Education

Cannabis: The Facts You Need to Know

Created by: Scholastic and the National Institute on Drug Abuse

With many states legalizing the use of cannabis for adults 21 and over, teens may have questions about whether the drug is safe. Teen brains are still developing, and so are particularly vulnerable to negative health effects of cannabis, such as memory problems and addiction. Help students make healthy choices by sharing the article “Cannabis: The Facts You Need to Know,” the online interactive “Cannabis and the Brain,” and the activity sheet “Help Spread the Facts About Cannabis.”

Three people talking outside a cannabis dispensary.

Lesson Plan Highlights:

This lesson includes:

  • Student activity sheets
  • Student article
  • Student online interactive exercise
  • Teacher's prompts

Grade Level(s):

6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12 

Student Skills:

  • Analyzing and interpreting information, data, and/or evidence
  • English language arts
  • Health and life skills
  • Understanding health effects and risks

Time / Duration:

  • 1 class period

Materials:

  • Printer/copier for student handouts
  • Computer(s) for online interactive exercise

Languages:

  • English

Academic Standards:

    Common Core State Standards

    • RST.1. Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts
    • W.1. Write arguments to support claims using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence

    National Council for the Social Studies

    • 8. Science, technology, and society

    Next Generation Science Standards

    • Core idea MS-LS1.D/HS-LS1.D information processing
    • Crosscutting concept cause and effect: mechanism and prediction
    • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Teacher's Guide and Student Activities

Student Article