Powerful Choices

Powerful Choices is a unique 7-10 lesson series offered to Linn County and the surrounding area schools and youth organizations. Equipping Youth presents the character-based abstinence until marriage curriculum to classes incorporating special presentations.

	Series One (Grades 4 – 7)	Series Two (Grades 5 – 8)	Series Three (Grades 6 – 9)
Wisdom	Students learn to stop and think before making a choice.	Students understand how risk and consequence accompany each choice.	Students learn how to stay committed to their choices.
Awareness	Students understand character traits as related to self worth.	Students learn reasons teens abstain from or become involved in sexual activity.	Students learn how past choices affect future relationships.
Friendship	Students learn the dynamics of positive friendships as a two-way street.	Students understand the different levels of friendships and how they influence one’s actions.	Students learn the importance of building a strong foundation for friendship in marriage.
Control	No lesson in Series One.  May use part of the Series 2 lesson if needful.	Students learn how drugs and alcohol affect decision making.	Students learn about addiction and the consequences it can have on relationships.
Courage	Students understand that courage needs to be exercised to be effective.	Students learn how to be assertive rather than passive or aggressive when dealing with pressures to ignore their boundaries.	Students learn how manipulation and con games can affect a relationship.
Knowledge	Students are introduced to the consequences of risk behavior; drugs, weed and alcohol, sexual activity, stealing, lying and other risks.	Students learn about the prevalence and treatment of sexually transmitted diseaseswith an emphasis on choosing abstinence.	Students learn expanded information about STDs, types of contraception with efficacy and failure rates to protect from STDs
Boundaries	Students learn how to form appropriate boundaries pertaining to friendship; includes information on appropriate internet behavior.	Students learn what boundaries are and how to set them for themselves; how to ask for help from parents and others.	Students learn how brain development affects their ability to make wise decisions.
Excellence	Older youth present information about making wise choices;  wrap up lesson for Series One.	Older youth present their reasons for remaining abstinent until marriage; open question time.	Students are encouraged to envision their hopes and dreams for their lives as adults.
Ambition	No lesson in Series One.  May use part of the Series 2 lesson if needful.	Students are challenged to set personal goals for the future, and to be aware of potential roadblocks.	Students learn what it means and how to make a personal investment in their relationships.
Success	No lesson in Series One.  May use part of the Series 2 lesson if needful.	Students learn the positive effects abstinence can have on their lives, both present and future.	Students identify the benefits of waiting for marriage.