Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.1D Grade 8 CPI 4

 

Standard: 2.1 - Wellness

 

Strand: D - Diseases and Health Conditions

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 4 - The student will analyze local and state public health efforts to prevent and control diseases and health conditions.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·       THE MAZE OF SERVICES - Divide the class into small groups, and give each group a case study describing a person with a health problem. (Be sure you provide examples of children, teens, and adults.) Each group describes the individual’s problem, contributing factors, and treatment and then determines where the person should go for treatment and care. Include information on insurance, the availability of services, and community factors in the scenarios. Each group presents a portfolio with current research on the health condition, the types of treatment available, and potential costs for treatment. The case studies are presented to the class and discussed.

 

     Variation: Invite a pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, or other healthcare provider to class to discuss trends and issues in healthcare. Invite a representative from the insurance industry to present a point-counterpoint debate.

Variation: Students design a board game that illustrates the frustrations of the maze of services. In the game, students move from space to space encountering obstacles to services such as lack of money, no transportation or appointment delays. Students navigate the system with positive health behaviors, regularly scheduled healthcare visits, and supportive family and friends.

 

·       TREASURE HUNT - Prior to this exercise, develop a series of cards that describe a young person with a health problem that requires professional assistance (e.g., a young person suspects he/she has a STD, is very depressed, or has a nagging injury from sports). Prepare a series of very general questions that guide the students through an information treasure hunt. Questions might include the following:

      -       What is the problem?
-       What caused the problem?
-       Where should I go for advice?
-       What should I do next?
-       What happens if I can’t find help?

Set up stations in a large area such as a gym or cafeteria. Use high school peer educators to represent various school and community health specialists, agencies, and organizations that assist students to solve their problems. (Be sure to include a station marked parent.) Provide the peer educators
with props, such as phones or computers, that can be used as they role-play their assigned parts. Some of the healthcare providers may charge money for services and some provide free or low cost services. Provide some students with play money that can be used to pay for services. Distribute one
problem card to each student. Students visit the various stations trying to solve the problem noted on their card. When the problem seems to be solved and all the assigned questions have been answered, students submit their cards to the teacher or supervisor who offers them a treasure (e.g., a button, T-shirt, hats). Follow this activity with a discussion of the experiences, frustrations, and successes in defining the problem and navigating the system. Focus on the following questions:
-       How did you find out more about your problem?
-       Was it hard to get this information? Did you understand it?
-       Is it a common problem for kids your age?

Students complete a journal entry describing what they learned from this experience.

 

·       COMMUNITY SURVEY - Students design a survey to identify and categorize individuals and agencies that provide healthcare services in the community or county. The survey should focus on the costs of services; the need for a referral for services; and the ages, groups, or gender of clients served. Students plan the distribution of the survey, administer the survey, and collate the results. Using the information obtained, students design a pamphlet or resource guide and share it with the participants in the survey. In addition, students make recommendations to eliminate gaps in services identified in the survey.