Overview
The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn about asthma and share their knowledge with the school and the local community. In this lesson, students will view the program Children and Asthma, write research reports on asthma and use this knowledge to produce a schoolwide Asthma Education Fair.

Grade Levels 6 through 8

Subject Areas Language arts and health

California Standards

2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students write narrative, expository, persuasive and descriptive texts of at least 500 to 700 words in each genre. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the research, organizational and drafting strategies outlined here.

Grade 6
2.3 Write research reports:
a. Pose relevant questions with a scope narrow enough to be thoroughly covered.
b. Support the main idea or ideas with facts, details, examples and explanations from multiple authoritative sources (e.g., speakers, periodicals, online information searches).
c. Include a bibliography.

Grade 7
2.3 Write research reports:
a. Pose relevant and tightly drawn questions about the topic.
b. Convey clear and accurate perspectives on the subject.
c. Include evidence compiled through the formal research process (e.g., a card catalog, the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, a computer catalog, magazines, newspapers, dictionaries).
d. Document reference sources by means of footnotes and a bibliography.

Grade 8
2.3 Write research reports:
a. Define a thesis.
b. Record important ideas, concepts and direct quotations from significant information sources, and paraphrase and summarize all perspectives on the topic, as appropriate.
c. Use a variety of primary and secondary sources and distinguish the nature and value of each.
d. Organize and display information on charts, maps and graphs.

National Standards

Level III Health
Standard 1: Knows the availability and effective use of health services, products and information

Standard 2: Knows environmental and external factors that affect individual and community health

Learning Objectives
Students will be able to do the following:

• Synthesize information from a variety of sources
• Interpret facts and express meaning through writing activities

Assessment
To assess students' understanding of the above learning objectives, teachers may rate students on the quality of their writing, their presentations and their participation in group discussions.

They may also have students complete this self-evaluation:

• What did I learn from this lesson?
• What do I still want to learn about this topic?
• What part of my work on this lesson gives me a sense of achievement?
• What would I do differently next time?
• In what ways was I able to work effectively with others?
• What did I like most about this lesson?

Teachers may also wish to conduct individual conferences in which they discuss the student's self-evaluation and their own observations of the student's participation in the lesson activities.

Time
Two to three 50-minute class periods and one homework assignment
Half to whole school day for the Asthma Education Fair

Materials and Teacher Prep
Videotape Bay Window: Children and Asthma
Internet access
Straws
Drawing and writing supplies

Bookmark the following Web sites:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/asthma_basics.html
http://www.dph.state.ct.us/BCH/eeoh/Asthma/asthmamy.htm
http://www.aafa.org/
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/ascchildhoo.html
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/ascpedfac99.html
http://www.whatsasthma.org/
http://www.epa.gov/rgytgrnj/programs/artd/air/quality/asthma.htm
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/allergy/asthma.html
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/introduction.html
http://www.vpr.net/vt_news/switchboard_june2002.shtml
http://www.aafa.org/templ/display.cfm?id=15&sub=61
http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/fleitas/asthmapo.html
http://www.radiodiaries.org/makeyourown.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/friendly.htm

Pre-Viewing Activities

Activity 1
The purpose of this activity is to provide students with an understanding of what it might feel like to have asthma.

1. Tell students that they are going to experience what it feels like to have asthma.

2. Read the directions from the "Asthma Basics" section of the Kid's Health Web site.

Teacher Note: For this activity, you will need a straw for each student. 3. Ask students to complete the activity outline on the Web site.

4. Elicit and discuss students' reactions as to what it would feel like to have asthma.

Activity 2
The purpose of this activity is for students to assess and build background knowledge on the subject of asthma.

1. Assess students' background knowledge on asthma by asking students what they know about asthma.

2. Read the "Asthma Myths and Facts" section of the Connecticut Department of Public Health's Web site.

3. Ask students to spend a few minutes writing down a list of questions they have or things they want to learn about asthma.

Focus for Viewing

1. Tell the students to divide a piece of paper into six equal sections and write their list of questions from Activity 2 in one of the six sections.

2. Have students write one of the following five questions at the top of each of the other sections:

• What can trigger asthma?
• What can people do to avoid an asthma attack?
• How is asthma treated?
• What is it like to live with asthma?
• Why has there been an increase in childhood asthma and what population of children has the highest occurrence of asthma?

3. Ask students to record pieces of information in the appropriate sections while they are watching Bay Window: Children and Asthma.

Post-Viewing Activities

Activity 1
The purpose of this activity is for students to gather information on asthma and write a research report.

1. Tell students that they are going to research the topic of asthma.

2. The following questions may be helpful in planning the focus of the report:

• What is asthma?
• What happens during an asthma attack?
• What triggers asthma attacks?
• Why has there been an increase in childhood asthma?
• What population of children has the highest occurrence of asthma?
• What can you do to help prevent an attack?
• How is asthma treated?

Teacher Note: Have students sign up for a report topic to ensure that all of the topics are covered equally. Students will use their reports in Activity 2.

3. Tell students that they may use information from the Bay Window: Children and Asthma program, the KQED Bay Window: Children and Asthma Web site, and the Web sites listed below, as well as from any other resources.

http://www.kqed.org/baywindow/asthma
http://www.aafa.org/
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/ascchildhoo.html
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/ascpedfac99.html
http://www.whatsasthma.org/
http://www.epa.gov/rgytgrnj/programs/artd/air/quality/asthma.htm
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/allergy/asthma.html
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/introduction.html
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html
http://www.vpr.net/vt_news/switchboard_june2002.shtml (scroll down to and click on the asthma program)
Teacher Note: Refer to the standards section of this lesson to view the requirements for your specific grade level.

4. Provide time for students to share their report with the class.

Activity 2

The purpose of this activity is for students to use their knowledge of asthma to inform and educate the school and local community.

1. Tell students that they are going to use their knowledge of asthma to raise the awareness of other students and members of the community on this topic.

2. Ask students to brainstorm a list of possible activities for the Asthma Education Fair as well as ideas for how the event will be organized and publicized.
Teacher Note: It might be helpful to create a student committee to help coordinate the event.

Here are some possible activities.

• Write a song about asthma. Students can listen to Grammy Award-winning rap artist Coolio's message to children with asthma
  http://www.aafa.org/templ/display.cfm?id=15&sub=61
• Write a poem about asthma. This site contains a poem about living with asthma.
  http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/fleitas/asthmapo.html
• Produce an informational video about asthma.
• Record the personal story of a person with asthma. The Radio Diaries Web site offers a Teenage Reporter Handbook. http://www.radiodiaries.org/makeyourown.html It might also be helpful to listen to the story of 21-year-old Laura Rothenberg's battle with cystic fibrosis.
  http://www.radiodiaries.org/radiodiaries.html
• Write and publish an informational brochure about asthma.
• Create and conduct public survey about asthma.
• Work with an interested parent to find out how asthma-friendly your school is. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, and the School Asthma Education Subcommittee have put together a list of questions that will help you evaluate how asthma-friendly your school is.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/friendly.htm
• Write and perform a play about asthma.
• Work with the school nurse to arrange to have someone bring peak flow meters into the school for the day.

4. Inform your school and local community of the fair.

5. Stage the event.

back to top