National Institute on Drug Abuse
The Brain's Response to Drugs
Marijuana affects the brain differently than inhalants, which have a different effect than opioids. Elementary and middle school classes read about these drugs as well as nicotine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and steroids before...
Curated OER
Drugged Out Daphnia
Ninth graders participate in experiments to investigate the the effects of nicotine, caffeine, aspirin, alcohol, and sleeping pills on the heart rates of Daphina. They describe the relationships between common drugs and heart rates....
Curated OER
Full Circle Advertising: A Look at Teen Alcohol Use and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
High schoolers analyze ads and learn about the effects of alcohol. Note that the PowerPoint mentioned in the procedure is not included, so you will need to prepare your own presentation. After the lecture, segue into fetal alcohol...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Contemplating Nature vs. Nurture
Does having an addict in your family make it more likely to become one yourself? Explore the genetic risk factors, as well as the prominent environmental influences, for substance addiction in a instructional activity that encourages...
Curated OER
Drugs Change the Way Neurons Communicate
Students examine that certain drugs interfere selectively with neurotransmission, and realize that the effect of a drug is dependent upon dosage and route of administration.
Curated OER
Brain Buzz: Effects of Caffeine, Nicotine, Alcohol and Drugs on Learning
Students understand how the brain functions and how they can promote a healthy lifestyle. In this health lesson students complete several activities including investigating how stimulates affect the brain.
Curated OER
Information And Advice On Drugs
Young scholars identify and analyze a variety of sources for information and statistics on drugs. They map out why its important to know the facts about drugs. In addition, they show examples of what happens when you use drugs of any kind.
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: The Cycle of Addiction
Drug addiction, including prescription drug addiction, begins with a reason that's different for every user. High schoolers learn more about the reasons people begin abusing drugs with a set of videos and worksheets that discuss four...
NOAA
Watch the Screen!
Can a sponge cure cancer? Life science pupils visit the drugstore under the sea in the fifth lesson of six. Working groups research the topic then get hands-on experience by testing the inhibiting effects of several plant extracts on E....
Curated OER
Good Drugs, Bad Drugs
Add a science experiment on medicine and drugs to your health lesson. After reading a paragraph on the difference between helpful and harmful drugs, kids choose which pictures of bottles they could find at a pharmacy. The last activity...
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One Sniff Can Kill!
Students investigate the question: In what ways can a common household products hurt you? This lesson integrates with drug and alcohol units in science classes as well as language arts in the form of the Public Service Announcement...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Commitment to Recovery
Recovery from substance addiction is an ongoing process. The final lesson plan in a series about painkiller abuse and addiction prompts learners to research various recovery options before writing a short story about a character who is...
Curated OER
Alcohol and Its Impact on the Brain
Learners examine water as it changes states. In water and ice lesson students study the water cycle and what happens to it as it changes state.
Curated OER
Alcohol, Nicotine or Caffeine Rap
Students create a rap/skit showing the effect of alcohol, nicotine or caffeine. For this biology lesson, students identify the important points of their chosen drug. They present their rap/skit in class.
Curated OER
Enzymes
Tenth graders test their saliva for enzyme activity. In this enzyme lesson, 10th graders conduct an experiment to test the enzymatic activity of their saliva. They relate the lack of certain digestive enzymes with alcoholism.
University of Minnesota
Motor Learning and Memory
What do our brains have to do with reaction timing? Everything! In a hands-on learning activity, young scientists participate in four card activities that measure reaction timing. Each activity gets progressively more complex, and...
Curated OER
Facts into Action
Learners role play chosen scenario about smart decision making. For this drug awareness lesson, students discuss the danger associated with drug abuse. They practice how to make careful choices when faced with a difficult situation.
Curated OER
The Truth About Hydrocodone
Learners explain the beneficial uses of pain relievers. In this health science instructional activity, students discuss the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse. They complete a worksheet at the end of the instructional activity.
Curated OER
Microbes: Louis Pasteur - A Microbe Discoverer
Students study Louis Pasteur and the process of pasteurization in controlling microbes. In this pasteurization lesson, students discuss microorganisms and how they can affect health. They discuss Louis Pasteur and research his work by...
Curated OER
Making Soap
Students explore what chemical indicators are and use pH paper to determine if something is alkaline or basic. In this pH lesson students manufacture their own soap.
Curated OER
Human Embryology
Ninth graders are introduced to the concept of human embryology. Individually, they complete an exercise in which they determine which trait they got from which family member. In groups, they identify and label the reproductive organs...
Curated OER
Sorting
Students study how things are stored and how information is retrieved. In this investigative lesson students play a game that helps them to see how things are sorted in a library.
Curated OER
Biology: Humans as Organisms
Students examine body systems. In this biology lesson, students explore the roles of different body systems and discover the effects of smoking, drugs, alcohol, exercise, and good nutrition on human body systems.
Curated OER
Collect Your Own DNA
Pupils examine DNA and its location throughout the body. In this DNA activity students collect and observe their own DNA and see that DNA can be extracted from any cell in the body.