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Type II Diabetes: A Growing Adolescent Epidemic?. Joanne Yonan Lakeview High School Chicago Public Schools IIT Research Mentor: Ali Cinar.
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Type II Diabetes: A Growing Adolescent Epidemic? Joanne Yonan Lakeview High School Chicago Public Schools IIT Research Mentor: Ali Cinar This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No. EEC-0502174. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Overview • Thematic unit that incorporates inquiry, ethics, and design • Creating nutritionally balanced diets • The role insulin plays in maintaining appropriate glucose levels • Exercise is important in maintaining health • How food choices are influenced?
Pre and Post Tests • 50% increase in the students understanding of differences and likenesses between scientists and engineers • 33% increase in additional knowledge of foods necessary in a healthy diet • 66% increase in how insulin works in maintaining blood sugar • 33% increase improved their understanding of diabetes
Scientific Inquiry • What is a healthy diet • What happens to blood sugar levels in an unhealthy diet? • How does environment affect enzyme activity? • What are healthy foods? • What body processes are involved in homeostasis? • Why does a person become diabetic? • How did food consumption match individuals energy output?
Module design • Create a diet that is healthy • Students design an exercise program to match with their different diet scenarios • Work with the glucosim model created by Dr. Cinar to show glucose levels in a healthy diet program • Measure calories and carbohydrates of different food choices
Ethics • Who is responsible for healthy food choices? • Comparing the issue of Martin Spurlock in Super Size Me with the victims of the 2006 drought in Niger • Advertising’s role in our food choices • Our culture’s low activity levels and its influence on our youth.
Student Participation • Students worked individually on the computer model and when journaling their meals. • Group work when brainstorming about what is a healthy diet and when they developed a healthy diet. • Hands-on activities comprised the enzyme activity lab and the exercise activity lab where students determined the number of calories burned.
Recommendations • Introduction activity – gather breakfast data as an ice breaker to unit • Simplify and streamline glucosim program • Access student computer knowledge and enlist their help during the module • Make the enzyme experiment more dramatic by using beef liver instead of the potato • Include a carbohydrate and calorie question and the importance of exercise in the pre and post test
Modifications • Add a lab with keys to “unlock” a box to simulate the lock and key mechanism of insulin for younger students • Modify the glucosim computer program screens so it is more user friendly for younger children • Printed pictures of food choices that students could cut and paste into the food pyramid • Use nutritional computer games from pyramid kids/gov • Make posters that show calories and carbohydrates for different food choices