Lesson Plan December 5, 2023
Examining Global Health Stories
Grades:
Introducing the Lesson: Why Examine Global Health Stories?
Global health is more than looking at health issues around the world. Its study asks us to think about the ways in which our health is connected to the health of different people and places, demonstrating health equity to be simultaneously a global and personal concern. In this lesson series, students will examine their local and personal connections to a variety of global health issues, explore how communities are tackling public health issues, and reflect on ways in which they can raise awareness and take action for global health equity.
This resource is a collection of six mini-lessons, followed by extension activities and a quiz. Educators can choose which mini lesson(s) they would like to share with students, or may give students the choice of which lesson(s) they would like to complete. Lessons can be completed individually or as a series. Each mini lesson includes a warm-up activity, a Pulitzer Center-supported story which students will examine, and discussion and reflection questions that can be explored individually or in larger groups. After completing one or more mini lessons, students can test their knowledge on the news stories they examined and complete one of the extension activities to further their engagement with the story and issues explored.
Objectives:
Students will be able to...
- Examine multimedia reporting in order to learn about underreported global health issues
- Make local and personal connections to global health issues
- Engage in reflection and discussion with their peers about global health issues
- Use research, writing, and/or art skills to raise awareness and advocate for global health equity
Support for Exploring Global Health Issues in the Classroom:
The Pulitzer Center offers free, virtual journalist visits for in-school classes, out-of-school time programs, and other K-12 student groups. You can invite a journalist who specializes in reporting on global health issues to speak with your class to help explain key concepts, introduce powerful stories, show how a journalist reports safely and ethically on these topics, and get students' questions answered. Click here to explore example guest speakers who may be available to speak with your students, and request a virtual visit here.
Warm-up:
Group/class Discussion: In what ways did the COVID-19 pandemic affect people's jobs? (Ex: teachers, chefs, sales associate, etc.)
Educator’s note: As students are responding, they could write their responses on the board or on a shared paper. Once students have finished responding and discussing, let students know that they will be learning about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected meatpacking workers. If students are not familiar with what it means to be a meatpacking worker, click here for a definition. (Content warning: This definition contains graphic details of slaughterhouse operations.)
Introducing the Reporting: COVID-19 and Labor Conditions in the U.S.
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "Working in Their Sleep" by Alice Driver. This story describes the dangerous working conditions at America's largest meatpacking company, Tyson Foods. It explores the stories of immigrant and refugee meatpacking workers who were left sick, injured, and even dead due to the inhumane conditions at Tyson's meatpacking plants. This story also examines how the COVID-19 pandemic further endangered meatpacking workers and the ways in which they have fought for justice.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about the working condition at meatpacking plants? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (COVID-19; labor conditions in meatpacking plants) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think people can do to be part of the solution in improving working conditions for meatpacking workers? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Warm-up:
Group/class Discussion: Do you think it is important that we sort out trash and recycling? Why or why not?
Introducing the Reporting: Labor Conditions and Hazardous Waste in Ghana
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "Trash Sorters in Ghana Face Health and Safety Risks" by Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman. This story describes the unsafe and unsanitary working conditions trash sorters in Ghana experience. Trash sorters are exposed to medical waste, hazardous chemicals, sharp objects, and pollution. This story also examines the critical role trash sorters play in the recycling process in Ghana.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about the working conditions waste pickers experience? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Did this story help you understand the important role trash sorters play in the recycling process?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (hazardous waste; labor conditions in landfills) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think people can do to be part of the solution in improving working conditions for waste pickers in Ghana and around the world? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Warm-up:
Group/class Discussion: What is meningitis? Have you heard anything about this disease before?
Educator’s note: As students are responding correct any misunderstandings of what meningitis is and share this definition with the class. Let students know they will be learning about meningitis outbreaks in Nigeria.
Introducing the Reporting: Meningitis and Disease Prioritization in Nigeria
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "Nigerian State Winning War Against COVID Is Losing Its Children to Meningitis" by Taiwo Adebulu. This story explores what the many challenges that the Nigerian government faces in battling meningitis, including vaccine shortages, limited community participation, and inadequate immunization in endemic states. This story also examines how the Nigerian government was able to have succeed in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign while failing to curb cyclical meningitis outbreaks.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected meningitis prioritization in Nigeria? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Did this story help you understand the challenges the Nigerian government and people face in battling meningitis outbreaks? Can you provide one or two examples?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (meningitis; disease prioritization) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think the Nigerian government should do to succeed in their fight against meningitis? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Warm-up:
Group/class Discussion: What do you know about leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease?
Educator’s note: As students are responding, correct any misunderstandings of what leprosy is and share this definition with the class.
Introducing the Reporting: Leprosy and Stigma in India
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "Resilience and Survival: Documenting the Lives of People Diagnosed With Leprosy" by Rohit Jain. This story examines the social and health challenges experienced by people with leprosy or Hansen's disease in India. Leprosy-related challenges include discrimination, stigma, and nerve damage. This story also explores how leprosy patients who have been isolated from their families have found new homes in care centers and hostels.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about the challenges experienced by people with leprosy in India? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Did this story help you understand how prejudices surrounding leprosy affect people with leprosy and their families? Can you provide one or two examples?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (leprosy; stigma surrounding diseases) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think can be done to eliminate leprosy-related discrimination in India and around the world? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Warm-up:
Group Discussion: What impacts did the COVID-19 pandemic have on hospitals around the world?
Introducing the Reporting: Maternal Mortality in Brazil
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "Post-Childbirth Deaths Leave Families in Mourning, Expose Failures in Brazil Healthcare" by Cláudia Collucci. This story investigates why the maternal mortality rate in Brazil doubled during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also describes how Brazil's health departments prioritized fighting COVID and put maternal and child actions on hold which lead to preventable maternal deaths.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about the maternal mortality rates in Brazil? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Did this story help you understand how the COVID-19 affected maternal care in Brazil?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (maternal mortality; disease prioritization) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think the Brazilian government can do to better care for pregnant people? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Warm-up:
Group Discussion: Are you familiar with the crisis of enforced disappearances in Mexico? How do you think this could be considered a health issue?
Educator’s note: As students are responding correct any misunderstandings and share this definition with the class.
Introducing the Reporting: Mental Health and Institutional Neglect in Mexico
In this lesson, students will read, examine, and discuss the story "The Other Victims" by Terry Greene Sterling and Marie Baronnet. This story examines the mental health challenges and institutional neglect experienced by the thousands of grief-stricken relatives of disappeared people in Mexico. Many mothers whose children have disappeared are members of a grassroots collective known as buscadoras. Together buscadoras search for the remains of their loved ones because law enforcement will not investigate these cases.
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
After exploring the news story, students discuss and respond to the questions below. These questions can be explored as part of whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, or individual reflections.
- What information, story, or image from the reporting stood out to you? Why?
- What new information did you learn?
- Did you already know about the tens of thousands of unresolved cases of disappeared people in Mexico? If not, what is something that surprised you?
- Did this story help you understand the mental health challenges experienced by the relatives of disappeared people in Mexico?
- Why is this story important?
- How do the health issues in this story (mental health; institutional neglect) connect to your community? How can they be considered global health issues?
- What do you think the Mexican government can do to help the relatives of disappeared people? How can we raise and spread awareness? (After brainstorming, check out the extension activities below for additional ideas.)
Extension Activities:
I. Infographic
Infographics are a great way to raise awareness and share information. Do some additional reading and research on one of the public health issues you explored in this lesson series (see below).
- The dangerous working condition in meatpacking plants in the United States
- The safety and health risks experienced by trash sorters in Ghana
- Meningitis outbreaks in Nigeria
- The social and health challenges experienced by people with leprosy in India
- Maternal mortality in Brazil
- The mental health challenges by the relatives of disappeared people in Mexico
Create an infographic that explains and raises awareness about the issue you choose. Your infographic should include the following:
- A title that summarizes the topic of your infographic
- Data visualizations
- Citations (where does your data come from?)
- Additional images
Students can use Canva's free infographic maker for their project.
II. Art for Change
Art can be used as an instrument to inspire social and political change. Activism is a term that describes the intersection of activism and art. With this in mind, create a piece of art that calls attention the public health issue you learned about today. You can draw, paint, write a poem, choreograph a dance, or use photography to inspire change. Be creative and have fun. Consider sharing your work on social media or displaying it at school to inspire local action.
III. Research and Spotlight
Do some research on a public health organization or leader of your choice that is working to tackle the issue you explored in this lesson series. If possible, reach out and interview this person, or a representative of the organization. Put together a presentation to share with the class. Address the following in your presentation:
- Overview of the individual or organization (Mission, goals, etc.)
- What health issue are they working on tackling?
- What solutions, actions, or policies are they promoting?
- What changes resulted from their work? What kind of changes are they working towards?
- How might we support their work in our everyday lives?
Quiz:
"Working in Their Sleep" by Alice Driver
- Who does Tyson Foods rely on to carry out the difficult and dangerous jobs at their meatpacking facilities?
- How many COVID-19 related deaths did Tyson Foods report between 2020 and 2021?
- What protections are meatpacking workers advocating for? Provide one or two examples.
"Trash Sorters in Ghana Face Health and Safety Risks" by Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman
- What are some of the safety hazards that trash sorters experience in Ghana?
- For what diseases are trash sorters at risk because of their jobs?
- What changes would trash sorters like to see implemented? How would these changes improve their safety and/or health?
"Nigerian State Winning War Against COVID Is Losing Its Children to Meningitis" by Taiwo Adebulu
- Who is primarily affected by meningitis in Nigeria?
- What are some of the challenges the Nigerian government faces in combating meningitis? Provide one or two examples.
- How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the Nigerian government's efforts to combat meningitis?
"Resilience and Survival: Documenting the Lives of People Diagnosed With Leprosy" by Rohit Jain
- What are some of the false beliefs and stigmas surrounding leprosy in India?
- How is leprosy spread? Can it be treated?
"Post-Childbirth Deaths Leave Families in Mourning, Expose Failures in Brazil Healthcare" by Cláudia Collucci
- What was the increase in Brazil's maternal mortality rate related to?
- What measures have been implemented to improve the care process for pregnant women?
- What flaws in the Brazilian health care system led to the preventable deaths of pregnant women? Provide one or two examples.
"The Other Victims" by Terry Greene Sterling and Marie Baronnet
- What are enforced disappearances?
- Who are the buscadoras and what are they fighting for?
- What are some of the mental health challenges experienced by the relatives of disappeared people in Mexico?
