1. Alcohol and Your Cerebral Cortex
An exploration of how alcohol affects the developing brain for:
Grades 4-7

2. How Alcohol Affects the Cerebral Cortex
How many lobes make up the cerebral cortex? 1
Name two things the cerebral cortex allows you to do. 2
When the cortex is impaired by alcohol, what becomes difficult to do? 3 4
Why is it illegal to drive drunk? 5
Summarize the overall message of the video.

3. Discussion
Students: get into groups to discuss your answers to the comprehension questions.
Discussion:
How does alcohol affect your reflexes and decision making?
What did the three different teams represent?

4. Activity: Decision Making
On an index card, write down the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make.
Volunteers: share what you’ve written, and discuss what made this decision especially hard.

5. Activity: Scenario Worksheet
You are at a friend’s house on Saturday night and his older sister has friends over. They begin drinking alcohol, and offer you and your friend each a beer. Your friend takes the beer and begins to sip. How do you decide what to do?
Fill out the worksheet and share your answers with a group or partner.

6. Additional Videos and Games
Watch the rest of the Ask, Listen, Learn brain videos!
Visit our games page for more educational activities!