The Kindergarten through 12th Grade (K-12) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Education and Prevention Curriculum is an innovative, first-of-its-kind program that has been proven successful in classrooms across the U. S. The curriculum is both educational and fun and consists of the following four modules:
Kindergarten through Second Grade
This module incorporates the children’s book, Karli and the Star of the Week. This colorfully illustrated story teaches youth to be tolerant and accepting of all individuals regardless of their capabilities or disabilities. Unit includes a storybook, lesson plan, and a CD-ROM with teacher background information, 30 minutes.
Third through Fifth Grade
This unit presents a healthy lifestyle model that teaches students to distinguish harmful substances from healthy substances, including the dangers that alcohol can have on a body. The lesson emphasizes healthy choices through the use of memory games and puzzles. Unit includes a lesson plan and a CD-ROM containing teacher background information and activity sheets, 45 minutes.
Sixth through Eighth Grade
This module introduces an anatomical learning approach with an emphasis on the physical affects that alcohol has on the brain. This is shown through the use of a CD-ROM and materials on how alcohol use affects brain development. Unit includes a lesson plan, and a CD-ROM with teacher background information and activity sheets, 45 minutes.
Ninth through Twelfth Grade
This student favorite and FASD United exclusive includes excerpts from the popular television show Law & Order: SVU that will engage your students in decision-making discussions related to alcohol use and pregnancy. The lesson presents students with extensive information on FASD and the importance of avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Unit includes a lesson plan, Law & Order: SVU excerpts, and a CD-ROM with teacher background information and activity sheets, 45 minutes.
About the Curriculum
The K-12 FASD Education and Prevention Curriculum was first published in 2007 with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The comprehensive, school-based curriculum was developed in collaboration with ToucanED, a California-based firm specializing in standards-based curricula and health marketing. Pilot testing was conducted in conjunction with Education Development Center (EDC), a global nonprofit organization that designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs in education and health.
The K-12 curriculum addresses many important topics for school-aged students beyond FASD and what can happen to human development when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol. It teaches about the overall effects that alcohol can have on the body, why some people who drink alcohol become addicted while others do not, that at any age each individual has strengths and weaknesses, and that it matters how you treat people. The United States Surgeon General and other prominent public health officials consistently emphasize that early education about healthy lifestyle choices and behaviors is essential in order to prevent multifaceted health concerns such as FASD.
The curriculum fills the need for FASD educational materials and lesson plans that can be implemented in classroom settings without specialized training or knowledge. It provides students with age-appropriate information about the consequences of prenatal alcohol consumption on human development while educating them about acceptance of all people regardless of individual capabilities or disabilities. It consists of four units or modules: Kindergarten through second grade; third grade through fifth grade; sixth grade through eighth grade; and ninth grade through twelfth grade. These unique 30-45 minute units have been mapped to the American Association for Health Education’s National Health Education Standards by grade level, and are designed to be easily integrated into a standard curriculum and to be presented in a single classroom session.
The K-12 FASD Curriculum was developed by the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (now FASD United) with funding from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The material is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated.