A Way of Life or Epidemic?

Ty Belthrop

Walton High School

Webquest

Introduction:

It has been documented that the Bronx has the most children under 18 years old in NYC. Hospitalization of these children for asthma is twice the national average. This high asthma rate negatively impact on their scholastic success and well being daily. You have been personally appointed by the Mayor of NYC to be a consultant to evaluate and to identify resources to combat asthma. This is your opportunity to help others and save lives in your community.

Task:

You will prepare a typed, three page report, based on your research and the guiding questions along with an oral synopsis of your findings. The synopsis will be for 10 minutes. Your paper must show evidence of the PPA process.

Process:

Following the PPA guide, http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html, you will identify resources and offer solutions to combat asthma in the Bronx. The report must contain statistical data.

To facilitate learning, you will work in groups of three or four students.

Next, with your group complete the following worksheets. The worksheets will be the basis for your written report and oral presentation.

Define the social problem: worksheet # 1

Gather evidence of the problem: worksheet # 2

Identify causes of the problem: worksheet # 3

Evaluate a policy: worksheet # 4

Develop your own solution: worksheet # 5

Select the best solution: worksheet # 6

Resources:

Find all your information for this task using the below resource links.

Center watch

http://www.chronicillnet.org/online/bronx.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/Asthma/article.htm

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/asthma/asthma.html

http://www.bronxmall.com/norwoodnews/ongoing/filtration121798a.html

Standards:

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS

Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

Students will use scientific inquiry to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.

Standard 2: Interconnectedness: Common Themes

Student will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.

Standard 3: Science

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles,

and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living

environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in

science.

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE

S6d: Acquires information from multiple sources

S6c: Recognizes and limits sources of bias in data

Evaluation:

Score	55pts	65pts	80pts	100pts
Worksheet	Incomplete… did not answer any questions	answered some questions	answered most questions	complete; understands PPA well
Paper	PPA issues not documented	detailed some PPA issues	Findings to most PPA steps included and info presented in at least two typed pages.	complete; good documentation of PPA process in a three page paper
Presentation	didn’t address the problem	covered some PPA info	explained findings from most PPA steps	Exhibited and presented a clear understanding PPA steps

Conclusion:

By completing this lesson, students will know how to use the Internet to do research and gather information. They will be able to incorporate critical thinking skills to reach an informed argument for any given policy. Highlights of this exercise include understanding that asthma is a growing problem in the Bronx and the quest to find a solution quickly is critical. After completing this exercise, one should be able to answer the following:

1. What are causes of asthma?

2. What are some symptoms of asthma?