AALL  Internet Based Lesson Plan on Blood Pressure Teacher Page  Student PAGE
by Dean Sandberg and Maureen Hoyt, ACYR
I. Teacher's Page
A. Teaching Plan
1. Lesson Title: Blood Pressure 
2. Learning Level ABE III
3. Arizona Standard(s) and Indicator(s)
Reading ABE II and III
Indicator C Applies reading skills to interpret functional and informational text, e.g., consumer information, newspapers, civics documents, science publications
Summarizes the main idea and supporting detail in text and relates to other sources, life experiences, and other topics.
Math ABE II
Indicator B 1 Analyzes data in tables, charts, and graphs.
Math ABE III
A5: Solves real life math problems involving ratios, proportions, and percentages
Writing ABE  II and III
Indicator B: Applies conventions of grammar and usage to complete a variety of writing tasks
ABE Science 
D 4 Understands the major functions of human Body Systems

4. Learning Context:  family member
5. Lesson Overview 
Heart Disease is of great concern to many students, even young students.
The objective for this lesson is to help students become conscious of blood pressure for maintaining good health. The students will learn basic facts about the circulatory system, (The heart ) define key words about blood pressure, and explore healthy dietary guidelines. The lesson will utilize the disciplines of reading, mathematics, science, and writing

B. Instruction :Materials needed: worksheets, brochure downloaded from Internet, articles downloaded from Internet, blood pressure cuffs

1. Warm-up Share briefly as a class what the students know about blood pressure and heart disease. Explain the lesson's objectives.
2. Student Activity:  Class 1 Direct students to do the following either alone or in a small group (2 hours). You may want different groups of students to do the activities in staggered times, or read the article out loud, or show the brainpop selection on to the group if you have an LCD. Student PAGE

• Read article from the Associated Press: “Younger Men Face Blood Pressure Risk”.  Blood Pressure Article
• Read the article from the American Heart Association About High Blood Pressure
• Have students write definitions on Student Worksheet. Review answers. You might want to have students look up one each and share the answers.
• Have the blood pressure of each student checked.  Ask them, “Where do you fit in regard to the scale mentioned in the newspaper article?”  “Are you in optimal range?”  “Are you high – normal or stage I hypertension?
• Discuss factors that have an effect on blood pressure and having a healthy heart in general :Heredity, Exercise, Emotional Stress, Diet, Smoking. Give referrals to local health resources if the students are in need of health advice regarding their blood pressure.

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• In the next class, ask students to complete the Math Activity. Review answers. (1 hour)

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•  (1-2 hours) At another time, have students read dietary guidelines. In order to discover what a healthy diet is
  a. click on http://az-aall.org.  Then, click on “AALL Internet-Based Lesson Links”, and from there, click on “Nutrition Lesson”.  Find the “Food Guide Pyramid”.  Read “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans"

            or b.Blood Pressure Brochure  

 Ask: What types of foods should we eat more of in order to maintain a health diet?  What kinds of foods should you avoid? Discuss

• Instruct students to write essay see essay form (for ABE 1 and II, ask for a paragraph see paragraph form)
  Write a 250 word essay on the following topic:

  In order to do the best that I can to maintain a healthy diet, this is what I need to do.
  or
  There are three ways to improve my blood pressure. (essay form above)

3.. Post Assessment (check for level of performance re standards)
Check Student Worksheets and assess essay/paragraph according to holistic scoring

4. Reflective Exercise/Wrap up
Share findings and lessons learned in class. Perhaps have students share essays.
       
Branching Out
On the internet, explore some facts about the heart

A. Blood Pressure Brochure