This Is Your Brain on Depression, Grades 9-12

Background

This interactive lesson plan teaches students about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for teen depression.

Student Objectives

• Learn about the etiology of depression and discuss behavioral symptoms.
• Learn and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current treatment options, such as antidepressants.
• Work in groups to investigate what is going on in the brain during depression and how antidepressants target specific neural mechanisms to alleviate its symptoms.

Lesson Plan

• Title: This is Your Brain on Depression
• Setting: In Classroom
• Subject: Biology – Neuroscience
• Grade Level: 9-12
• Time Frame: 1 Hour
• Paired Dana Foundation Fact Sheets: 9th-12th Grade How Does the Brain Work?
• Next Generation Science Standards: Meets HS-LS1-2, HS-LS1-3

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