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Refusal Skills

Ninth graders learn refusal skills — confident ways to say no to peer pressure and protect their choices. Saying no clearly, giving a reason, offering an alternative, and walking away all work. They match strategies to how they sound, then practice with scenarios.

Grade 9Refusal Skills45 minutes1 class periodSHAPEExplicit teaching4 StandardsSHAPE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Say no confidently.
  • ✓Use a reason or alternative.
  • ✓Walk away if needed.
  • ✓Stand by your choices.
Essential Question

How do you say no to pressure without losing friends or confidence?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Refusal Strategy

Project this and match each strategy to what it sounds like — tap the strategy, then tap the example.

🚫 Match each refusal strategy to what it sounds likeTry it
Refusal strategy
What it sounds like
Now tap the example!
The Lesson · Health & PE Flow (Warm-Up · Learn · Practice · Apply · Cool-Down)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Under Pressure

5 min

How do you say no when friends are pushing you to do something?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose the question.
  • Share ideas.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Refusal Skills

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Refusal Strategy.
  • Match each one.
  • Note a clear, calm no works.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a clear "no."
  • Give a reason.
  • Suggest an alternative.

🎒 Student Actions

  • No.
  • Reason.
  • Alternative.
4

Apply — Apply

11 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Role-play a pressure scene.
  • Use a refusal strategy.
  • Stand your ground calmly.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Role-play.
  • Use.
  • Stand.
5

Cool-Down — Cool-Down

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a refusal strategy.
  • Why give a reason?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the SHAPE America National Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

SHAPE
HE.4

Use refusal and communication skills.

SHAPE
HE.5

Make and stand by healthy choices.

SHAPE
HE.2

Analyze peer and media pressure.

SHAPE
HE.7

Practice refusal strategies.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Strategy/example cards.
  • Frame: "I can say ___."
  • Role-play slowly.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Match say-no & give-a-reason.
  • Use 3 strategies.
  • Practice one line.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Role-play harder scenarios.
  • Combine strategies.
  • Help a peer practice.
Materials

What to gather

  • 🚫Strategy cards
  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 💻Match the Refusal Strategy
  • 📋Scenario cards
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

refusal skilla way to say nopeer pressurepressure from othersassertiveconfident and respectfulalternativea different option to suggestboundarya limit you setconfidencebelief in your choicebroken recordcalmly repeating your novalueswhat matters to you
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name a refusal strategy.
Say no clearly, give a reason, suggest an alternative, or walk away.
QUESTION 2
Why give a reason when you say no?
It makes your "no" clear and easier to stand by.
QUESTION 3
What is the "broken record" strategy?
Calmly repeating your "no."

Cool-down: refusal skills.

Have students role-play using refusal strategies. A printable scenario sheet is in the PE & Health library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Refusal SkillsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Refusal SkillsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Refusal SkillsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: alternative, assertive, boundary, broken record, confidence, peer pressure, refusal skill, values
  1. what matters to you
  2. confident and respectful
  3. belief in your choice
  4. a way to say no
  5. pressure from others
  6. a limit you set
  7. a different option to suggest
  8. calmly repeating your no

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name a refusal strategy.
  2. Why give a reason when you say no?
  3. What is the "broken record" strategy?
Answer key — Part A: 1) values · 2) assertive · 3) confidence · 4) refusal skill · 5) peer pressure · 6) boundary · 7) alternative · 8) broken record
Part B: 1) Say no clearly, give a reason, suggest an alternative, or walk away. 2) It makes your "no" clear and easier to stand by. 3) Calmly repeating your "no."