Diabetes Diet: Stress Less, Live Best!

10th, 11th, 12th Grades Project 10 weeks

Diabetes Diet: Stress Less, Live Best!

Javier G

Self Directed Learning

Effective Communication

Collaboration

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Content Expertise

+ 1 more

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Purpose

Students will engage in a transformative learning experience focused on understanding and preventing type 2 diabetes through real-world applications and community involvement. By collaborating with peers, community partners, and a school nurse, students will co-design solutions, create informative brochures, and present their findings to diverse audiences including family members and elementary school students. Through these activities, students will apply critical thinking, strengthen their academic mindset, refine communication skills, and develop self-directed learning competencies while addressing an important health issue impacting their communities.

Learning goals

This project's learning goals center on understanding the causes and prevention of type 2 diabetes while developing immersive educational materials. Students will collaborate with community partners, such as nurses and local representatives, to gather accurate information and insights. Through creating brochures and presentations, students will hone their skills in effective communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. By engaging in self-directed learning, students will build knowledge and reflect on their personal growth, enhancing their academic mindset and content expertise.

Competencies

Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

Products

Over the course of the 10-week project, students will collaboratively design and produce informational brochures focused on preventing type 2 diabetes, targeting diverse audiences such as peers, family members, and community representatives. They will also develop presentations, practicing effective communication to convey their findings and recommendations at the Back to School Night exhibition. Throughout the process, students will conduct peer reviews, incorporate feedback, and refine their work to create compelling, evidence-based materials that address real-world questions around health and diabetes prevention.

Launch

Initiate the project with a Community Health Day at the school, where students brainstorm answers to the question: "What can be done to prevent type 2 diabetes?" Facilitate guest talks from local healthcare professionals, including the school nurse, to provide insights into diabetes prevention. Students will engage in collaborative breakout sessions to discuss diet, stress management, and lifestyle adjustments that can be implemented within their families and community to reduce type 2 diabetes risk.

Exhibition

At the culmination of the project, students will host an informational exhibition during Back to School Night, where they will present their brochures and presentations to diverse audiences, including community members, student peers, family members, and elementary school students. The exhibition will feature interactive displays and stations where attendees can learn about the prevention of type 2 diabetes through engaging activities and discussions led by the students. Students will leverage this opportunity to practice effective communication, demonstrating their understanding and empathy as they share insights and answer questions from participants. This exhibition will serve as a platform for students to showcase their collaborative efforts, critical thinking, and content expertise, while also reinforcing their academic mindset and sense of belonging in the community.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will engage with community partners, such as the school nurse, through interactive sessions to gather insights on diabetes prevention, conduct interviews and surveys to understand different perspectives on healthy living, and reflect on these experiences to empathize with the challenges faced by individuals in managing diabetes, setting the groundwork for developing solutions in subsequent phases.

Days 1 - 10