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This thematic unit focuses on understanding Type II diabetes in adolescents through inquiry, ethics, and design. Topics include healthy diets, insulin's role, and the influence of exercise. Student engagement is enhanced through hands-on activities and computer simulations.
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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