LESSON (Opioids vs. Endorphins: Simulating the Dopamine Response Using Computer Science)

What You’ll Get: This immersive lesson will guide high school students in designing an interactive game using Scratch, MakeyMakey, and Play-Doh to teach younger students the difference between opioids and endorphins. The lesson demonstrates how these chemicals interact with the brain's dopamine pathways and how they bind to opioid receptors differently.

By building a fun, hands-on learning experience, students will:

• Understand the structure-function relationship in receptor binding.
• Learn how opioid tolerance occurs versus natural endorphin activity.
• Explore the role of Narcan in reversing opioid effects as a bonus feature.

This digital product includes:

1. Step-by-step lesson instructions (PDF slides) for setting up the lab, designing the game, and building the Scratch code.
2. Scratch code samples with video demonstrations of the game in action.
3. Production instructions for creating the MakeyMakey circuits and Play-Doh models that simulate opioid and endorphin receptors.
4. A final video assignment to demonstrate the game for elementary students (6th grade), allowing for fun peer-to-peer learning.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basics of dopamine release triggered by opioids and endorphins.
• Recognize how opioids hijack the natural dopamine system and lead to tolerance.
• Grasp the concept of receptor binding and structure-function relationships in neuroscience and pharmacology.

Who’s It For: Ideal for high school neuroscience, biology, and health science classes, this project helps students grasp complex biochemical concepts through creativity, technology, and play. This lesson can also be integrated into interdisciplinary courses that involve computer science and biology.