Courage Connection 2 Kids 4 Kids

Overview How can the Internet help adolescents learn from each other and spread messages of courage and hope? Students help children cope with extended hospital stays when they give helpful hints and exchange stories of personal courage. In this model, students research human body systems on the Internet and discuss the consequences of disease and/or traumatic injuries. A partnership with a local hospital reveals important information about health care centers. Helped by high school mentors, students write and post their personal stories on their own Courage Connections web page and share information on careers in health care with the school community.

Classroom Activities
Community Activities
Career Activities
• Build computer research skills with an Internet Scavenger Hunt.
• Search The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum Site to learn about a boy's battle with leukemia.
• Begin Internet search on health issues.
• Read & discuss stories of courage during times of crisis.
• Reflect on courage in journals.
• Write personal stories of courage.
• Designate teams & tasks for web page.
• Design & create classroom Courage Connection Web Page.
• Launch Courage Connection Web Page at schoolwide health fair
• Decide to publish stories of courage on a class designed web page.
• E-mail high school students plans for web page.
• Continue to record & share reflections with classmates & hospital contacts.
• Communicate with hospital contact through snail mail, e-mail & phone.
• Submit essays to high school mentors & the Max Warburg Courage Curriculum Essay Contest.
• Read reflections & stories at schoolwide assembly.
• Edit web page with input from high school mentors.
• Include hospital contacts, community leaders, high school mentors & family in health fair.
• Invite hospital personnel to class.
• Interview hospital visitor on how kids can help hospitalized kids.
• Plan & schedule hospital field work.
• Preview departments & labs to be visited.
• During hospital visit, observe & take notes on staff, equipment & environments (emergency room, lab, etc.).
• Outline various health care careers available in hospitals & health care centers.
• Display health care careers outline in school lobby.

Learning Standards English Language Arts
• Connect reading with student's experience & the experiences of others.
• Understand & use the writing process effectively with 5-step process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, peer editing & publishing.
• Employ a variety of formats & utilize technology to complete & enhance work.

Learning Standards Science
• Report on an interview with a practicing or applied scientist.
• Use technologies to obtain, utilize & present information.

Learning Standards Social Studies
• Comprehend a variety of historical & social studies source documents & materials.
• Conduct historical & social studies research (formulate researchable questions, use community as a resource, gather information from books & photos.)

School to Career Competencies
• Develop Communication and Literacy Skills
• Use Technology
• Complete Entire Activities
• Use Team Skills
• Act Professionally

Assessment Teachers and peer editors evaluate results of Internet Scavenger Hunt, written essays, web page, and web site links during regular student meetings and teacher conferences.

Software or Materials Used Books about courageous young people from suggested list of The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum Site.

Web Sites For health care information: A Guided Tour of the Visible Human ; Bandaides & Blackboards ; Kids Health for Kids

Keywords Service Learning, School to Career, Max Warburg Courage Curriculum, hospitals, School to Career

Final Words Student-run and student-centered, this project encourages participants to tell their own stories, observe how hospitals function, see student work on-line, and appreciate the power of Internet feedback.

Teacher Tip Sharing and reflecting on our own life experiences is key. Listening to each other helps us discover that everybody's story is unique.

Contact Lisa Vasallo

Teacher Bio Lisa Vasallo, bilingual social studies teacher at the School to Career Timilty Middle School, is a Boston Public Schools Lead Teacher and a MetroLINC Technology Pioneer. Her honors include Boston Private Industry Council 1998 Achiever of the Year Award, Mass. Environmental Affairs Secretary's Award for Excellence in Environmental Education, James P. Timilty Middle School Pillar of Strength Award, Golden Apple, and Althea Lindsey Teacher of the Year Award. Top priority for this teacher activist: encourage students to interact with the community in powerful and positive ways.

Subject Areas English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Technology

Grade Levels 7 - 12

Students Middle & High school students

 
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