Social+Justice

I think Social Justice is essential for students to learn in the classroom because the student should be exposed to an all round education. A few weeks ago I asked my students to write a comparison paper between the Nazis who invaded Denmark and the current gangs of Chicago. The studetns taught me about the gangs, as they experience their awful ways on a daily bases. I taught the students about the evil nature of the Nazis, so together we created a paper that was powerful. Students should be exposed to reality, such as gangs, cigarette smoking, alcochol use, and more. In addition, I find that students have a tendency to pay more attention to social justice lesoons becuase the topic does effect them. Lastly, just as math and reading will carry the students to success, well so will good health, safety from harm, and accepting ones self.

Patty Wagner Grades 2-3/7-8 years Advertising- OBJECTIVE: To have the students explore the effects of advertising. PURPOSE: To improve decision making ability. To clarify personal values and attitudes. ACTIVITIES: 1. Have the children: a. Make a collage of positive health-related products cut from old magazines. Discuss how the products add to our good health. b. Make a collage of products advertised that are not good for our health or are not for children (cigarettes, alcohol, diet pills, sleeping pills…). 2. Discuss the difference between needing something and wanting something. Collect pictures of things one may need and of things one may want. Ask: Where did you first see some of the things you want? (Explore TV ads, or magazine ads to read the influences and appeal of the ads.) 3. Ask the students if they ever ordered something through the internet or on TV and the product is different from what you ordered. Talk about it, and was the ad honest? 4. Discuss a favorite advertisement. What do you think about it? 5. Ask the students to create an ad about an imaginary product, using a “sales pitch” to sell it to the class.

Patty Wagner Cigarette Smoking and Your Body OBJECTIVE: To have the students identify and discuss some physical effects of cigartette smoking on their bodies. PURPOSE: To improve decisions making ability To clarify attitudes and values. ACTIVITIES: 1. Review the Facts about smoking cigarettes. 2. The students will research and report on topics related to cigarette smoking: a. The history of tobacco b. The tobacco industry c. The Surgeon General’s Report on Cigarette Smoking d. Diseases caused by cigarette smoking 3. It is a fact that nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke elevate blood pressure, and increase the heart rate and pulse rate causing the heart to work harder. To demonstrate an elevation in heart and pulse rate: a. Ask the students to sit quietly in their seats and relax for one minute. b. Assist the students to find their pulses under the jaw, at the middle of either side of neck. (remind the students to lightly touch their necks.) c. Count the beats for one minute with a clock or watch with a second hand. d. Instruct the students to jump “in place” for one minute, and then retake their pulses. Check if there are more beats. e. The students will observe their heart beats f. Ask- What would it be like to have your heart work at that speed all the time? Why? Would it interfere with participation in athletic activities? Do you think athletes smoke? Fact Sheet- 1. Cigarettes smoking is addictive- Smokers develop a tolerance for tobacco Smokers become dependent Smokers will have a withdrawal if they quit smoking 2. There are hundreds of chemicals in cigarette smoking. Tars-damage delicate lung tissue Nicotine-a poison found in tobacco Carbon monoxide-replaces needed oxygen in your red blood cells 3. Some of the diseases caused by cigarette smoking are: Chronic bronchitis Emphysema Contributes to cancer of the lungs, mouth, and esophagus.