Teen Obesity
Information | Introduction | Purpose | Overview
| Standards | Materials | Procedure | Evaluation | Follow-up
Subject(s):
* Language Arts
* Health Education
* Technology
Grade: 7th grade
Time: 2- 3 Class Periods
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Introduction:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of young people in the United States who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980. Currently, sixteen percent of children and teens aged 6-19, are considered over weight. Children who are obese are more likely to become obese adults and develop illnesses such as type-two diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
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Purpose:
Valuable information pertaining to obesity can be found on the Internet. We must "research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems" before using the information (NETS). The purpose of this lesson is to learn how to evaluate the quality of a website pertaining to the obesity epidemic.
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Overview:
The lesson begins with an introduction to the obesity epidemic and how to evaluate a website using an evaluation rubric. The lesson will continue with the students finding two websites on obesity and fill out an evaluation form for each site. With a partner, the students will discus the website they found and why they feel they are reliable sites. The lesson will conclude with the students writing a letter to the board of education explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the district should do to help fight the disease.
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MSDE Standard:
Language Arts
1. General Reading
E. General Reading Comprehension
1. Apply comprehension skills through exposure to a variety of texts, including traditional
print and electronic texts
4. Use strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text (after reading)
2. Informational
A. Comprehension of Informational Text
1. Apply and refine comprehension skills by selecting, reading, and analyzing a variety of
print and electronic informational texts.
4. Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts
6. Read critically to evaluate informational text
4. Writing
A. Writing
7. Locate, retrieve, and use information from various sources to accomplish a purpose
Health Education
6. Nutrition and Fitness
A. Nutrition and Fitness
1. Explain the role of nutrients
2. Explain the relationship among food intake, physical activity and weight management
NET Standards Grades 6-8
7. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to
investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or
products for audiences inside and outside the classroom ( Foundation Standards 4, 5)
10. Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias
of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems
(Foundation Standards 2, 5, 6)
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Materials:
Computer Lab
Printer
Internet Access
LCD Projector
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Procedure:
Day 1: 40 minutes*
1. Have the students go to
http://www.studentpersonalpages.loyola.edu/~lhschwartz/project1/ CriticalLitReview.htm
and click on the introduction page.
2. Read the introduction together as a class. Explain to the students that you are going to learn to
evaluate information that is found on the web.
3. Go to the Student Page as a class and click on
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/obesity.html.
4. Guide the students through evaluating the website. Each student should fill out a website
evaluation form.
5. Have the students evaluate http://www.annecollins.com/child-obesity-causes.htm on their own
and then discuss what they found as a class.
6. As closure for the day have the students write a paragraph explaining how to evaluate websites
and why it is important to evaluate websites.
Day 2: 40 minutes*
1. Explain to the students that they will be expected to independently go onto the Internet and
find two websites on teen obesity (If it is more appropriate, instruct the students to go to the
website page for suggested websites).
2. The students are to fill out a website evaluation form for each website.
3. The students are then to present their website to their partner and discus if they think that the
webpage they found is a quality website and should be used to gather information.
4. As closure for the day, each pair should write a brief paragraph about each webpage that they
found explaining why they think it is or is not a quality website.
Day 3: 40 minutes*
1. The students will spend a significant part of the day going to the quality websites that the class
found to gather information.
2. Make a list of the quality websites found by the students and distribute the list to the class.
3. Using the websites, the students are to gather information and write a letter to the Board of
Education explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the district
should do to help fight the disease.
4. The students should include in the letter a list of the websites that they used when gathering
their information.
5. As closure for the day, have the students share their letter with the class.
*Students can access the procedures for each day on the "Student Page".
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Evaluation:
1. Completion of 4 website evaluation forms.
2. Paragraph explaining how to evaluate websites and why it is important to evaluate websites.
Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
3. Paragraph about each webpage that they found explaining why they think it is or is not a
quality website. Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
5. Letter to the board of explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the
district should do to help fight the disease. Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
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Follow-up:
1. Have the students pick their own health topic and find and evaluate websites to be used to
gather information on the topic.
2. Have the students create a PowerPoint presentation on their topic and present it to the class.
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* Language Arts
* Health Education
* Technology
Grade: 7th grade
Time: 2- 3 Class Periods
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Introduction:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of young people in the United States who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980. Currently, sixteen percent of children and teens aged 6-19, are considered over weight. Children who are obese are more likely to become obese adults and develop illnesses such as type-two diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Back to Top
Purpose:
Valuable information pertaining to obesity can be found on the Internet. We must "research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems" before using the information (NETS). The purpose of this lesson is to learn how to evaluate the quality of a website pertaining to the obesity epidemic.
Back to Top
Overview:
The lesson begins with an introduction to the obesity epidemic and how to evaluate a website using an evaluation rubric. The lesson will continue with the students finding two websites on obesity and fill out an evaluation form for each site. With a partner, the students will discus the website they found and why they feel they are reliable sites. The lesson will conclude with the students writing a letter to the board of education explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the district should do to help fight the disease.
Back to Top
MSDE Standard:
Language Arts
1. General Reading
E. General Reading Comprehension
1. Apply comprehension skills through exposure to a variety of texts, including traditional
print and electronic texts
4. Use strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text (after reading)
2. Informational
A. Comprehension of Informational Text
1. Apply and refine comprehension skills by selecting, reading, and analyzing a variety of
print and electronic informational texts.
4. Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts
6. Read critically to evaluate informational text
4. Writing
A. Writing
7. Locate, retrieve, and use information from various sources to accomplish a purpose
Health Education
6. Nutrition and Fitness
A. Nutrition and Fitness
1. Explain the role of nutrients
2. Explain the relationship among food intake, physical activity and weight management
NET Standards Grades 6-8
7. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to
investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or
products for audiences inside and outside the classroom ( Foundation Standards 4, 5)
10. Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias
of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems
(Foundation Standards 2, 5, 6)
Back to Top
Materials:
Computer Lab
Printer
Internet Access
LCD Projector
Back to Top
Procedure:
Day 1: 40 minutes*
1. Have the students go to
http://www.studentpersonalpages.loyola.edu/~lhschwartz/project1/ CriticalLitReview.htm
and click on the introduction page.
2. Read the introduction together as a class. Explain to the students that you are going to learn to
evaluate information that is found on the web.
3. Go to the Student Page as a class and click on
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/obesity.html.
4. Guide the students through evaluating the website. Each student should fill out a website
evaluation form.
5. Have the students evaluate http://www.annecollins.com/child-obesity-causes.htm on their own
and then discuss what they found as a class.
6. As closure for the day have the students write a paragraph explaining how to evaluate websites
and why it is important to evaluate websites.
Day 2: 40 minutes*
1. Explain to the students that they will be expected to independently go onto the Internet and
find two websites on teen obesity (If it is more appropriate, instruct the students to go to the
website page for suggested websites).
2. The students are to fill out a website evaluation form for each website.
3. The students are then to present their website to their partner and discus if they think that the
webpage they found is a quality website and should be used to gather information.
4. As closure for the day, each pair should write a brief paragraph about each webpage that they
found explaining why they think it is or is not a quality website.
Day 3: 40 minutes*
1. The students will spend a significant part of the day going to the quality websites that the class
found to gather information.
2. Make a list of the quality websites found by the students and distribute the list to the class.
3. Using the websites, the students are to gather information and write a letter to the Board of
Education explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the district
should do to help fight the disease.
4. The students should include in the letter a list of the websites that they used when gathering
their information.
5. As closure for the day, have the students share their letter with the class.
*Students can access the procedures for each day on the "Student Page".
Back to Top
Evaluation:
1. Completion of 4 website evaluation forms.
2. Paragraph explaining how to evaluate websites and why it is important to evaluate websites.
Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
3. Paragraph about each webpage that they found explaining why they think it is or is not a
quality website. Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
5. Letter to the board of explaining the dangers of obesity and provide suggestions on what the
district should do to help fight the disease. Rubric available on the "Rubric" page.
Back to Top
Follow-up:
1. Have the students pick their own health topic and find and evaluate websites to be used to
gather information on the topic.
2. Have the students create a PowerPoint presentation on their topic and present it to the class.
Back to Top