A PROJECT ADAPT WEB QUEST

 

Presented by: Sunitha Howard

Emerson Middle School

Yonkers, NY

 

When people around you smoke, you do too!

 

Introduction

            Do your parents smoke when you’re around? Maybe at home? In the car? When you’re out somewhere? Well, when your parents are smoking, you are too! Sound good? Of course not! We all know smoking is not a good thing but when you breathe in the secondhand smoke from a smoker, you are damaging your body. It’s like you are smoking too.

          Tobacco was first cultivated in Virginia in 1612 and grown mainly for pipe smoking and chewing. Tobacco made many Americans very wealthy. James Buchanan Duke built Duke University with his tobacco millions! But tobacco really gained popularity until the early 1800’s. The negative effects of tobacco were not initially known. Now we know tobacco is bad. VERY BAD! More die from tobacco each year than die in all the wars fought by America. It costs Americans millions of dollars for medical services. But people still smoke!

          Do you feel like doing something about this social problem?  Well now you can! As a public policy analyst you can help do something to protect children who have no choice but to breathe in the dangerous air.

You will be presenting your Power point to a group of Yonkers City Legislators who can help you enact the change. I wish you good luck as you embark on your journey! Millions are depending on you!

                               

 


Task

Many of the younger children in your K-8 school come to school reeking of cigarette smoke on their clothes. You realize this is because they live with smokers. You have been asked to be the voice of many young children who live in households where parents smoke. You and your peers can make a difference in their lives and prevent them from getting premature cancer and go through life with a healthy respiratory system. You can also show the tobacco industry that health is more important that wealth. By way of this assignment, you will also encourage family members of smokers to help them quit and prevent secondhand smoking.

 

Your task will be to produce a power point presentation using the Public Policy Analyst as an outline

 

The POWER POINT will contain:15-20 slides which go in depth to describe the problem and ways to alleviate it. The power point must contain images, text, graphs and charts and be based on the PPA worksheets. 

 

Process

Here’s what you will do:

1.    You will work in cooperative groups of 4:

  1. Each of you will have a specific task: one member will research the history of smoking, another will research the ill effects of second hand smoking, and another member will research the benefits of quitting, another member will gather all the pertinent statistics
  2. All six worksheets must be completed and handed in order to be approved to complete the Power point presentation
  3. The information will be presented in an organized and relevant manner in a Power point Presentation of approximately 15-20 slides using the steps shown below. Each step of the PPA MUST BE IN THE POWER POINT.

 

Step 1: Define the Problem   Worksheet: http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.doc

Step 2: Gather the Evidence Worksheet: http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.doc

Step 3: Identify the Causes  Worksheet: http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet3.doc

Step 4: Evaluate a Policy   Worksheet: http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.doc

Step 5: Develop Solutions   Worksheet:http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.doc

Step 6: Select the Best Solution   Worksheet: http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.doc

 

Your group will use the resource links below to complete the PPA worksheets.

 

Resources

GENERAL WEB SITES

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

WWW.YAHOO.COM

 

SPECIFIC WEB SITES

Surgeon General’s Warning about Children and Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Home

Protecting Yourself and your loved ones from Secondhand Smoke

Promoting Smoke-Free Homes and Cars for Children

Facts on Secondhand Smoke

Search Engine

 

 

Evaluation

Criteria

Excellent

3

Good

2

Poor

1

Pts

 

Gathering Information:

PPA

Problem is identified and researched thoroughly.  All steps of the PPA are addressed and the handouts are complete.    

Problem is identified and researched.

All six steps of the PPA are addressed.  Most worksheets are completed correctly. 

Problem is identified and partially researched.  Some of the worksheets are incomplete.

 

 

 

Powerpoint

 

All of the required topics are addressed thoroughly in the Powerpoint.  Content is accurate and ideas are supported well by research. 

All of the required topics are addressed in the Powerpoint, however, some topics could have been researched more thoroughly.  Content is accurate.

All of the topics are not addressed in the Powerpoint.

More than two topics are not covered in enough detail.

Content is inaccurate.

 

Oral Presentation

  Students speak clearly and address the question completely.

The presentation is unclear at times.  The question is answered completely.

The flow of the presentation is unclear.

Questions are not answered completely.

 

Total Score = _________

Grades:

A= Total Score 7-9

B= Total Score 5-7

C=Total Score 3-5

F= Total Score <3

Conclusion

You did it! You researched secondhand smoking and its effects, especially on young children. You have also informed others about the dangers of secondhand smoke and ways to alleviate it. By using the Public Policy Steps, you have seen how Public Policy Analysts can play a vital role in improving the lives of others. Great Job Analysts!! What’s the next problem you WANT TO tackle using Public Policy Analyst? Think about it!

 

Thanks for your participation. Let’s hope you made a difference.

 

NYS Standards Addressed

Standard 1: Analysis Inquiry, and Design

Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers and develop solutions

Standard 2: Information Systems

Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using the appropriate technologies

Standard 5: Technology

Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs

Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Students will apply knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions