Health Topics for Teens

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Health Topics for Teens

• A PBL Unit by Lisa Borges

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Overview

• For this lesson, students research a health
  topic affecting teens their age. In the course
  of research, students will evaluate web sites,
  take notes, create and administer a class survey,
  and create an informative PowerPoint
  presentation. Because the topics the students
  choose have real-life implications, I think the
  project will be interesting, informative, and
  motivating. The target group for this project is
  middle school students. The time frame is 10
  45-minute periods. I address my own curriculum
  discipline (computer applications) by having
  students create a spreadsheet, chart, and
  PowerPoint presentation.

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Objectives

• Students are able to identify and explain, in
  detail, a health risk facing kids their age.
• Students navigate the Internet and use search
  engines to find websites related to their topic.
• Students are able to evaluate a minimum of 15 web
  sites for validity, current ness, information,
  ease of use, and appeal.
• Students create a valid multiple choice survey to
  administer to their peers.
• Students tally the results of their survey and
  graph the results using Microsoft Excel.
• Students create a PowerPoint presentation that
  informs others about their topic and is effective
  in design, layout, and appeal.

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MA State Frameworks

• The standards addressed by this PBL are
• Health 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14
• Math 8
• Technology 1, 2, 3
• For further detail on the strands and standards
  addressed by this PBL, double click the Word icon.

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Step 1 Introduction

• For this project you will be divided into
  pre-chosen groups of 3 to research and report on
  a health risk facing kids your age. This
  project will involve research, note taking, and
  presentation. Also, you will create, tally, and
  graph the results of a survey for your peers.
• Possible topics include eating disorders,
  alcohol use, drug use, smoking, inhalants,
  harassment, nutrition, exercise, acne, etc.
• Take the next ten minutes to meet with your group
  and choose a topic that interests you. Be
  prepared to have a 2nd choice because no more
  than 2 groups will be allowed to select the same
  topic.

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Step 2 Searching the web

• Lets make a list of some popular search engines.
  (Google, Alta Vista, etc.)
• There is so much information on the web, how will
  you sort through it?
• What makes you decide to explore a site further
  or skip past it? Lets create the rubric you
  will use to evaluate the sites you find. Click
  for sample
• Create this same rubric in Excel and start your
  site evaluation. Create a folder and save your
  favorite sites for future use.

• Start taking some notes on your topic.
• Double click the Word icon for some
• questions to help you take notes.

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Sample Rubric
To find the total use the AutoSum icon.
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Step 3 Create a survey

• Based on what you have learned about your topic,
  how much do you think it affects teens your age?
• In Word, create a multiple choice survey that
  will be given to a class full of students.
• For an example, click here
• After your survey is returned, create a graph to
  show your results

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We are doing a report on teenage cigarette
smoking. Please help us by answering these five
questions truthfully. This survey is
anonymous.   1.) How often have you smoked a
cigarette in the last month?   a.) Never
b.) once c.) 2-10 times d.) more than 10
times   2. ) Do you think you can die from
cigarette smoking?   a.) yes b. ) no   3.) Did
you know cigarettes contain cyanide (the same
stuff found in rat poison?)   a.)
yes b.) no   4.) If you havent tried
cigarettes, do think you might in the
future?   a.) yes b.) no   5.) Does anybody in
your family smoke cigarettes?   a.) yes b.) no
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The Results Are In

• Tally the results from your survey. Then, select
  one question and create a graph in Excel.
• Look at the next slide for an idea.

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Step 4 Create your presentation

• Use all the information you gathered through your
  research and survey to create a PowerPoint
  presentation that educates teens about the health
  risk you chose. The presentation should be a
  minimum of 5 slides and should include
  enhancements such as timings, transitions,
  animations, and clip art. It should explain your
  topic and offer suggestions on how to deal with
  it or seek further help. Make sure one slide is
  for credits.

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Evaluate your group members
Use the following rubric to give a score for each
group member. Remember, your results are
anonymous.
Possible Score Points Earned
Time on Task
Cooperation
Quality of Work
Participation
Total
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Project Rubric
Point Value Objective Points Earned
20 Peer grade
10 Group spends class time on-task, actively researching topic and evaluating websites
10 Group evaluates 15-20 sites using class developed rubric
10 Group creates multiple choice survey
10 Group correctly graphs results of survey and includes them in presentation
20 Presentation is informative and offers ways to deal or suggests places for further help
20 Presentation is appealing (effective use of sound, animation, transition, clips art, and timings.)

Group Score