Before class, make sure you have enough pieces of paper and colored pencils or makers for each student. If you are doing class online, invite students to locate a piece of paper and colored pencils or markers before the start of class.

We watched an example of “herd mentality” in sheep earlier—now let’s watch a funny example of how the “everybody’s doing it” mentality affects people even when it doesn’t make sense.

Share the following video with your students [5:34; stop at 1:20]:
Brain Game- Conformity Waiting Room

• How do you think you would react in a similar situation? Would you have stood up because everyone else was doing it, or would you have stood your ground? (Answers will vary.)

Ask your middle schoolers to think of a few areas where they find it hard not to cave in to peer pressure. This could be watching inappropriate movies or TV shows because everyone else is doing it, ignoring someone at school during lunch because everyone else is shunning them, etc.

Invite students to write, “I can resist peer pressure!” on their papers. Then, have your students draw symbols on their poster that represent each of these peer pressure trouble areas. Emphasize that the symbols don’t have to make sense to anyone but them because it’s their personal reminder to stand strong in these areas. They might want to hang it at home where they will see it frequently or inside their locker at school.

Peer pressure, or herd mentality, is a powerful force. And it can be a good thing. But if it causes you to reject God and His ways because “everybody’s doing it,” you are in trouble. Let this poster help you make the decisions you know are right and to stand strong against the pressure of others.

Close with prayer.