Did you know that sugar stimulates the same areas of the brain as cocaine and heroin? As part of a biology playlist, the thought-provoking video discusses if sugar should be considered a drug. It talks about our need for sugar, our brain's response to it, and the concerns many scientists hold about sugar addiction. 

Concepts

sugar, nutritional needs, addiction

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Research the signs of addiction, and debate if sugar should be controlled
• Show pupils the recommended amount of sugar they should have per day along with the amount of sugar in popular foods and drinks

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on some prior knowledge of how dopamine works in the brain

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Provides a list of resources that go more in depth on the subject
• Offers subtitles in Arabic and English for English learners
• Offers a scientific take on a current issue being discussed

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 SL.7.2 SL.8.2 SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.6-8.4 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4