Our Juvenile Justice Curriculum
Welcome to the Brain in Action Curriculum
The Brain in Action: Choices, Changes, and Connections curriculum is a neuroscience-based educational program designed specifically for justice-involved youth ages 12–18. Grounded in brain science and youth development research, this curriculum helps students understand how their brains work, as well as how their choices, experiences, and habits shape who they are and who they can become.
Each lesson connects real-life topics such as stress, substance use, social connection, and mindfulness to the inner workings of the adolescent brain. Through engaging visuals, hands-on models, and weekly discussions, students build self-awareness, strengthen emotional regulation skills, and discover how the brain’s plasticity allows for resilience and personal growth. This program empowers young learners with knowledge that supports healing, informed choices, and a path toward positive change.
What Lessons We Offer
13
Marijuana and Sleep: Effects on the Brain
Explore how the brain regulates sleep through circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, and how substances like marijuana can disrupt that process. Students will learn about common sleep disorders and the impact of poor sleep on brain health. Information is narrowed to follow the guidelines provided by NIDA.
15
Opioids and Pain Management: How the Brain Processes Sensation
Learn how the brain processes touch, pain, and balance through different sensory systems. Students will also learn how opioids and other substances affect pain perception, along with the risks and science behind pain management. Information is narrowed to follow the guidelines provided by NIDA.
10
Human Vision and the Anatomy of the Eye
Explore the anatomy of the human eye and how it contributes to visual processing. Use hands-on materials such as a real cow eyeball to investigate eye structure. Introduce adaptation with activities like upside-down glasses to show how the brain interprets and adjusts to changing input.
14
Perception and Alcohol: Distorted Signals in the Brain
Introduce how the brain processes sensory information and forms perception. Students will also examine how alcohol disrupts these systems, affecting memory, coordination, and impulse control, and explore the long-term effects of alcohol use on brain structure and function. Information is narrowed to follow the guidelines provided by NIDA.
16
Executive Function and ADHD: The Brain’s Control Center
Understand how the brain controls attention, decision-making, and goal setting through executive functions. Students will also examine how ADHD and related disorders affect these processes, and learn about the brain systems involved in focus and behavior regulation.