What Alcohol Does to the Body

Objectives:

• Students will be able identify the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on health.

• Students will be able to identify the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on behavior.

• Students will be able to explain why some people may drink excessively.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade - 6th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Alcohol is a substance found in drinks such as wine, beer, and liquors. When people drink alcohol, the level of alcohol in their blood rises. This quickly changes the way the person feels and acts. Alcohol affects the body in a number of ways, depending on how much and how often a person drinks. It affects smaller people often more quickly than larger people. After one drink, reflexes slow down and the person cannot concentrate as easily. After two drinks, a person may begin to forget things. A person who has had four drinks is seven times more likely to get into an accident if they drive.

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