“The kids spend so much time learning to read, write, and calculate, but in this program, I see them learn to feel for others and to see their own challenges as surmountable.”
Ann Busby HillParent volunteer
Chronic Medical Conditions
This unit focuses on four chronic medical conditions: allergies, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. Students learn which part of the body is affected by each condition, how each can be monitored and controlled, and how to help and be a friend to people affected by each condition.
Key themes:
- Allergies, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy are not contagious.
- These conditions are chronic and can usually be controlled with proper medical care, medications, careful planning, and lifestyle adjustments, but there is presently no cure for any of them.
- Allergies, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy are “hidden” conditions. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she has any of these conditions.
Program implementation is flexible and can be adapted for your classroom. Each of the allergies, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy topics takes 1 1/4 hours to implement. They are presented on 4 separate days.
| ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Informational PowerPoint presentation for each chronic medical condition | Students learn about:
|
| Small group activity for each chronic medical condition | Activities include:
|
| DVD: “You Can Do This” | Students view a tonic-clonic seizure and learn how to help and be a friend to someone having a seizure. |
| Guest Speakers | Students meet guest speakers who discuss the experience of living with each of the 4 chronic medical conditions. |