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Description

More than 44 million Americans were uninsured in 2005, according to data from the United States Census Bureau. That all-time high came as more individuals and employers decided that they could no longer afford health insurance premiums. Following the "a picture is worth a thousand words" adage, this activity engages students in learning about the problems of the uninsured in America and asks: who are the uninsured; why are they uninsured; what problems do they face; and what are some possible solutions to those problems.

Content Provider:
http://www.pbs.org/

Website(s)

Unisured in America by PBS

Objectives

Students will:

• Understand some of the problems faced by the uninsured through data collection.
• Learn about the various issues surrounding the problems of the uninsured.
• Explore possible solutions and problems with each of those issues.
• Gain a deeper understanding of issues awaiting them as they enter the workforce.
• Identify programs designed to address the issue of the uninsured.
• Gain a deeper understanding of some of the fears of the uninsured.
• Appreciate the insight given to the issues from varying perspectives of the health care system through interviews with various people involved in the issue.
  

Materials

• Large pieces of cardboard or large sheets of newspaper print or butcher paper.
• Markers
• Internet access, including the Online NewsHour's The Uninsured in America available at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/health/uninsured/index.html
• Insurance survey (available at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/health/uninsured/uninsured_survey.htm
• Chalk or whiteboard markers
  
  

Procedure

1. Assign as homework the student/adult Insurance survey. Students should attempt to interview as many people as possible, with a minimum of three. Ask students to share some of the responses to the survey with their classmates. What surprised them? What did they learn from the survey? Did they see any problems that they hadn't thought of before?
2. With the survey projected from the overhead, or written on a blackboard, ask a student to tally class responses to the survey questions.
3. Explain that students will be exploring a growing problem in American that affects each of us, and the problem is explored in the Online NewsHour site Uninsured in America.
4. Ask students the following questions: Who do you think the uninsured might be? Are they working? Unemployed? Poor? Adults? Children? Why do students think these people are uninsured? Are there currently any programs to assist the uninsured? How do the problems of the uninsured affect us as a society as well as individuals.
5. Students will work in six groups to create posters or life-size cutouts depicting the topic of the uninsured in America. They should use Internet and other resources for their research. The group topics can be: an adult profile of the uninsured, an uninsured child's profile, a profile of programs designed to help the uninsured, a profile depicting problems facing those responsible for administering programs for the uninsured, a profile of possible solutions to the uninsured problem in America, a profile depicting the fears or worries confronting the uninsured, etc.
6. Each group will also generate five multiple choice questions about their cutout to be used as part of a student-generated written test after all the presentations.

Related Academic Standards

New York State

HPF.HE.C.1.1.B Students demonstrate the necessary knowledge and skills to promote healthy development into adulthood.

HPF.HE.C.1.1.D Students evaluate how the multiple influences which affect health decisions and behaviors can be altered.

HPF.HE.C.2.1.A Students recognize hazardous conditions in the home, school, work place, and community and propose solutions to eliminate or reduce them.

MST7.C.C.CO.1.1 Students analyze science/technology/society problems and issues on a community, national, or global scale and plan and carry out a remedial course of action.

SS.C.5.4E Students participate in school/classroom/community activities that focus on an issue or problem.