Drew Health Ambassadors – Fall 2007

In collaboration with ENVS 408: Urban Asthma Epidemic

 

 

Aim: Give students a preliminary view of asthma, including the causes for the disease and the effect of the environment on those that suffer from asthma.

 

 

 

 

One Penn student introduces the group to the class – who we are and why we are here.

·        We are college students from the University of Pennsylvania and we’re here to talk to you about asthma.

·        We are learning about asthma in a class just like you. We want to share with you all of the important things we’re learning about the disease and how to live with it.

·        We will be teaching you about asthma for several weeks, and we’re really excited.

 

Each Penn student will introduce him/herself.

·        State your name and your hometown.

·        State what you’re studying in college (major), and your year in college.

 

Students will raise their hands to answer the questions.

 

·        Do you think asthma affects the … eyes? Lungs? Feet?

·        Do you know what an asthma attack is? Can anyone tell us?

·        Raise your hands when you think you hear something that people with asthma do: Itch? Cough? Have broken bones? Breathe heavy?

·        Does anyone know anyone with asthma? Who? 

·        Has anyone ever been tested for asthma?

·        Has anyone ever heard of a peak flow meter?

 

 

 

 

Have the students break up into small groups.

·        Ask the teacher for help.

·        Follow the teacher’s way of dividing up the class – if the teacher doesn’t have a preferred method, divide them up based on proximity to each other (getting them out of their seats breaks their concentration – try to minimize the ‘resettling’ time).

 

Discussion within small groups

·        Explain that most activities will be done in small groups, and we will stay with the same team from week-to-week. The group will produce a final product so it’s important to stay in the same group.

·        Each Penn student should re-introduce himself / herself to the small group. Tell the small group one interesting fact or hobby to help connect with the students (i.e. music, sports, dancing). Ask each student to introduce him/herself with 3 facts: name and two things about them (favorite food, favorite sport, how many siblings, etc.).

·        The Penn student should write down the names of the kids, to help remember them for next week. They should write their names on the folders, which will be used to collect worksheets, etc.

·        Within the small groups, discuss the skit with the students. Use the following questions to get discussion going:

o       What did you think about the situation in the skit? What did you learn that you didn’t know?

o       Do you know anyone with asthma? Who?

o       What areas of the body does asthma affect? (lungs, trachea, airways)

o       Did you know that asthma is the biggest long-term disease among children, and the number one reason that children miss school?

o       Limit this discussion to about 5 minutes so you can move on to the next activity.

 

Have each write their name on a white card and stick it on the bottom of the board.

 

 

Incorporate the episode at

 

http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/lesson/health/pdf/All_About_Asthma.pdf

 

 

 

Use clear tape or stickytack to stick them to the board, in the appropriate area.

 

 

 

 

Over the next few weeks, we are going to learn about lots of different things:

 

 

 

 

Family activity sheet:

 

 

Children will see on the take-home sheet some items that aggravate asthma. We will open next lesson by discussing what they saw.