Freebie Alert!
The kids at our school LOVE learning about their brains! As I mentioned in my last post, It’s Not Mania, It’s Brain-O-Mania!, I began teaching about the brain in a quest to help kids learn how to limit their screentime and increase the amount of time they spend engaged in exploring, playing, being active, reading, and other brain-healthy activities. Once I realized how fascinated and excited the kids are about neuroscience, I started incorporating it into other lesson topics — feelings, bullying, conflict resolution, personal safety, and substance abuse.
Last fall I discovered a great, FREE resource for teaching about substance abuse and the brain. Brain Power is a free curriculum from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with modules for grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-9. Brain Power can be downloaded, or you can order a hard copy — either way, it’s free. Yes, I know I used the word “free” three times in three sentences. I just can’t get over how this great resource is available at no cost! The modules include videos, activities, materials, posters, discussion questions, and parent letters, and are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. There are also templates for making stickers, buttons, and t-shirts. I have the three elementary modules, but so far have only used the 4-5 one. I adapted the lessons somewhat, but I think it’s good as is.
At the NIDA teen site is Sara’s Quest, (Sara as in Sara Bellum — get it? Cerebellum!) an interactive game that I use with fifth graders to help them learn about the effects of different drugs on the brain.
You can find other brain and substance abuse games here. They are also from the teen site, but several are appropriate for upper elementary kids.
Another great resource is the video Don’t Drain Your Brain: How Alcohol Damages the Brain, which is available from Human Relations Video. I used it with fifth grade this year and may use it with fourth next year. It is also appropriate for middle school. There are some good activities and handouts included with the curriculum. It costs $99.95 and is worth every penny.
Here’s a preview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afLAdo49T_A]
What resources do you use to teach about the brain and/or substance abuse? I’d love to hear about them!
I don’t have any resources to teach about the brain, but now I do thanks to your links! I loved your idea about teaching your students about the brain and then relating it to all of your guidance lessons. It just makes sense. As far as substance abuse, I use a lot of different things; mostly very friendly pictures of parts of the body (yes, intestines with a smile, etc…!) and then teaching my K’s & 1st’s how alcohol and drugs affects all those parts of the body. It’s also a good week (red ribbon week) to teach the older kids about peer pressure and how to handle it.