Lesson Plan and Activity Finder
Lesson of the Month
Mind Matters Series (formerly Mind Over Matters)
A set of visually appealing booklets—The Brain’s Response to: drugs, marijuana, nicotine, opioids, cocaine, inhalants, methamphetamine, prescription stimulant drugs, and synthetic drugs like K2/spice and bath salts—that explain how the drugs change the way the communication centers in the brain work and ultimately cause their effects.
Grade: 5-9
Drug Facts Challenge!
A Jeopardy-style game where students select from one of five categories—brain and addiction; marijuana; prescription drugs; tobacco, nicotine, and e-cigarettes; and inhalants—and a point amount. The science-based “answer” displays, allowing students the opportunity to determine the “question.”
Grade: 6-12
Drugs and Health Blog: Marijuana
Timely blog posts feature emerging trends and apply the science of drug abuse to real life. The teacher’s guide features classroom activities and discussion questions for use with selected posts to encourage students to think critically about how drugs and drug abuse can affect them.
Grade: 6-10
Marijuana Facts: Breaking Down the Myths
In this lesson, developed in partnership with Scholastic, students learn what researchers have discovered about marijuana’s risks for teens, such as how it can make driving a car unsafe and lead to lower grades. A student article explains marijuana risks, and a work sheet and critical thinking questions encourage analysis.
Grade: 6-12
Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz
In this lesson, developed in partnership with Scholastic, students learn the short- and long-term effects of marijuana use. An article and worksheet get students to think critically about trends in marijuana use; additional questions, vocabulary words, and writing prompts help students learn about the science of addiction and the risks of drug and tobacco use.
Grade: 6-12
Marijuana: Download the Facts
In this lesson, developed in partnership with Scholastic, students learn how the chemicals in marijuana affect the brain to produce a high. Worksheets, writing prompts and class activities help students analyze how marijuana is portrayed in the media.
Grade: 6-12
Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Marijuana
A visually appealing booklet for students that explains how marijuana changes the way the communication centers in the brain work and ultimately cause their effects. Formerly referred to as Mind Over Matters, this booklet is part of a series focused on easy-to-understand scientific facts.
Grade: 5-9
The Science of Marijuana: How THC Affects the Brain
In this lesson, developed in partnership with Scholastic, students learn about different areas of the brain, such as the amygdala and cerebellum, and how marijuana affects them. Illustrations show how the body’s endocannabinoid system transmits chemical messages. The lesson includes a student article, work sheet, and critical thinking questions.
Grade: 6-12
Weeding Out the Grass: Brain Power!
This module uses science to dispel the myth that marijuana is harmless. Following the lesson, the Challenge activity is a marijuana bingo game. Additional activities include a research-based presentation, a media log, the student magazine, the CD-ROM, and handouts.
Grade: 6-9
