Problem Solving Lesson Plan Utilizing 21st Century Communication Tools

The following lesson plan is for 5th grade and up.  I will preface this lesson plan with a note that yes, the material learned in this lesson is sad BUT it is reality and it is a problem in the United States. This is a topic near and dear to my heart and I think it's important that everyone is aware of this problem so that we can do whatever is necessary to help.  

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words

cancer

pediatric 

awareness

funding

advocate

volunteer

non-profit organization

disease

research

unravel

diagnosis

budget

infertility

A lesson on Community, Compassion, Awareness and Advocacy: Unravel Pediatric Cancer

To start this lesson, I will not make any mention of pediatric cancer or where this lesson is taking us.  I will have the kids get comfortable and have them watch the following video of a little girl.  A little girl having fun.  

Photography and video by Heather Avrech Photography

After watching the video, I will allow the kids to chat a bit to tell each other what they thought of the video.  Did it look like fun? 

Now, after a short discussion, I'll have them watch the next video: 

Video by Unravel Pediatric Cancer  After watching the above video, we'll have a class discussion.  How does that make you feel?  Did you know the facts shown in the video?  What does it make you want to do? 
To help bring the pediatric cancer facts to life, I'll provide visuals for students to look at.

www.unravelpediatriccancer.org

Do you know what the pink ribbon stands for?  (most students will. Breast Cancer awareness is very high).  Do you know what the gold ribbon stands for?  Most will not since there is a lack of awareness of the reality of pediatric cancer.
After giving the students the background and information on the lack of pediatric cancer awareness and funding, I'll have them work together in small groups and ask themselves the following questions: 
1)  How can we increasing funding for pediatric cancer? 2) How can we bring more awareness to pediatric cancer? 3) As a kid, how can I help?  How can I make my voice heard?
After the students have had some time to collaborate with one another, we will come back together as a class.  We will then have a Skype session with the founder of Unravel Pediatric Cancer (Libby, the founder (Jennifer's mom) is my best friend and so this was easy to set up.  She also is always willing to speak to foundations, companies, schools, really anywhere whenever wanted or needed).  

During our Skype with Libby, the children will have a chance to hear her speak and they can ask her any questions they have, voice opinions or thoughts they might have and they put a real face to the story.  Compassion.  

After Skyping with the founder of Unravel, we'll take our first step in helping having our voices heard.  Each student will email our local California government officials (senators Boxer and Feinstein) to have their voices heard.  We will come up with a template, as a class, for our email and then each student will then personalize their email with their name and any short personal thoughts they have on the subject.

Next, the students will collaborate in small groups and create visuals (students choice) to illustrate lack of awareness and funding of pediatric cancer.  This visual needs to illustrate these facts to someone who doesn't already know these facts.  Our class will later use these visual aids to teach other students about the reality of pediatric cancer. 

After the students have created their visual aids, each small group will go to different 5th and 6th grade classroom and give a speech to bring more awareness to pediatric cancer awareness and it's lack of funding.  (They will also be able to use the videos we previously watched).

Finally, after giving their speeches and bringing awareness to other students in our school, we will come back together as a class and discuss a new term.  "Kidvocate".

We will visit the Unravel Website and look directly at the kidvocate information page.

https://unravelpediatriccancer.org/kidvocate/

After reviewing what "Kidvocate" is and what you can do to become a kidvocate, as a class, we will brainstorm ideas to create our very own kidvocate project.  

This is my daughter Lilly. A kidvocate.  Jennifer was/is her best friend.

As a class, we will come up with an idea we can put into place.  We can get students throughout the school to participate in fundraising and/or volunteering.  Depending on the idea the students brainstorm and the final project idea, this can go many different directions.

Value.  This lesson/unit has a lot of value.  Pediatric Cancer is real life.  Death is life.  We are teaching the importance of community. The importance of compassion.  How to bring awareness.  How to make THEIR voices heard.  That even as a kid, their opinion matters.  All kids matter.  They learn how to be an advocate.  

At the conclusion of this lesson, I'd ask the students a question.

What is important to you?  What do you want to be an advocate for?   

And finally, I'd have them re-watch the glitter video we started this lesson with.  I'd tell my class, THIS is how I want you to remember Jennifer.  This is how I try and remember Jennifer.  Remember her smile.  Remember her joy.  Remember her laugh.  And as Libby, the founder of Unravel, I'd leave the students with this: