Description of Program

Grades 5-6

Project D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District to prevent drug abuse in children and youth. Traditional drug abuse programs dwell on the harmful effects of drugs. The program emphasis of Project D.A.R.E. is to help students recognize and resist the many subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol and marijuana. In addition, program strategies are planned to focus on feelings relating to self-esteem, interpersonal and communication skills, decision making, and positive alternatives to drug abuse behavior.

The instructional guide for Project D.A.R.E. has been developed to assist police officers, school administrators, and teachers in the planning and implementation of a program of drug abuse resistance education for students in grades 5 and 6.

The program content for Project D.A.R.E. is organized into seventeen 45 to 60 minute lessons to be conducted by a uniformed police officer and suggested extended activities to be taught by the regular classroom teacher.

The lessons will be conducted by a specially trained uniformed police officer who will be assigned to the school one day a week for one semester. The police officer, will conduct the lessons in grades 5 or 6 on a weekly basis.

Project D.A.R.E. offers a variety of activity-oriented techniques which are designed to encourage student-generated responses to problem-solving situations. An important element of Project D.A.R.E. is the use of student leaders who do not use drugs as positive role models in influencing younger students not to use drugs.

The last lesson of Project D.A.R.E. should be designed as a culminating assembly-type activity to which all classes involved in Project D.A.R.E. will be invited.

More on D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. Program Skills Grid