Standard of Learning

 

4.5   The student will access and use health resources to improve personal and family health. Key concepts/skills include

1. the use of health care agencies, printed materials, broadcast media, Internet, and audiovisual materials;
2. identification of accurate and inaccurate health information.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will be able to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate health information using methods for detecting reliable and factual information sources.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• discriminate between accurate and inaccurate health information:
  • find reputable supporting agencies which endorse the Internet site;
  • identify whether there are supporting authors or studies;
  • determine who has written the information and the information can be checked;
  • establish the aims of the site are clear;
  • determine when the site was produced;
  • screen the information for bias or opinion; and
  • identify whether the site provides other choices available to you.
• define quackery. (health fraud or quackery is defined in The American Heritage Dictionary as “one who pretends to have medical knowledge” or the FDA defines health fraud as “articles of unproven effectiveness that are promoted to improve health, well being or appearance”)
• identify warning signs of inaccurate health information. (Tip Offs to Rip Offs – Nov-Dec. 99, Kurtzweil, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Use caution if:
  • one product does it all;
  • has personal testimonials;
  • promises quick fixes;
  • claims to be a new-found cure; and
  • satisfaction is guaranteed.

Sample Lessons

Quality Information Check List
The Quick web site is a resource to help young people evaluate the information they find on the Internet. It uses imaginary examples, quizzes and puzzles to allow young people to explore for themselves the concepts around information quality. Many of the examples are health related, but the concepts can be used with any subjects that require information skills.
Sponsor: Health Development Agency
Contact: http://www.quick.org.uk/menu.htm
Free

Teaching TV: Critically Evaluating TV
Aimed at grades 1 to 6 this lesson is one of a five-part unit that provides teachers with ideas for teaching TV in the elementary classroom. In this lesson, students learn that each television product has unique characteristics that can be critically evaluated.
Sponsor: Media Awareness Network
Contact: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources
Free

Teaching TV: Learning With Television
Aimed at grades 1 to 6 this lesson is one of a five-part unit that provides teachers with ideas for teaching TV in the elementary classroom. In this lesson, students learn about television as a source of information, and how this information is presented from a particular point of view.
Sponsor: Media Awareness Network
Contact: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/
Free

Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grades:  4 & 5
Lesson Plan (1) Identify the components of a balanced meal and describe carbohydrates and their impact on oral health. (SOL 4.1b, d ; 5.2b)
Lesson Plan (2) Develop an awareness of community health resources available (SOL 4.5a,b ; 4.6a ; 5.4a,b ; 5.5c,d,e,f)
Lesson Plan (3) Describe the causes of dental diseases including the role of bacterial plaque, and describe how dental diseases can be
prevented. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a)
Lesson Plan (4) Identify laws related to the purchase of tobacco products and describe the effects of tobacco on oral health and the body. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a) 
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact:  http://www.vahealth.org/teeth/OralHealthEducation.asp (curriculum resources)
Free

 

Additional Instructional Resources  

• Consumer Product Safety Commission's Kidd Safety - http://www.education-world.com/parents/health/safety.shtml
• CyberBee - http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/MMStocs/MMScybertoc.html
• Discern – http://www.discern.org.uk
• Fact Monster - http://www.factmonster.com
• Healthfinder – http://www.healthfinder.gov
• HealthWeb - http://healthweb.org
• Internet Detectives - http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives
• KidsClick - http://www.kidsclick.org/
• Yahooligans! The Web Guide for Kids - http://yahooligans.com

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• find five reputable agencies that endorse various sites on the Web.
• locate five Internet sites that include supporting authors or cite studies to validate specific health information.

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