One of my favorite units to teach is about disease. I discuss diseases such as cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis and others caused by worms that thrive in dirty water. We take a look at pictures of areas of the world that do not have their sewage contained in pipes but instead live right on top of it, literally floating around on it. These poor teenagers are always so horrified by this and it's a good way for me to create a better appreciation for what we have here in this country. Often times it's the first time they actually see that not every place in the world is like America. I would take this lesson and implement the use of google earth by zooming in to get an actual ariel view of different areas so the kids are even more convinced that these situations exist in the world today. We research particular areas (such as Zimbabwe which is what we would be focusing on in class right now because there has been a huge Cholera epidemic in the country killing 575 people) and find information on their living conditions. Then we could establish how this disease is travelling and what could be done to stop it. This lesson gives me a good chance to tie together social and economical factors with health factors. In other words, if the money was available and the sewage was dealt with properly many of these disease would not even occur. Money is often times not available because of poor social management in the country, etc.
I'd like to use one of the mapping software sites to create an ongoing map for the school year of disease in the world. Then my kids could really see disease transmission in action. I'm always watching the news for a disease outbreak and oddly enough it never occurred to me to keep track of it on a map during the year :)
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5 comments:
This is a really great topic. Being someone who has never traveled out of country it is hard to image the hardship that other people suffer. The evening news just doesn't capture its magnitude.
Your idea is really great for kids to learn not just where other countries are, but also why they are having the kinds of trouble they have and what their geographic restrictions are.
I think your idea is a much needed eye opener for teenagers. It is important to be thankful for what we have and teaching students about the devastation and even ordinary living conditions that occur in other countries may foster a more understanding climate among us all. Maybe we will all reconsider our priorities...Do we really need to pay someone millions of dollars to play a sport that they love when there are people in the world without sewer systems? I am thinking of taking your advice and teaching my own children with this method.
This is a wonderful idea. When one lives in the rich part of the world is hard to imagine "the other world". Anyway you can use Mexico as a country with the same problems.
Susana
My kids have also read a few stories on CNN this week about Cholera. I like your idea to use GE a good way to show them where this is taking place.
We did discuss the CNN map that showed the areas of the world effected by Cholera. I showed the map without explanation and asked why the disease was taking place where it was. It took a few minutes, first they thought it was tropical areas but the middle east and Russia didn't support that, but they did come up with third world areas. It was a good conversation starter. I'm sure high school students could take it further.
I just love getting all of these great uses and different ideas! Alison
Thanks for sharing. I find when I present difficult stories like these, I need to make sure I end with a way that we can help make a difference. Students need some hope or they just become depressed about our world issues. Do you bring this element into your discussion of diseases?
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