Large Percentage of Obesity In Children!!

 

Bronx International High School

Noreen Kohler

 

 

Introduction:

As a recent immigrant student now attending Bronx International High School, and living in an apartment in the Bronx, you have noticed that most of the children that you see walking on the streets in your neighborhood and on the buses and trains are obese. This is unusual to you, as in your native country there is not a large percentage of obesity. You have also observed a large number of fast food restaurants on many blocks.  Could this be the reason, or is there more to it?

 

 

Task:

You have joined a student-activist group whose focus is to identify the causes of obesity in children and come up with a solution to this problem. Your group will present its findings in a power point presentation to a nutrition panel appointed by the mayor of New York City. Your solution will become part of a new public policy instituted on childhood obesity by Mayor Bloomberg.

 

 

 

 

Process: 

Your group will follow the six steps outlined in the public policy approach or graphic version of public policy approach to complete the worksheets and to complete your presentation.

  1. Go to worksheet # 1 “Definethe Problem” and print the worksheet. Complete the worksheet with your partner using on-line resources.
  2. Get your worksheet approved by Miss Noreen.
  3. After your work has been approved go on to worksheet # 2- “Gather Evidence” Complete worksheet #2 and follow step 2 again.
  4. Complete the next worksheets in order - # 3- “Identify Causes”, # 4-“Evaluate a Policy”, # 5-“Develop Solutions”, after each worksheet completed you must follow step 2.
  5. The last worksheet to be completed by your group is worksheet # 6 –“Select Best Solution” . After your group has completed this worksheet you are now ready to begin developing your presentation to the mayoral committee.
  6. PRESENTATION: Your group will choose to present their proposal in a Power Point presentation or with a series of posters (1 for each worksheet) and a typed report. Group members will each be responsible for an assigned role.

Roles:

1.    Primary Researcher- this person will do most of the Internet research required; including looking for additional websites than those listed under “Resources”

2.    Recorder: this person will record all research into a report format and assist in Internet research. Responsible for recording bibliography of all websites used

3.    Timekeeper: this person will keep track of time during work periods, and make sure all due dates and check-ins are adhered to. Also responsible for Internet research

 

Resources: Use these websites to complete the WebQuest:

Worksheet 1 and 2:

http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/obesity.html

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/news2/beverages.11.23.html

http://www.aafp.org/afp/990215ap/861.html

 

Worksheet 3:

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/05/13/ap_lunches/

 

Worksheet 4:

http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/Seminars/obesity.PDF

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/12/ap_fatreportcards/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/14/obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/05/ap_obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/05/13/ap_lunches/

 

Worksheet 5:

Worksheet 6:

 

Evaluation:

You will be graded according to the following rubric:


Name __________________________________

 

Beginning
1

Developing
2

Accomplished
3

Exemplary
4

Score

Contribute

 

 

 

 

 

Research & Gather Information

Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.

Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.

Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.

Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.

 

Share Information

Does not relay any information to teammates.

Relays very little information--some relates to the topic.

Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic.

Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.

 

Be Punctual

Does not hand in any assignments.

Hands in most assignments late.

Hands in most assignments on time.

Hands in all assignments on time.

 

Take Responsibility

 

 

 

 

 

Fulfill Team Role's Duties

Does not perform any duties of assigned team role.

Performs very little duties.

Performs nearly all duties.

Performs all duties of assigned team role.

 

Participation in Public Policy Panel Conference

Does not speak during the conference.

Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to topic.

Offers some information--most is relevant.

Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant.

 

Shares Equally

Always relies on others to do the work.

Rarely does the assigned work--often needs reminding.

Usually does the assigned work--rarely needs reminding.

Always does the assigned work without having to be reminded.

 

Value Others' Viewpoints

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Other Teammates

Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak.

Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak.

Listens, but sometimes talks too much.

Listens and speaks a fair amount.

 

Cooperate with Teammates

Usually argues with teammates.

Sometimes argues.

Rarely argues.

Never argues with teammates.

 

Product

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence

Evidence is nonexistent or all is irrelevant

Evidence is skimpy or mostly irrelevant

Some relevant evidence that the problem does exist

Substantial relevant evidence that the problem does exist.

 

Aesthetics/

Creativity

No color used

Poor choice of medium

Sloppy workmanship

Several mistakes present

Colors inconsistent

Medium not used appropriately

Good workmanship with several mistakes

Good use of color-consistent throughout.

Good choice of medium

Neat, some mistakes present

excellent use of color- shows unity throughout.

excellent choice of  medium

very neat, very few mistakes

 

 

Mechanics

Does not contain any information that relates to the topic

Not structured

grammar/spelling mistakes:11 or more

Contains very little information--some relates to the topic

 Very poor paragraph/sentence structure

 

grammar/spelling mistakes:7-10

 Focused on issue/ some basic information--most relates to the topic

Good paragraph / sentence structure

grammar/spelling mistakes:3-6

Very focused on issue/ great deal of information, all relates to topic

Well formatted paragraphs

grammar/spelling mistakes: 1-2

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Teacher Page

 

New York State Standards Addressed:

 

1.

MST

1

C

 Scientific Inquiry

 

Hone ideas through reasoning, library research, and discussion with others, including experts

Work toward reconciling competing explanations; clarifying points of agreement and disagreement

Coordinate explanations at different levels of scale, points of focus, and degrees of complexity and specificity and recognize the need for such alternative representations of the natural world

Refine their research ideas through library investigations, including electronic information retrieval and reviews of the literature, and through peer feedback obtained from review and discussion

Use various means of representing and organizing observations (e.g., diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, equations, matrices) and insightfully interpret the organized data

Based on the results of the test and through public discussion, they revise the explanation and contemplate additional research

Develop a written report for public scrutiny that describes their proposed explanation, including a literature review, the research they carried out, its result, and suggestions for further research

 

 

 

2.

MST

1

C

 Mathematical Analysis

 

Use deductive reasoning to construct and evaluate conjectures and arguments, recognizing that patterns and relationships in mathematics assist them in arriving at these conjectures and arguments

 

 

 

 

3.

MST

2

C

 

 

Prepare multimedia presentations demonstrating a clear sense of audience and purpose

Utilize electronic networks to share information

Work with a virtual community to conduct a project or solve a problem using the network

Discuss how applications of information technology can address some major global problems and issues  

 

 

 

4.

MST

3

C

 Mathematical Reasoning

 

Construct simple logical arguments

Follow and judge the validity of logical arguments

 

 

5.

MST

7

C

 Connections

 

Analyze science/technology/society problems and issues on a community, national, or global scale and plan and carry out a remedial course of action

 

6.

MST

7

C

 Strategies

 

Work effectively-Contributing to the work of a brainstorming group, laboratory partnership, cooperative learning group, or project team; planning procedures; identify and managing responsibilities of team members; and staying on task, whether working alone or as part of a group

Gather and process information-Accessing information from printed media, electronic data bases, and community resources and using the information to develop a definition of the problem and to research possible solutions

 

7.

SS

3

C

 

 

Select and design maps, graphs, tables, charts, diagrams, and other graphic representations to present geographic information

 

8.

SS

5

C

 

 

Identify and analyze advantages and disadvantages of various governmental systems

Analyze issues at the local, state, and national levels and prescribe responses that promote the public interest or general welfare, such as planning and carrying out a voter registration campaign

Explore how citizens influence public policy in a representative democracy

Take, defend, and evaluate positions about attitudes that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in public affairs

 

Conclusion: From this WebQuest you should have learned about factors affecting nutritional habits of children and teenagers, and the effects of obesity on children. You have used your research and analytical skills through searching the Internet and analyzing information to find documented evidence of the obesity problem. You have increased your cooperative skills through your group work and efforts to work as a team to complete the assignment.

 See if you can answer these questions:

  1. What is thought to be the number one cause of obesity in children in the Bronx?
  2.  What is the current government public policy concerning childhood obesity?
  3. If you were to implement an anti-obesity program in NYC schools, what would you do?
  4. How is public policy created?

 

In our next WebQuest we will be researching the garbage crisis, and finding alternatives to landfills and incinerators near public spaces.

 

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/12/ap_fatreportcards/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/14/obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/05/ap_obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/05/13/ap_lunches/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/12/ap_fatreportcards/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/14/obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/08/05/ap_obesity/

http://www.channelonenews.com/news/2003/05/13/ap_lunches/