ALEX Classroom Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [HE] HED (9-12) 8 :

HE.2.1) Analyze the influence of external factors on health beliefs and behaviors.

a. Analyze how family, culture, school, and community influence the health practice and behaviors of individuals.

Examples: explaining how holiday celebrations and traditions such as over indulgence in eating and consuming alcohol affect health behaviors; explaining how extra-curricular activities and schedules result in over-consumption of fast food

b. Examine how peers influence healthy and unhealthy behaviors.

c. Examine how peers influence healthy and unhealthy behaviors.

Example: influence of media on teen body image, sexual activity, drugs, alcohol, violence, cyber-bullying.

d. Cite evidence of how public health policies and government regulations can influence health promotion and disease prevention.

[HE] HED (9-12) 10 :

HE.2.3) Analyze how the perceptions of norms influence healthy and unhealthy behaviors.

Examples: addressing topics such as wearing safety equipment, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, suicide, cyber-bullying, weight management, potentially dangerous social media trends

[HE] HED (9-12) 11 :

HE.2.4) Critique the influence of personal values and beliefs on individual health practices and behaviors.

[HE] HA (10-12) 3 :

HA.3.1) Gather information and interpret data for planning prevention activities.

a. Identify concerns, beliefs, and areas of misinformation among peers.

b. Design program goals based on addressing misinformation, beliefs, and concerns among peers.

c. Utilize a focus group to change their school climate.

[HE] WH (10-12) 7 :

WH.5.2) Examine barriers that hinder decision-making skills related to world health issues.

Examples: politics, religious beliefs, culture

What are your automatic reactions when you think about anxiety, depression, alcohol, exercise, eating, or persons with mental illness?

At Project Implicit Health (PIH), you can measure your thoughts about mental and physical health that are difficult to consciously control. The tests require less than 15 minutes and you will receive feedback about your performance and learn more about your automatic thoughts.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [HE] HED (9-12) 5 :

HE.1.5) Analyze the relationship between access to health care and health status.

Examples: relationship between health insurance coverage and life expectancy; access to medical care including primary care physician, hospital, vaccines

[HE] WH (10-12) 7 :

WH.5.2) Examine barriers that hinder decision-making skills related to world health issues.

Examples: politics, religious beliefs, culture

[HE] WH (10-12) 12 :

WH.8.1) Formulate innovative ways to influence and support people in other countries in making positive health choices.

In this TedTalk video, Helena Nordenstedt presents the Global Health Framework, which can help you to understand how income is related to health. Basically, low income countries tend to have a lower life expectancy than countries with higher income levels.

She shows that minority groups within countries (in all income levels) generally have a lower life expectancy than the rest of the population, but as the countries get richer and healthier, the health of the minorities also improves.

She also shows that there is no minority group in middle income and high income countries that has a life expectancy lower than the average in poor countries.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [HE] WH (10-12) 1 :

WH.1.1) Research the history of disease in the world.

a. Identify causes of major outbreaks and epidemics in the history of the world.

b. List major breakthroughs in the prevention and cure of disease.

c. Assess the effects of current health issues on world populations.

[HE] WH (10-12) 2 :

WH.2.1) Examine the health challenges facing the world today.

a. Collect statistical data about health issues within various countries.

b. Investigate the influence of family, peers, and culture on possible solutions to world health issues.

c. Examine the links among health, economic development, media, and technology.

d. Research how disparities in socio-economic status can adversely affect health and access to health care globally.

e. Analyze the roles and responsibilities of government and non-governmental organizations in achieving global health.

[HE] WH (10-12) 3 :

WH.3.1) Critique health intervention programs worldwide.

a. Examine possible solutions to world health issues through available intervention programs.

[HE] WH (10-12) 5 :

WH.4.2) Research the effectiveness of communicating prevention and management strategies to resolve world health issues.

Examples: HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance abuse, obesity, physical activity, nutrition, hunger

[HE] WH (10-12) 6 :

WH.5.1) Evaluate alternatives to current world health programs and practices.

[HE] WH (10-12) 7 :

WH.5.2) Examine barriers that hinder decision-making skills related to world health issues.

Examples: politics, religious beliefs, culture

[HE] WH (10-12) 8 :

WH.5.3) Predict the potential short- and long-term impacts of poor decision-making on world health issues.

Examples: rising cost of medical care

[HE] WH (10-12) 9 :

WH.6.1) Research the needs, strengths, and risks of long-term goals for addressing world health issues.

[HE] WH (10-12) 10 :

WH.7.1) Analyze individual responsibility for enhancing global health.

Example: explaining how individual actions can help or hinder the eradication of communicable diseases

[HE] WH (10-12) 14 :

WH.8.3) Adapt health messages and communication techniques to a specific global audience.

This guide uses biology, health, and world study topics to engage students in global health issues and solutions from experiential and multidisciplinary perspectives. The guide offers an outline of how to organize and host a "Global Health Conference," and provides suggestions regarding logistics and instructions as well as resource materials for preparing and organizing a student conference. The Global Health Conference is a school event where students present display boards and two-page essays on various countries and their health challenges, very much like a science fair.

As a template, the guide can be modified to suit each educator's goals, student needs, and school policies. The guide is designed to involve all students from a single grade level—e.g., all seventh-grade students. However, educators can use pieces from the guide or tailor it to one class or a whole school. It is recommended that each educator adapt this guide to the most appropriate scale for his or her own school environment and policies, student needs, and learning outcomes.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [HE] HED (9-12) 32 :

HE.8.3) Work cooperatively as an advocate for improving personal and community health.

Examples: student-led events, community fundraisers, national events, signing a pledge to abstain from alcohol

[HE] WH (10-12) 1 :

WH.1.1) Research the history of disease in the world.

a. Identify causes of major outbreaks and epidemics in the history of the world.

b. List major breakthroughs in the prevention and cure of disease.

c. Assess the effects of current health issues on world populations.

[HE] WH (10-12) 2 :

WH.2.1) Examine the health challenges facing the world today.

a. Collect statistical data about health issues within various countries.

b. Investigate the influence of family, peers, and culture on possible solutions to world health issues.

c. Examine the links among health, economic development, media, and technology.

d. Research how disparities in socio-economic status can adversely affect health and access to health care globally.

e. Analyze the roles and responsibilities of government and non-governmental organizations in achieving global health.

[HE] WH (10-12) 7 :

WH.5.2) Examine barriers that hinder decision-making skills related to world health issues.

Examples: politics, religious beliefs, culture

Learn how the recent resurgence of progressive massive fibrosis, the most severe form of “black lung” disease, in miners across Appalachia has been linked to the failure of coal-mine regulations to limit silica dust levels in these excerpts from Coal’s Deadly Dust | FRONTLINE, in partnership with NPR.