Unit 1: The Developing Brain

Purpose

This activity provides short videos of Ralph Cantor teaching about the adolescent brain and the role of dopamine.  In between videos, there are discussion questions with Teacher Talking Points that teachers can use to initiate conversation about marijuana/cannabis use as it relates to adolescents.  

Preparation

Materials Needed: Computer, Projector, PowerPoint

Handout: None

Procedure

This PowerPoint provides an overview of what students should know about brain development and the role of dopamine, including how marijuana/cannabis can negatively impact brain development. 

Purpose

This activity provides short videos of Ralph Cantor teaching about the adolescent brain and the role of dopamine.  In between videos, there are discussion questions with Teacher Talking Points that teachers can use to initiate conversation about marijuana/cannabis use as it relates to adolescents.  

Preparation

Materials Needed: Computer, Internet Access, Projector

Handout: None

Procedure

This PowerPoint provides an overview of what students should know about brain development and the role of dopamine, including how marijuana/cannabis can negatively impact brain development. 

There are four different ways or options for delivering this activity. Each option has it's own PowerPoint download (please see above).  

Option A: Cheating the Brain

If you only have time to play one video, we highly recommend playing this one and asking the follow-up questions on the slides. There is one video of Ralph Cantor teaching on Cheating the Brain (4:13). 

For this topic there are the following discussion questions along with Teacher Talking Points in the Notes section of the PowerPoint: 

1. Cheating the Brain
   1. What do you think he means by "short-circuiting?"
   2. What are some of the ways you and your friends party? What do we mean by recreation/recreate?
   3. What do you think Ralph means by someone "wanting it more, but feeling it less?" Why do you think this happens?
   4. Has there ever been a time when you thought something was a good idea, but it felt like there was another part of your brain that was telling you something else?
   5. One of Ralph's concerns describing someone rehabilitating from marijuana/cannabis use is that they have never fully discovered/created other ways of releasing dopamine and feeling good. What do you think he means by that? 

Option B: Dopamine and Cheating the Brain

If you have time to provide students with more background on dopamine, then you can select this option. It still covers everything in Option A, but warms up students to discussing the topic of Cheating the Brain. There are three videos of Ralph Cantor teaching on the following topics:

1. Dopamine: The Basics (3:12)
2. Where is Your Dopamine? (4:54)
3. Cheating the Brain (4:13)

For each topic there are the following discussion questions along with Teacher Talking Points in the Notes section of the PowerPoint: 

1. Dopamine: The Basics 
   1. What does Ralph think your job is during the teen years?
   2. Ralph covers the example of a baby using dopamine to assign milk as not only pleasurable, but also important. How does this bring up any concerns for a young person who is using marijuana/cannabis?
2. Where is Your Dopamine?
   1. What does Ralph mean by "your juice?"
   2. What are some other examples of activities that release dopamine for you?
   3. Why do you think experiencing pleasure is important?
3. Cheating the Brain
   1. What do you think he means by "short-circuiting?"
   2. What are some of the ways you and your friends party? What do we mean by recreation/recreate?
   3. What do you think Ralph means by someone "wanting it more, but feeling it less?" Why do you think this happens?
   4. Has there ever been a time when you thought something was a good idea, but it felt like there was another part of your brain that was telling you something else?
   5. One of Ralph's concerns describing someone rehabilitating from marijuana/cannabis use is that they have never fully discovered/created other ways of releasing dopamine and feeling good. What do you think he means by that?

Option C: More on Brain Development 

If you want to cover everything in Option B and dive more into brain development then this would be a great option for students. There are four videos of Ralph Cantor teaching on the following topics:

1. Dopamine: The Basics (3:12)
2. Where is Your Dopamine? (4:54)
3. Cheating the Brain (4:13)
4. Choosing Your Path (4:31)

For each topic there are the following discussion questions along with Teacher Talking Points in the Notes section of the PowerPoint: 

1. Dopamine: The Basics 
   1. What does Ralph think your job is during the teen years?
   2. Ralph covers the example of a baby using dopamine to assign milk as not only pleasurable, but also important. How does this bring up any concerns for a young person who is using marijuana/cannabis?
2. Where is Your Dopamine?
   1. What does Ralph mean by "your juice?"
   2. What are some other examples of activities that release dopamine for you?
   3. Why do you think experiencing pleasure is important?
3. Cheating the Brain
   1. What do you think he means by "short-circuiting?"
   2. What are some of the ways you and your friends party? What do we mean by recreation/recreate?
   3. What do you think Ralph means by someone "wanting it more, but feeling it less?" Why do you think this happens?
   4. Has there ever been a time when you thought something was a good idea, but it felt like there was another part of your brain that was telling you something else?
   5. One of Ralph's concerns describing someone rehabilitating from marijuana/cannabis use is that they have never fully discovered/created other ways of releasing dopamine and feeling good. What do you think he means by that?
4. Choosing Your Path
   1. What are some activities that you used to do that you no longer do or have pruned away?
   2. What do you think he means by myelination?
   3. What are some things that bring you pleasure that you think you have started to myelinate?
   4. What is Ralph's concern with young people myelinating marijuana/cannabis use?
   5. For those you know who only use marijuana/cannabis on the weekend, about how many times are they using in a year?
   6. Do you think using marijuana/cannabis as much will myelinate it in someone's brain?

Option D: Choosing Your Path

If you only want to focus on the topic of Choosing Your Path: Myelination and Pruning, then this is a good option for students. There is one video of Ralph Cantor teaching on Choosing Your Path (4:31). 

For this topic there are the following discussion questions along with Teacher Talking Points in the Notes section of the PowerPoint: 

1. Choosing Your Path
   1. What are some activities that you used to do that you no longer do or have pruned away?
   2. What do you think he means by myelination?
   3. What are some things that bring you pleasure that you think you have started to myelinate?
   4. What is Ralph's concern with young people myelinating marijuana/cannabis use?
   5. For those you know who only use marijuana/cannabis on the weekend, about how many times are they using in a year?
   6. Do you think using marijuana/cannabis as much will myelinate it in someone's brain?

PowerPoint last updated on 2/28/20 at 11:50am PST

Purpose

This activity will allow students to learn about the processes of synaptic pruning and myelination. They will explore how cannabis and other drugs can interfere with these processes. This activity is meant to provide information about why using cannabis to escape may be more harmful than youth may realize. Students will learn about coping strategies and how using cannabis to cope with stress may lead to future challenges. 

Preparation

Materials Needed: Computer, Internet Access, Projector

Handout: Synapses and Stress Worksheet (1 per student), Optional: Self-Care Wheel (can be used for reference) 

Video Link(s): Choosing Your Path

Procedure

Use the slideset to lead students through the interactive activity. The Teacher Talking Points that accompany each slide can be viewed in the "Note" section.