Teaching Steps 1. Discuss the mechanism of psychoactive drugs. Students simulate nerve actions. Brainstorm other ways that drugs might act at the neuron level. Students simulate effect of alcohol on neuron.
Students simulate effect of cocaine on neuron.
Reflect, summarize and discuss. Have several sheets of blue paper. Structure of the Synapse Normal Nerve Cell Activity Drug Mechanisms Use The Cast Of Characters teacher page to prepare a chart that can be read by the entire class to hang in the classroom. Review the How Neurons Communicate teacher page to become familiar with the process described. Post a diagram of the process in the classroom.