Columbia University in the City of New York

Teacher Institute Lessons

Teachers present lesson plans at the Teacher Institute for Neuroscience and Society summit. Photo by Sirin Samman/Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute

Teaching neuroscience and society in middle school

Lesson plans developed from the Teacher Institute for Neuroscience and Society teach middle school students the neuroscience behind current issues and how they can be active members of their communities to make change.

Teacher Institute Fellows have created these lessons and activities based on the research of Columbia University neuroscientists. Topics include AI, social media, screen time, the adolescent brain, and neurodiversity. 

All of our lessons are created by teachers, for teachers, and content has been vetted for scientific accuracy by neuroscientists. These materials promote student inquiry, foster dialogue, and are ready to be adapted for your classroom.

You can browse and download our current lessons below. 

The Teacher Institute for Neuroscience and Society program and its accompanying resources are generously supported by The Dana Founation.

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