How Alcohol Affects the Developing Brain: Digital Resources Launch
TODAY Ask, Listen, learn is launching a new, cutting-edge, digital program for teachers, parents, school counselors, nurses, and more! This comprehensive, seven-part animated series and corresponding lesson plans are designed to teach kids about what the brain does, what alcohol does to it, and what THAT does to them.
From 2003 to 2015, underage drinking declined 51 percent (Monitoring the Future report 2015)—while conversations about underage drinking between parents and their kids increased 69 percent (Responsibility.org, August 2016). Although underage drinking is at record lows, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed.
Ask, Listen, Learn’s new science-based content aligns with National Health Education Standards, Common Core State Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards, ensuring the tools connect with curriculum teachers are already using. This alignment also ensures the resources can be used in multiple classroom settings, such as science and health classes. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reviewed the program content and found it to be consistent with currently available science.
“The more engaged kids are, the more likely they are to bring the conversation about the negative consequences of underage drinking home to their parents, who are the leading influence in their decisions to drink – or not to drink – alcohol” said Ralph Blackman, president and CEO of Responsibility.org.
In addition to the animated videos and lesson plans, the new content includes interactive classroom activities, vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, a facilitator’s guide and a sample letter to parents. All materials are free and ready to download through AskListenLearn.org—creating a one-stop-shop for all resources. Additionally, these tools support school counselors’ and school nurses’ efforts to help students make healthy decisions.
Check out the resources for teachers on the teacher page and for parents on the parent page!
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