principal, Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate School.