Science; Health and Physical Education; Technology; Language Arts; Consumer, Family & Life Skills

By: Michelle Williams

Woodstown H.S.

Academic Focus/
Core Curriculum Standards:

The Arts(Visual and Performing): 1.1, 1.2

Comprehensive Health and Physical Education: 2.1, 2.2

Language Arts Literacy: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

After two instructional days of background information on bacteria and viruses, academic biology students will work with a partner to research and complete poster projects on bacterial and viral infectious diseases.

Groups of students will then be asked to design a presentation on ways to prevent the spreading of infectious disease i.e. proper hand washing, sanitation of various surfaces, proper food handling and preparation, vaccinations, medicines, etc. Students will then present their information to third-grade students from our elementary school in rotating stations.

In addition, the biology students will create proper hand washing flyers to be posted in all school lavatories and cafeterias district-wide, as well as in local restaurants. Following the project, students will complete a reflection survey stating how the service-learning project impacted them personally.

Third grade students in school district; Woodstown school community; Patrons in local restaurants

One school day – Set up stations in H.S. gymnasium; allow third graders to rotate through the stations by class during periods two and three.

Hand soap, glogerm lotion and powder, sinks or wash bins, a black light, meat thermometers, sanitizing agents, poster board, CD player, laptop, guitar, cutting boards

Science: Students will learn the nature and spread of  bacterial and viral infectious diseases. They will problem-solve on the best way of presenting scientific information to third graders.

graders.

Comprehensive Health and Phys. Ed.: Students apply leadership and advocacy skills when teaching younger students about health risks and effective preventative measures of infectious diseases.

Language Arts Literacy: Students conduct research and use editing skills to write concise flyers and presentations for a younger audience. The ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students develop speaking skills when giving their presentations to the third graders.

Computer/Information Literacy: Students use computers for the purposes of research and creating presentations.

Consumer, Family, Life Skills: Students use critical thinking to make presentations that elementary school students can understand. Students develop interpersonal communication skills when giving presentations and reaching out to local restaurants.

Hurdles Encountered:

Hurdles Scheduling of classes so the exchange would occur at the most convenient time for both schools.

Solution’ Teachers compared the calendars of both schools, taking into account state-mandated testing to agree on a mutually acceptable time.

Performance-based Education: Biology students learn and reinforce their knowledge of infectious diseases through formal presentations and performance art.

Cooperative Learning: Students work in pairs when researching and making posters. Students work in groups when creating and giving presentations.

Interdisciplinary Approach: Students combine life science, language arts, visual and performing arts, and computer literacy to educate themselves, the school community, and the greater Woodstown community about infectious diseases.

Personal Growth Outcomes:

The biology students learn cooperation through working together, and develop caring and responsibility by educating their community.

Celebration: Pizza and ice cream party

Recognition: The flyers will recognize the biology class as the authors. 

Key Findings: Students are highly motivated and do better work when the project is tied to “real life, ” and they “teach” what they have learned.

 Local health department officials and health care workers will be invited to participate. Third graders attend the presentation program; students within the district and restaurant patrons will read the flyers created by the biology students

Parents and Volunteer Involvement:

Parents help with refreshments, lining up volunteers.

Students will participate in surveys that question how they felt when educating others about the important topic of disease awareness.

Rubrics: students will be graded on their research and poster project.