| Subjects: current events,
social issues, health, social studies
Time: One to two 45-50 min. periods
Grade level: 9-12
Lesson Objectives:
Students will:
- - Understand some of the problems faced by the uninsured
through data collection.
- - Learn about the various issues surrounding the problems
of the uninsured.
- - Explore possible solutions and problems with each
of those issues.
- - Gain a deeper understanding of issues awaiting them
as they enter the workforce.
- - Identify programs designed to address the issue of
the uninsured.
- - Gain a deeper understanding of some of the fears of
the uninsured.
- - Appreciate the insight given to the issues from varying
perspectives of the health care system through interviews
with various people involved in the issue.
Background:
More than 44 million Americans were uninsured in 2005, according
to data from the United States Census Bureau. That all-time
high came as more individuals and employers decided that
they could no longer afford health insurance premiums.
Following the "a picture is worth a thousand words"
adage, this activity engages students in learning about
the problems of the uninsured in America and asks: who are
the uninsured; why are they uninsured; what problems do
they face; and what are some possible solutions to those
problems.
Materials Needed:
Correlation to National Standards
Procedure:
1. Assign as homework the student/adult Insurance
survey. Students should attempt to interview as many
people as possible, with a minimum of three. Ask students
to share some of the responses to the survey with their
classmates. What surprised them? What did they learn from
the survey? Did they see any problems that they hadn't thought
of before?
2. With the survey projected from the overhead, or written
on a blackboard, ask a student to tally class responses
to the survey questions.
3. Explain that students will be exploring a growing problem
in American that affects each of us, and the problem is
explored in the Online NewsHour site Uninsured
in America.
4. Ask students the following questions:
a. Who do you think the uninsured might be?
b. Are they working?
c. Unemployed?
d. Poor?
e. Adults?
f. Children?
g. Why do students think these people are uninsured?
h. Are there currently any programs to assist the uninsured?
i. How do the problems of the uninsured affect us as a society
as well as individuals.
5. Students will work in six groups to create posters or
life-size cutouts depicting the topic of the uninsured in
America. They should use Internet and other resources for
their research. The group topics:
a. an adult profile of the uninsured
b. an uninsured child's profile
c. a profile of programs designed to help the uninsured
d. a profile depicting problems facing those responsible
for administering programs for the uninsured
e. a profile of possible solutions to the uninsured problem
in America
f. a profile depicting the fears or worries confronting
the uninsured
6. Each group will also generate five multiple choice questions
about their cutout to be used as part of a student-generated
written test after all the presentations.
Correlation
to National Standards:
National Health Education Standards Addressed:
To
make these lesson plans better 
NPH-H.9-12.2 HEALTH INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES
NPH-H.9-12.4 INFLUENCES ON HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.5 USING COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO
PROMOTE HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.1 HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE
PREVENTION
NPH-H.9-12.2 HEALTH INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES
NPH-H.9-12.3 REDUCING HEALTH RISKS
NPH-H.9-12.4 INFLUENCES ON HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.5 USING COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO
PROMOTE HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.6 SETTING GOALS FOR GOOD HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.7 HEALTH ADVOCACY
NPH-H.9-12.6 SETTING GOALS FOR GOOD HEALTH
NPH-H.9-12.7 HEALTH ADVOCACY
About the Author: Author Judy Terando has been
teaching for 36 years, the last 30 at LaSalle-Peru High
School, LaSalle, Ill. Judy also teaches technology classes
for the Regional Office of Education and Connecting Link
and does workshops for other schools.
To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this
site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.
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