Concepts and Keywords

Concepts: Addiction and how it relates to you

Keywords: Addiction, Reward system, Gateway drug, Buddhism, Pregnancy and drug treatment

Courses

Written with 7-8th graders in mind. Could be adapted for older students. This is an assignment that can be done quickly by high school students. Writing prompts are highly suggested if used in high school to give it depth.

Type of Activity

1. Read Article as homework
2. Complete writing template
3. Use writing/ discussion prompts in class to engage learning from reading. This will allow students to ask questions they have over material and deepen their personal connection of what they read.

Duration

Five articles with one per week leading up to the conference or an article a day the week before the conference

Description

This is a series of articles that can be used as homework or classwork. Students will read the article and then fill out the template. The template (at bottom of the document) is designed so students guide their own learning from their reading. The articles can be read in any order. These articles are focused specifically on the speakers who will be at the Nobel Conference.

Document Overview

Students having background information about a topic they are going to hear about allows a more in depth engagement. Each year as excitement builds for the Nobel conference teachers prepare the kids for what they will hear. These articles can be used as homework. They can be used for the students who are not attending to create a common experience with information. They can also be used to revisit the speakers work or before / after watching the speaker online after the conference. There are writing prompts / discussion questions included with each article to help students synthesize their thoughts after the reading.

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Concepts and Keywords

Parts of a Neuron
Communication between Neurons
Electrical/Chemical Signals in the Brain
What happens when we LEARN
“Use it or lose it” phenomena

Neuron, Dendrite, Axon, Cell body (soma), Axon Terminal, Nucleus, Dendritic Spine, Synapse, Synaptic Vesicles, Neurotransmitter, Ions-Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca+, Ion channels, Receptor proteins

Courses

Middle School/High School Life Science, High School Psychology

Type of Activity

Interactive Videos, Notebook Diagramming, Analysis Questions

Duration

50-60 minutes

Description

In this activity, students will watch interactive videos (either as a large group or individually) and diagram, label, and/or color-code the parts, functions, and interaction between two neurons, including occurrences at the synapse. Students will answer analysis questions in their notebook. The teacher may follow up with a large group discussion.

Document Overview

Within this document, you will find a connection to the MN state standards, Next Generation Science Standards, activity objectives, type of activity, duration of activity, connection to the Nobel Conference 2015 speaker, keywords/concepts, target audience, description of activity, materials list, teacher tips, the activity, extensions and follow-up activities, and reference section.

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Concepts and Keywords

Essential Question: What causes addiction in the brain?

Addiction, Tolerance, Withdrawal, Neurotransmitters, Neuron

Courses

Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Health, Psychology, Life Science

Type of Activity

Simulation of neuron function with and without drugs

Duration

50 minutes

Description

Students will partake in a game to simulate how drugs affect the brain’s biochemistry

Document Overview

Intro video, simulation, follow up questions, extension questions and activity

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Concepts and Keywords

neurotransmitters, reward pathway, drugs of abuse

Courses

Anatomy/Physiology; Health; Biology

Type of Activity

Webquest

Duration

2-5 50 minute class periods

Description

Webquest teaching about the reward pathway, neurotransmitters and drugs of abuse and how those drugs affect neurotransmission and create long term changes in the brain.

Document Overview

Students work in groups on a webquest designed to help them understand the reward pathway in the brain, roles of neurotransmitters and how drugs interfere with those neurotransmitters and then create an ad campaign designed to prevent drug use in youth

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Concepts and Keywords

Nicotine, Neurotransmitter, Gateway Drug, Tobacco, Dopamine

Courses

Biology, Anatomy/Physiology, Psychology, Life Science, Health, Sociology

Type of Activity

Individual or Small Group with Large Class Activity and Discussion

Duration

1-2 Class periods (approx 45 minutes each)

Description

Part 1 - Preview: Partnership for a Drug Free America, 1987:  “Your Brain on Drugs.”
Part 2A - Individual or Small Group Research and Project
Part 2B - Design a Social Campaign
Part 3 - Extension or Follow-up Activity
Nicotine/Candy Addiction Simulation

Document Overview

This lesson contains three activities that are designed to teach students about the physiological effects of nicotine on the brain, examine past and current social campaigns aimed at preventing teen tobacco use, and help kids understand how nicotine actually changes the neural connections within the brain leading to addiction and future drug use.

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Concepts and Keywords

Decision Making, Addiction, Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate, Stimulants, Depressants

Courses

Life Science, Biology, Genetics

Type of Activity

Webquest and individual project

Duration

2-4 50 minute class periods

Description

Students will learn the science of substance abuse by using the “addiction webquest” from teach genetics.  They will then research the question “What must be considered when using drugs?”.  They will present their project in any way they choose.  Suggestions include but are not limited to a powerpoint, prezi, or posterboard presentation.

Document Overview

This lesson plan focuses on the biology of drugs, risk factors associated with drug abuse, and ends with a project on informed decision making.

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Concepts and Keywords

addiction, behavioral addiction, process addiction, diagnosis, data analysis, evaluation, evidence based decision making

Courses

General Biology, Life Sciences, Middle School Life Science, Anatomy/Physiology, Health, Advanced Placement Biology, Psychology

Type of Activity

Quiz, Discussion, Data Collection, Activities, Extension

Duration

2 - 60 minute periods or 1 block

Description

Students participate in group/class discussion.  They will take a short diagnostic quiz that measures addictive tendencies with respect to Internet/social media.  Activities focus on data analysis and interpretation and survey evaluation and arguing a position (claim).

Document Overview

Behavioral Addiction Lesson Plan includes Student/Class Discussion fill in, Social Media/Gaming/Texting Addiction Quiz, and two activities; Data Analysis and Survey Analysis.  There are two extension options including a Claim/Evidence/Reasoning activity and a Student Challenge.  All Teacher and Student Pages and ancillary material are included.

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Concepts and Keywords

Tobacco, Nicotine, Advertising, Psychology, Persuasion

Courses

Marketing, Psychology, General Science, Anatomy, Communications

Type of Activity

Group jigsaw activity on advertising messages with follow-up class discussion and optional class video

Duration

2-3 class periods

Description

Students open with a class discussion about images in advertising.  Then students work in small groups to choose and watch a series of advertisements.  They then summarize changes that have occurred over time and share their findings back out with the class.  There is an optional follow up video that summarizes some of the historical tobacco advertising.

 

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Concepts and Keywords

Addiction, natural high, artificial high

Courses

General Science, Anatomy, Biology

Type of Activity

Student led presentations that encourage natural highs

Duration

1-2 50 minute class periods

Description

Students begin this lesson by searching youtube for an inspirational video of a sport, accomplishment, or activity that they think has the potential to positively influence their lives or encourage others to try something new. They will then read an article on natural highs and focus on six of the natural highs that they want to share with their classmates.

Document Overview

The purpose of this lesson is the encourage natural highs through enriching environments and activities.

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Concepts and Keywords

1. Gender differences found within the abuse and addiction of drugs
2. Gender differences found within the effectiveness of treatment of drug addictions
3. Environmental and biological factors that contribute to similarities and differences between the genders
4. Societal views and government views that impact the understanding of addictions and treatment programs

Gender, Addiction, Dependence, Abuse, Treatment, Psychotherapy, Self-help Groups, Pharmacotherapies, Behavioral Intervention, Medical Management, Alcohol, Nicotine, Stimulants, Opiates, Marijuana

Courses

Psychology, Biology, Anatomy, Genetics, Sociology, Health

Type of Activity

Students computer research, compare and contrast activity, and discussion

Duration

45-50 minute class period

Description

Students will begin the class by answering some questions. Students will then be divided into groups and be given a specific type of drug and will be asked to use the computer to research how addiction differs and/or is similar between women and men with their assigned drug, and what treatments are effective with men and women and if they differ. They will fill in a Venn diagram and cite their sources. Then, they will be asked to suggest a possible research proposal that could potentially further the research into this area. Finally, students will present their findings and their proposal to the class.

Document Overview

Students will understand, discuss, and synthesize the gender differences and similarities that are found with addiction and the effectiveness in the treatment of addictions found within males and females. Students will research scientific reasons for similarities and differences and present their findings. Students will suggest possible areas for more research to be done and solutions.

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Concepts and Keywords

Social Neuroscience, Importance of an Enriched Environment, Dopamine in the Brain, The Science Behind Addiction

Addiction, Dopamine, Serotonin, Social Neuroscience, Neuron, Neurotransmitter, Synapse, Reward Pathway, Evidence Based Decision Making, Interpretation of Data, Evaluation, Data Analysis, Enriched Environment, Brain

Courses

High school biology class, a high school anatomy class, and a psychology class

Type of Activity

1. Reading with class discussion.
2. Video viewing and discussion.
3. Webquest

Duration

80-90 Minutes of class time

Description

Students will read an article about the impact of an enriched environment on drug addiction in monkeys and answer questions in groups. Students will then create a hypothetical similar experiment with humans. After their ideas are shared, students will watch a Ted Talks of speaker Carl Hart who actually conducted experiments with humans and addictions, focusing on the impact of an enriched environment. Students will then complete a webquest to give them a better understanding of dopamine, addiction, and the impact of one’s environment on the likelihood of addiction.

Document Overview

Students will develop an understanding of the impact of an enriched environment or the lack of and how it relates to the development of addictions. Students will analyze scientific research on how dopamine works and how its level can change and impact behavior.

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